Automotive Manufacturing

Georgia: The Epicenter of Growth in the Southeastern Auto Corridor

Why Georgia for Automotive Manufacturing?

From Kia’s expanding $1 billion manufacturing plant to Hyundai Motor Group's announced facility that will employ 8,100 workers and the headquarters of Mercedes-Benz and Porsche, Georgia auto companies get a competitive edge from a prime location in the epicenter of the region’s auto manufacturing boom, with close proximity to a canvas of manufacturers.

Georgia's strengths:

Automotive epicenter
Highly-skilled talent
Renowned workforce training program
Excellent accessibility to market
Business-friendly environment

Driving Kia to Georgia

939K

Automotive-Related Production Employment

In the Southeast (Lighcast 2024.4Q)

21,700

Jobs Created by Locations & Expansions

2022 - 2024

3,000

Employees at Kia's Plant in West Point

Business Wise 2024

Largest Automotive Manufacturing Locations in Georgia

SK Battery America (Commerce), 3,000 workers
Kia Georgia Inc. (West Point), 3,000 workers
Toyo Tire North America Manufacturing (White), 2,000 workers
Blue Bird Corp. (Fort Valley), 1,900 workers
Yamaha Motor Manufacturing Corp. (Newnan), 1,800 workers
Hitachi Astemo Americas Inc. (Monroe), 1,200 workers
TD Automotive Compressor Georgia (Pendergrass), 1,200 workers
Cottrell Inc. (Gainesville), 1,100 workers
Textron Specialized Vehicles (Augusta), 1,100 workers
Hyundai Transys Georgia Seating Systems (West Point), 900 workers
Hyundai Motor Group (Ellabell), 861 workers

Recent Automotive Locations in Georgia

Over the last three years, automotive companies continue to choose Georgia for their new locations, while current companies expand to meet demand. Here are a few recent examples of companies now calling Georgia home.

Hyundai Motor Group Producing EVs Less Than 2 Years After Groundbreaking

An employee-focused event was held on Oct. 3, 2024 to celebrate the first IONIQ 5 to roll off the line and recognize our Meta Pros’ hard work over the past 24 months. American-assembled IONIQ 5 EVs will be on sale in U.S. dealerships by the end of the year. A Grand Opening celebration is planned for the first quarter of 2025.

Source: "Hyundai Metaplant has started production ahead of schedule," WSAV.com, 10.4.2024

GF Casting Solutions, E-Mobility Manufacturers, Chooses Augusta for New Facility

"We are looking forward to bringing leading technology to the US and to creating advanced manufacturing jobs for several generations in Georgia. The location is ideal for addressing the thriving automotive industry in the region." - Carlos Vasto, GF Casting Solutions President

Source: "Gov Kemp: Georgia Lands 350 New Jobs in E-mobility Manufacturing," Office of the Governor Press Release, 5.3.2024

77K

Jobs at Automotive-Related Facilities

In Georgia with 50+ Employees (GPC ED)

197

Automotive-Related Facilities in Georgia

With 50+ Employees (GPC ED, 2024)

30K

Automotive-Related Engineers

and Technicians in GA (Lightcast 2024.4Q)

Georgia is at the Center of the Thriving Southeastern Automotive Industry

Georgia is at the heart of the rapidly expanding Southeastern Automotive Corridor.

The Southeast has become the location of choice for new OEM locations producing electric vehicles as well as adding EVs to current production lines.
Georgia’s transportation equipment exports grew 7.2% annually since 2000, reaching $14.4 billion in 2023, accounting for 17% of the Southeast's total.

Georgia offers an ample supply of skilled employees with a variety of technical backgrounds important to the success of the automotive manufacturing industry. There are currently nearly 162,600 production workers in Georgia in auto-applicable fields.