Hyundai’s first three-row electrical SUV, the IONIQ 9, has formally entered manufacturing at its huge new EV plant in Georgia. The corporate held the grand opening on Wednesday at its huge new Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America, the place it’s going to construct upcoming Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis EV and hybrid autos. With the IONIQ 9 now rolling out of meeting, the electrical SUV is anticipated to launch any day.
Hyundai IONIQ 9 in manufacturing at new Georgia EV plant
Lower than two years after beginning building, Hyundai is celebrating what could possibly be the corporate’s most vital funding to date.
Hyundai’s new EV plant is a part of a $7.6 billion funding in Georgia, the state’s largest financial growth undertaking up to now. It’s anticipated to create about 8,500 direct jobs by 2030.
Nonetheless, in case you embrace its battery joint ventures with SK On and LG Vitality Options and the 18 suppliers that joined in, Hyundai’s new facility has attracted over $12.6 billion in investments. In accordance with the Middle for Automotive Analysis, Hyundai’s investments will create practically 40,000 jobs in Georgia.
In the course of the grand opening on Wednesday, Hyundai Motor Group government chair Euisun Chung stated, “Along with the gifted workforce at HMGMA, we’re constructing the way forward for mobility with America, in America.”
Chung was joined by Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp, Hyundai CEO Jose Munoz, and Kia CEO Ho Sung Tune, amongst a number of others.
The brand new plant will ultimately produce as much as 500,000 EVs and hybrids beneath the Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis manufacturers annually. Initially, it’s going to produce 300,000 autos yearly. Regardless of the opening ceremony being held this week, the primary mannequin, the brand new 2025 Hyundai IONIQ 5, rolled off the meeting line in October.
Hyundai upgraded the electrical SUV with extra vary (as much as 318 miles), a brand new inside and exterior type, and an NACS port for charging at Tesla Superchargers.
Hyundai stated the IONIQ 9 is now formally in manufacturing. The bigger SUV is due out this spring, so it ought to be any day now.
Just like the 2025 IONIQ 5, the IONIQ 9 will embrace an NACS port. It’ll additionally pack a large 110.3 kWh battery, offering an EPA-estimated vary of as much as 335 miles.
The “lounge-like” inside boasts as much as 1,322 liters of cargo area inside, greater than Kia’s three-row EV9, which has as much as 1,233 liters. At 5,060 mm (199.2″) lengthy, 1,980 mm (78″) extensive, and 1,790 mm (70.5″) tall, the IONIQ 9 is barely larger than the EV9.
Hyundai will reveal costs nearer to launch, however the IONIQ 9 is anticipated to begin at about $60,000, or barely greater than the Kia EV9.
Curiously, Hyundai stated the IONIQ 5 and IONIQ 9 can be joined by the primary Kia automobile constructed on the facility in 2026. Will it’s the EV4, Kia’s first electrical sedan?
The opening ceremony follows Hyundai’s landmark $21 billion funding within the US, introduced earlier this week. Hyundai will use $9 billion to spice up Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis model output to 1.2 million. One other $6 billion can be used to construct a brand new metal plant in Louisiana.
In the meantime, GA Senator Jon Ossoff warned in a press convention Wednesday: “The Trump Administration’s battle on electrical autos poses a risk to EV gross sales, to the EV market, and to the car business in Georgia and throughout the nation.” Killing off federal tax credit will solely put the US additional behind China and others within the world auto and tech business.
Supply: WTOC, Hyundai
