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 would construct upcoming Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis EV and hybrid autos. With the IONIQ 9 now rolling out of meeting, the electrical SUV is predicted to launch any day.
Hyundai IONIQ 9 in manufacturing at new Georgia EV plant
Lower than two years after beginning development, Hyundai is celebrating what could possibly be the corporate’s most essential 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 challenge up to now. It’s anticipated to create about 8,500 direct jobs by 2030.
Nonetheless, in the event you embody its battery joint ventures with SK On and LG Power Options and the 18 suppliers that joined in, Hyundai’s new facility has attracted over $12.6 billion in investments. Based on the Heart for Automotive Analysis, Hyundai’s investments will create almost 40,000 jobs in Georgia.
Throughout the grand opening on Wednesday, Hyundai Motor Group govt chair Euisun Chung stated, “Along with the proficient 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 Music, amongst a number of others.
The brand new plant will finally produce as much as 500,000 EVs and hybrids below the Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis manufacturers every year. Initially, it would 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 fashion, 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 needs to be any day now.
Just like the 2025 IONIQ 5, the IONIQ 9 will embody an NACS port. It is going to 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″) vast, and 1,790 mm (70.5″) tall, the IONIQ 9 is barely greater than the EV9.
Hyundai will reveal costs nearer to launch, however the IONIQ 9 is predicted to begin at about $60,000, or barely greater than the Kia EV9.
Apparently, Hyundai stated the IONIQ 5 and IONIQ 9 will probably be joined by the primary Kia car 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 will probably 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 warfare on electrical autos poses a menace to EV gross sales, to the EV market, and to the auto 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
![This Hyundai IONIQ 5 drove 360,000 miles on its original battery [video]](https://ecodrivedaily.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/666255km_hyundai-150x150.png)
