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Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America (HMGMA). / Hyundai Motor Group

Hyundai Motor Group's manufacturing chief will be replaced at Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America (HMGMA), the company's electric vehicle production hub in the U.S.

Jason Jacobs, Chief Manufacturing Officer (CMO), who has led the buildout of the plant's production system since its early days, will step down from his role at the end of this month, with Mike Putinta, senior manager overseeing the press process at HMGMA, set to take over.

According to industry sources on the 18th, Jacobs is set to retire from his role effective the 28th. Jacobs worked at Hyundai's Alabama plant (HMMA) for more than 14 years before joining HMGMA in January of last year, where he played a key role in establishing the plant's initial production system and stabilizing manufacturing processes.

Mike Putinta, senior manager for HMGMA's press process, will be promoted to succeed him. The new CMO is scheduled to take over HMGMA's manufacturing division starting on the 24th.

Putinta is known as a manufacturing specialist with more than 20 years of experience in automotive production, including plant operations and manufacturing floor management.

In particular, since he has overseen the buildout of the press process since HMGMA's early days, he is seen as having a strong understanding of the plant's production lines and manufacturing processes.

The leadership change draws attention as HMGMA moves beyond production stabilization into a phase of full-scale production expansion and efficiency improvement.

HMGMA began producing Hyundai's Ioniq 5 in October 2024, adding the Ioniq 9 in March of last year. In June, it also began producing the Kia Sportage Hybrid — the plant's first Kia model and first hybrid model.

As the range of vehicles produced expands, HMGMA faces the challenge of building mixed-model production capability to stably manufacture multiple vehicle types, moving beyond a single-model production system. Alongside this, responding to shifting EV demand in the U.S. by expanding production of hybrids and other eco-friendly vehicles while boosting productivity is also seen as a key task.

An industry official said, "HMGMA is moving past the initial production system buildout phase into a stage focused on actually improving productivity and efficiency," adding, "As the number of models and production volume grow, ensuring stability and efficiency on the manufacturing floor will become increasingly important."

                                                                                                         Kim Jeong-kyu