Seohan Auto Georgia will create at least 180 new jobs and invest more than $72 million in a new manufacturing facility in Liberty County, GA. The South Korea-based auto parts supplier is a Tier-1 automotive parts supplier for Hyundai Motor Group America. The company has production facilities around the world, including multiple facilities in the U.S.
“Sustained growth of the EV market over the past few years suggests that accelerated changes to the automotive market is inevitable. We believe Georgia will be the center of the EV industry, and will be a new frontier for Seohan’s future with limitless opportunities and potential,” said Jung Kee Koo, CEO of Seohan Auto Georgia Corporation. “We are very pleased to collaborate in partnership with Georgia and move towards a promising new future.
“We believe Georgia
will be the center of the EV industry,
and will be a new frontier for Seohan’s future with limitless opportunities
and potential.”
— Jung Kee Koo, CEO,
Seohan Auto Georgia
“Seohan has successfully created innovative solutions to overcome challenges throughout the years, and is determined and prepared to take another leap forward in the EV industry with Liberty County,” he continued. “We are confident that our experience and technological capabilities will contribute to the prosperity of the local community, and we sincerely thank Georgia and Liberty County for their continuous support and trust throughout the process.”
Seohan’s new facility in Georgia is scheduled to begin production in late 2024, and will be located at the Dunwoody Court Site in the Tradeport East Business Center, a Georgia Ready for Accelerated Development (GRAD) Certified site.
Seohan’s new manufacturing facility will produce H/shafts, axles, and brake systems for OEMs, including Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America which officially broke ground in neighboring Bryan County on October 25. Offsite suppliers connected to that fully dedicated electric vehicle (EV) and battery manufacturing facility were predicted to invest approximately $1 billion in other locations around the state. Projects announced to date have already exceeded this amount by nearly $1 billion.
“The Hyundai Metaplant is and will continue to be an economic driver for the entire region, creating more jobs for hardworking Georgians in communities like Liberty County,” said Governor Brian P. Kemp. “We’re proud to welcome Seohan as the latest supplier in a growing list to invest in Georgia and look forward to the continued growth of this fast emerging sector.”
The Georgia Department of Economic Development’s (GDEcD) Global Commerce team worked with the Liberty County Industrial Development Authority, Georgia Ports Authority, Georgia Quick Start, and Georgia Power to support Seohan’s project.
“The ongoing transition to e-mobility and sustainable technology creates a window of opportunity for companies and states that remain on the forefront, and we are excited to work with Seohan to provide solutions to this developing industry,” said GDEcD Commissioner Pat Wilson. “Innovation across the automotive industry is happening at a breakneck speed, and companies are focused on keeping up with new technology and increasing market demand. Communities that invest in speed-to-market solutions, like Liberty County with the Tradeport East Business Center, gives Georgia a leg-up over competitors. We’re grateful for our partners who continue to support the state’s competitiveness.”
Since 2020, more than 35 EV-related projects have announced more than $21 billion in investment and 27,800 jobs in Georgia.
Life Sciences Manufacturer To Create 1,700 Jobs
In Athens-Clarke County, Meissner Corporation will invest nearly $250 million in a new facility. The advanced microfiltration and therapeutic manufacturing systems company will create more than 1,700 jobs over the next eight years.
One of the world’s largest privately held companies in the bioprocessing sector, Meissner develops, manufactures, supplies and services products and systems for the pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical industries. The California-based company recently played a leading role in the industry’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, providing critical products which enabled the development, manufacture, and distribution of numerous lifesaving therapeutics and vaccines.