Hyundai Motor Group marked a significant milestone on September 4 with the ceremonial launch of a new steel mill at the RiverPlex MegaPark site in Ascension Parish, Louisiana. The project represents the latest phase in the company’s nearly 40-year partnership with the United States, highlighting an expanding footprint in manufacturing and community engagement.
The $5.8 billion facility, known as Hyundai-Posco Louisiana Steel (HPLS), is a joint venture involving Hyundai Steel, South Korea’s Posco, Hyundai Motor, and Kia. Set to begin commercial production in 2029, the mill will produce low-carbon, automotive-grade steel primarily for Hyundai and Kia’s U.S. plants, with the potential to supply other American automakers. It will be the first integrated steel mill in the U.S. to use electric arc furnace technology. The project is expected to support around 5,400 jobs, including approximately 1,300 direct positions, with local workforce development efforts underway in partnership with Louisiana State University and River Parishes Community College.
This investment is part of Hyundai Motor Group’s broader $26 billion commitment through 2028 for automotive manufacturing, steel production, and robotics in the United States. The expanded investment aims to create approximately 25,000 new American jobs and deepen the company’s supply chain localization efforts.
The HPLS initiative complements Hyundai’s other major U.S. operations, including the Metaplant America site in Bryan County, Georgia. Announced with a $7.6 billion investment, Metaplant America is the largest economic development project in Georgia’s history. With a workforce exceeding 4,200, the facility manufactures next-generation vehicles with a capacity of up to 500,000 units annually, connecting raw steel to battery production for electric vehicles built domestically.
In Montgomery, Alabama, Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama (HMMA) continues to play a central role in the company’s U.S. production. Since launching operations in 2005 following a $1.1 billion initial investment, the plant has expanded to a cumulative capital investment of over $3 billion. Employing roughly 4,200 workers directly and supporting more than 40,000 jobs statewide, HMMA has manufactured over 6.2 million vehicles in its 20 years of operation.
Kia’s plant in West Point, Georgia, also reflects sustained growth, evolving from an initial $1 billion investment in 2009 to a $3.2 billion facility employing more than 3,200 workers directly. The plant began mass production of the all-electric EV9 SUV in 2024, the first electric vehicle assembled in Georgia, and recently produced its five millionth vehicle, an all-new Telluride Hybrid—the state’s first hybrid assembled at that site.
Beyond manufacturing, Hyundai Motor Group supports philanthropic initiatives throughout the U.S. Hyundai Hope on Wheels, funded by Hyundai Motor America and over 855 dealers, has donated more than $303 million to pediatric cancer research since 1998. Similarly, Kia America’s “Accelerate the Good” program raised over $4.7 million in 2025 to support organizations such as St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and No Kid Hungry.
In Louisiana, Hyundai Motor Group’s community outreach includes the HPLS Community Day held on September 6, which welcomed nearly 700 local residents for cultural and educational activities that strengthen ties between the company and the region.
These initiatives underscore Hyundai Motor Group’s ongoing strategy to integrate advanced manufacturing with sustainable practices and community engagement. As the company continues to expand its investments across Alabama, Georgia, and Louisiana, it emphasizes its long-term commitment to contributing to the American economy and workforce development.