Hyundai doubles down in Georgia with $2.7B boost—despite ICE raid—as it expands hybrids, long-range EVs and a US-built pickup

Hyundai isn’t tapping the brakes after last month’s immigration raid at its Georgia battery site. At its first-ever CEO Investor Day in New York, the automaker said it will pour $2.7 billion into the Ellabell “Metaplant” over the next three years and widen its US lineup with more hybrids, new extended-range EVs (EREVs) and—by decade’s end—a mid-size pickup for North America.

The Georgia plan

• Capacity: Plant will scale to 500,000 vehicles a year by 2028, blending EVs and hybrids.
• Jobs: Hyundai projects ~3,000 direct and indirect roles tied to the expansion.
• Timing: The battery plant startup is delayed 2–3 months after the ICE sweep; opening now targeted for 1H 2026.
• Factory of the future: A “software-defined” facility with heavy automation, including robots from Boston Dynamics.

Lineup: hybrids now, EREVs next, pickup before 2030

• Hybrids: More than 18 hybrid models globally by 2030; 10 hybrid/EV models slated for Georgia production.
• EREVs in 2027: Smaller batteries (think 30–40 kWh) paired with a compact gas engine for up to ~600 miles of total range; Genesis is among the first to get it.
• Pickup: A mid-size truck—bigger than Santa Cruz—is planned for before 2030 in North America.

“Built here” push (and tariffs reality)

• By 2030, 80% of Hyundai vehicles sold in the US will be built in America; U.S. content rises from 60% → 80%.
• Guidance tweak: 2025 operating margin target trimmed to 6–7% (from 7–8%) amid tariff pressure, with aims to climb back to 7–8% by 2027 and 8–9% by 2030.
• Hyundai says North America is becoming “hybrid-driven” as EV incentives fade, while Europe/China remain EV-led.

CEO José Muñoz opened by expressing sympathy for the nearly 500 workers detained — about 300 South Koreans — saying many were specialized staff calibrating battery tech. Georgia officials and Hyundai insist the long-term investment plan is unchanged.

The global scoreboard

• Targeting 5.5–5.6 million annual sales by 2030, with ~3.3 million electric.
• Additional capacity ramping in India, South Korea, and assembly programs in Saudi Arabia, Vietnam, North Africa.

A bruising ICE raid isn’t knocking Hyundai off course. The company is locking in more US production, betting big on hybrids and EREVs for an incentive-light America — and lining up a homegrown pickup to match US tastes.

The Verge, AP, and USA Today contributed to this report.