Hyundai Motor Group is gearing up to start the production of its IONIQ 5 electric SUV at a new manufacturing plant in Georgia, aiming to kick off this fall. The news broke on Tuesday, confirming the South Korean automaker’s choice of model for its high-stakes $7.6 billion venture west of Savannah. This development is set to bolster the electric vehicle and battery manufacturing capacity within the region, as reported by a FOX 5 Atlanta news release.

Jumpstarting production ahead of schedule, Hyundai is seizing the opportunity provided by federal incentives encouraging domestic EV production. "We are in the final phase of construction and are getting ready for the 2025 Hyundai IONIQ 5 to roll off the line," said Oscar Kwon, the CEO of the plant, in a statement obtained by FOX 5 Atlanta. Running the plant in the fourth quarter has been projected, although an exact month for the commencement of operations was not specified, intending to begin manufacturing IONIQ 5 electric SUVs at its plant in Georgia.

The 2025 model of the IONIQ 5 has yet to make a public appearance, although the automaker revealed an impressive 43% year-over-year sales jump for the model that debuted in 2022. This piece of information was shared by AP News, highlighting the growing consumer appeal and the market's readiness for Hyundai's continued foray into the electric vehicle sector.

While the initial workforce numbers for the plant remain uncertain, Hyundai's vision charts out a destination for 8,500 jobs at this facility, coupled with an impressive annual production capacity of 300,000 electric vehicles. The company, by opting to manufacture new IONIQ 5 vehicles in Georgia, announced before the 2025 model has been shown to the public. Further sweetening the deal for Hyundai was a massive incentive package awarded by state officials, totaling $2.1 billion in tax breaks, as detailed in a report by FOX 5 Atlanta, making this plant the largest economic project in Georgia's history.