Hyundai's massive new plant celebrating opening today in south Georgia

BRYAN COUNTY, Ga. - Hyundai has officially opened its new electric vehicle assembly plant in Bryan County, marking the largest single economic development project in Georgia's history.

Before it even has the chance to reach full capacity, the company has already announced a plan for expansion.

What we know:

The Hyundai Metaplant, located just outside Savannah, is the automaker’s first dedicated mass-production facility for electric and hybrid vehicles. The state-of-the-art facility is expected to create 8,500 jobs over the next few years and represents more than $12 billion in investment from Hyundai in Georgia.

It's a joint venture with LG Energy Solution, which will supply battery technology for the plant’s electric vehicles.

Hyundai officials say this facility will significantly boost U.S. EV manufacturing, helping the company reach its goal of selling more than 3 million fully electric vehicles per year by 2030.

What they're saying:

"I have never been more optimistic about building the future of mobility with America, in America," said Euisun Chung, the executive chair of Hyundai. "We don't just come to build a plant. We come to put down roots."

Company executives were joined by local and state leaders for the grand opening ceremony on Wednesday afternoon. State officials have long touted the project as a major economic win for Georgia, bringing thousands of jobs and positioning the state as a key player in the nation’s growing EV industry.

"This is yet another historic investment and a testament of Hyundai's belief in Georgia. A belief in our people," Kemp said.

The plant is already operational, with vehicles rolling off the assembly line as Hyundai makes a major push into the electric vehicle (EV) market. Originally, the facility was expected to produce over 300,000 vehicles annually. During the grand opening, the company said it could beat that at 500,000.

FOX 5 Atlanta met up with an employee who said she's excited to be apart of Georgia's future with Hyundai.

"When I'm riding down the interstate I can see a vehicle – the IONIQ 5 and now IONIQ 9’s are being produced here – I can see those now and I'm like, oh, wow, I took part in that," said Julisa Donahue.

Hyundai Metaplant employee stats

By the numbers:

As of March 24, a little over 1,200 employees (not counting Korean expats) had been hired to work at the plant. Here's the breakdown:

• Total employees: 1,232
• Employees from Georgia: 1,077
• Employees from out-of-state: 155

Of the 1,077 employees from Georgia, 33% of them come from Chatham County, 15% come from Bulloch County, 8% come from Effingham County and 7% are from Bryan County.

The facility is currently operating on one shift. The goal is to eventually run 24/7.