Hyundai Opens New Hub For Advanced Manufacturing EV Training

Hyundai has launched a new workforce development facility in Georgia designed to train manufacturing professionals for its expanding production operations.

The 89,000-square-foot training centre in Ellabell represents a substantial investment in the human resources required for the future of electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing.

Opened on 21 May 2024, the Hyundai Mobility Training Centre of Georgia is located next to the Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America (HMGMA) in Bryan County.

The opening ceremony was attended by Governor Brian Kemp and HMGMA President and CEO Tony Heo, alongside other state and local officials. It is the first training centre in Georgia specifically dedicated to EV manufacturing education.

The facility will also support training for hybrid vehicle production following an announcement from Hyundai to expand its manufacturing scope.

State partnership and infrastructure investment

The project highlights a collaboration between the automotive industry and state-level workforce development programmes.

The facility will be operated by Georgia Quick Start, the state's workforce development programme, which is part of the Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG). This partnership could provide a framework for developing skilled labour for large-scale industrial projects.

"The Hyundai Mobility Training Centre of Georgia will give thousands of people over the years the knowledge they need to benefit from this generational project," says Governor Kemp. The initiative is part of a broader strategy to establish Georgia as a centre for advanced manufacturing.

Facility specifications and training capacity

The centre is built to train up to 824 individuals at the same time. The overall project, which includes the adjacent HMGMA, is projected to create approximately 8,500 jobs by 2031. This development signals a long-term commitment to the region’s economic and industrial landscape.

José Muñoz, President and CEO of the Hyundai Motor Company, says: "The Hyundai Mobility Training Centre of Georgia represents our commitment to investing in people as we continue to create high-paying American jobs."

Muñoz adds: "As we expand production at HMGMA, one of the most advanced facilities in the world, we need a workforce equipped with the skills to build next-generation vehicles with next-generation production processes."

Specialised internal infrastructure

The facility contains purpose-built infrastructure designed to simulate a real-world manufacturing environment. In a collaboration between Quick Start and HMGMA, two specialised production training lines were developed.

The Safe Transition for Efficient Production (STEP) Line is a digital environment where trainees can develop coordination skills.

The Immersive Manufacturing Process and Conveyor Training (IMPACT) Line is a full-length moving production line featuring 53 assembly activities and an integrated quality control system.

Further infrastructure includes a High Voltage Battery and Safety Lab for hands-on training with EV and hybrid vehicle systems.

The centre also has a VR Experience Lab for safety training, an Automation & Mechatronics Lab covering industrial automation and labs for robotics, welding and paint processes.

"This training centre gives us confidence that we'll have the trained talent needed to shape the future of mobility and American manufacturing – right here in Southeast Georgia," Tony explains.

The development of the training curriculum involved close collaboration. "Our subject matter experts partnered directly with HMGMA to learn the skills its Meta Pros will need when they hit the production floor," says Scott McMurray, the Deputy Commissioner of Quick Start.

"Our team has simulated those processes in a safe hands-on training environment," he adds.

The facility’s flexible design allows for training programmes to be adapted as vehicle technology and production methods evolve.