EV Workforce Development
Hyundai opens Georgia's first EV training facility
An 89,000-square-foot facility in Bryan County will train 824 workers simultaneously for electric and hybrid vehicle production, using simulation lines and high-voltage labs to prepare employees for Hyundai's advanced manufacturing processes.
The choreography of electric vehicle (EV) assembly demands a different rhythm from traditional automotive manufacturing. Workers must navigate high-voltage systems, automated processes and digital quality controls that bear little resemblance to the combustion engine factories of previous generations. Georgia has just opened a facility designed to bridge that gap.
The Hyundai Mobility Training Centre, unveiled on 5th November in Ellabell, represents the state's first purpose-built EV training facility. Positioned adjacent to Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America in Bryan County, the 89,000 sq ft centre can accommodate 824 trainees simultaneously, preparing them for roles at the Metaplant and its network of affiliate companies.
"With record-breaking economic development statewide, our focus has never wavered from bringing quality jobs to hardworking Georgians and connecting them to the skills needed for success," said Governor Brian Kemp. "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."
The timing proves significant. Hyundai recently announced expansion plans to incorporate hybrid vehicle production at the Metaplant, requiring the training infrastructure to adapt beyond its original electric-only mandate. The facility's flexible design anticipates this evolution, though the immediate focus remains on battery-electric manufacturing processes.
Georgia's EV workforce infrastructure reaches completion
Georgia Quick Start, the state's workforce development programme operating under the Technical College System of Georgia, manages the facility. The programme holds the distinction of being America's oldest workforce training initiative and claims multiple awards from site selection consultants, though such accolades matter less than the practical challenge ahead.
"The Hyundai Mobility Training Centre of Georgia represents our commitment to investing in people as we continue to create high-paying American jobs," said José Muñoz, President and CEO of Hyundai Motor Company. "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.
"Our partnership with Georgia Quick Start ensures our Meta Pros have access to world-class training that will help them succeed and help Georgia lead in advanced manufacturing. A special thank you to Governor Kemp, Commissioner Wilson, and the economic development team in Georgia for their ongoing support. It's a great time to be with Hyundai in Georgia."
The facility emerges from direct collaboration between Quick Start's training professionals and Hyundai's engineering teams, ensuring the simulated environment reflects actual production conditions rather than theoretical approximations.
Training capacity designed to support 8,500 manufacturing jobs
Hyundai projects its Georgia operation will generate approximately 8,500 jobs by 2031. The training centre must therefore function as a continuous pipeline rather than a one-time preparation exercise for automotive production. Workers will cycle through multiple training modules, each designed to build specific competencies required for different stages of EV assembly.
"This centre is about giving Georgians the tools to build their own futures, right here at home," said Greg Dozier, Commissioner of the Technical College System of Georgia. "It reflects Georgia's commitment to innovation, accessibility, and long-term economic opportunity."
The infrastructure includes a High Voltage Battery and Safety Lab, addressing what may be the most critical safety differential between traditional and EV manufacturing. Workers handling battery systems must understand electrical risks that rarely existed on conventional assembly lines. A VR Experience Lab provides simulated safety scenarios and hazard identification training without exposing trainees to actual danger.
Simulated production lines mirror Metaplant operations
The facility's centrepiece consists of two distinct production training systems. The STEP Line (Safe Transition for Efficient Production), functions as an introductory environment where workers develop timing, coordination and spatial awareness in a controlled digital setting. Trainees progress to the IMPACT Line (Immersive Manufacturing Process and Conveyor Training), which replicates full-scale production conditions. This moving line incorporates 53 integrated assembly activities and an embedded quality verification system, mirroring the actual Metaplant workflow.
"Our subject matter experts partnered directly with HMGMA to learn the skills its Meta Pros will need when they hit the production floor," said Scott McMurray, Quick Start Deputy Commissioner. "Our team has simulated those processes in a safe, hands-on training environment."
Beyond assembly training, the centre houses an Automation and Mechatronics Lab focused on programmable logic controllers, sensors, motion systems and industrial automation protocols. These technologies increasingly define modern automotive manufacturing, where human workers collaborate with robotic systems rather than operate independently.
Supporting facilities include a 5,764 sq ft multipurpose space designated the Momentum Room, six flexible classrooms, and specialised labs for robotics, welding and paint processes. The centre even deploys a robotic dog for advanced automation training, though the practical applications of this particular technology remain to be demonstrated in actual production environments.
Hybrid vehicle expansion demands flexible training approach
The recent announcement of hybrid vehicle production at the Metaplant adds complexity to the training mandate. Hybrid powertrains combine combustion engines with electric drive systems, requiring workers to understand both traditional mechanical assembly and high-voltage electrical integration. The training centre's flexible design theoretically accommodates this dual requirement, though the specific curriculum adaptations have yet to be detailed.
"Today's grand opening of the Hyundai Mobility Training Centre of Georgia marks a proud milestone for Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America, the State of Georgia, the Technical College System, and Georgia Quick Start," said Tony Heo, President and CEO of Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America. "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."
Ultimately, it will be quality metrics, efficiency rates and safety records which reveal whether simulated training environments adequately prepare workers for the pressures and complexities of actual EV manufacturing. Georgia has built the infrastructure. The test begins when trained workers reach the assembly line.
