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An aerial rendering of the HSBMA North American plant, a joint venture between Hyundai Motor Group and SK On. / Photo courtesy of SK On

The U.S. battery joint venture between Hyundai Motor Group and SK On has commenced mass production, accelerating efforts to strengthen the North American electric vehicle (EV) supply chain.

According to the battery industry and local U.S. media outlet The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (AJC) on July 15, Hyundai SK Battery Manufacturing America (HSBMA), the joint venture between Hyundai Motor Group and SK On, recently began commercial operations at its plant in Bartow County, Georgia.

The initial volume produced at the plant is being supplied to Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America (HMGMA) in Savannah, Georgia, where it is being used for EV production.

HSBMA is a joint venture established in 2023 with a joint investment of $5 billion by Hyundai Motor Group and SK On, with both companies holding a 50% stake. The plant, spanning approximately 920,000 pyeong, currently employs around 3,500 people. Once fully operational, it will have the capacity to produce 35 GWh of battery cells annually, enough to power approximately 300,000 EVs.

"We are currently in the initial production phase and plan to gradually scale up our production volume in the future," an HSBMA official said.

Previously, Hyundai Motor Group announced plans to have Hyundai Mobis assemble the battery cells produced at HSBMA into battery packs, which will then be supplied to Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis EV models manufactured in the United States.

With the launch of this joint venture plant, SK On has secured an additional battery production hub in North America, complementing its standalone facility in Commerce, Georgia (SK Battery America). Hyundai Motor Group has also further strengthened its local battery supply chain in North America, building a foundation to expand its U.S. EV production system.

                                                                                                        Nam Hyun-woo