August 2026 | Fayette Chamber of Commerce Tour — Georgia Port Authority & Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America (HMGMA)
This past August, I had the opportunity to join the Fayette Chamber of Commerce on a two-day tour of two of the most significant industrial operations in the American South: the Georgia Port Authority in Savannah and the Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America (HMGMA) in Bryan County. Joining us on the trip were representatives from various regional businesses and members of the Fayette Chamber of Commerce. It was an eye-opening trip that reinforced just how dramatically this region is reshaping American manufacturing and logistics.
Day 1: The Georgia Port Authority (GPA)
After a lunch stop with the Metter/Candler County Chamber of Commerce, our group arrived at the Georgia Port Authority (GPA) for a presentation and grounds tour. Growing up on the Detroit River, I was used to the sight of massive cargo ships traveling up and down the river. However, seeing them up close gave me an entirely new appreciation for the scale of modern maritime logistics.
America’s fastest-growing port. Founded in 1945, the GPA has grown into the largest single-operator container facility in North America, covering roughly 1,345 acres. That is the land equivalent to about 1,000 football fields! It is the third-busiest container gateway on the continent, behind only the ports of Los Angeles and New York/New Jersey. The standardized way of measuring container traffic is by TEUs, where 1 TEU equals one 20-foot container and a 40-foot container equals two TEUs. Since Savannah moves 5.7 million TEUs per year, that is about 5.7 million 20ft shipping containers annually. The port generates $40 billion in income, $171 billion in sales, and $5.3 billion in state and local taxes annually.
What makes Savannah particularly strategic is its connectivity. The Port of Savannah is located on the Savannah River about 40 miles inland from the Atlantic Ocean. Although it takes ships more time to reach the port, it was a deliberate choice that keeps the massive terminal and its daily truck traffic away from the historic downtown. The inland location also gave GPA the unique opportunity to grow, allowing the possibility to acquire the land needed to expand the terminal and its supporting infrastructure. With direct access to Interstates 16 and 95 and on-site rail service for two Class I railroads, CSX and Norfolk Southern, GPA can provide overnight freight service to five states, supported by approximately 5,000 trucks per day and 42 double-stacked trains per week.
Current constraints and future investments. The Savannah River’s relatively narrow and shallow channel means only one cargo ship can pass at a time, making each ship transit 3-5 hrs. from the Atlantic Ocean to docking at the port. The state of Georgia is actively working with GPA to deepen and widen the river channel to accommodate more vessels simultaneously. Another constraint facing the port is the Talmadge Memorial Bridge. As the bridge limits the vertical clearance to the largest container ships, the state is planning modifications to raise the bridge to allow larger vessels to pass.
The cranes are a story of their own. Lining the terminal are Super Post-Panamax ship-to-shore cranes manufactured by Konecranes, a crane company headquartered in Finland. These cranes can span ships carrying up to 22 containers across and lift as much as 65 metric tons. These cranes were enormous investments for GPA as each one costs between $7 and $11 million, depending on its specifications and equipment. GPA’s relationship with Konecranes started with their first crane purchase in 1995, and their loyalty and partnership has grown considerably since. As of 2025, GPA operates 257 Konecranes units, including 42 of these massive ship-to-shore cranes. Most of the cranes are electrically powered, reducing fuel consumption and emissions compared with diesel-powered alternatives common at other global ports.
We wrapped up Day 1 with dinner and an hour-long walk through the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force. It was a fitting end to a full day, and a reminder that Savannah’s history runs much deeper than its modern logistics footprint.
Day 2: Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America — Manufacturing Meets the Future
In April 2022, Hyundai announced a $7.6 billion investment in Bryan County, Georgia. Construction began just six months later, and by October 2024, barely two years after breaking ground, the plant rolled out its first vehicle: a 2025 Hyundai IONIQ 5. Today, HMGMA has a production capacity of approximately 300,000 vehicles per year, with plans to expand further by adding a third shift. Current models in production include the IONIQ 5, IONIQ 9, and the Kia Sportage Hybrid.
The workforce impact surprised even the skeptics. When the project was announced, many in the local community worried the plant would import workers from out of state or overseas rather than hiring locally. Contrary to public expectation, the employment impact has been significant. The Metaplant has created approximately 8,500 on-site jobs and 7,000 off-site jobs, for a total of roughly 15,500 positions. According to Hyundai’s own data, about 88% of the workforce is from Georgia, with 63% coming from the greater Savannah area. The average salary of around $58,000 (before benefits) is approximately 25% above the local average of $47,000.
The logistics connection. After touring the Georgia Port Authority, the Metaplant’s connection to Savannah’s logistics ecosystem became very clear. One of the main reasons that this site was attractive to Hyundai is its location. The plant sits along I-16, which provides a direct corridor to the Port of Savannah as a critical link for moving parts, materials, and finished vehicles. That demand creates a ripple effect across trucking, rail, warehousing, suppliers, and other logistics businesses throughout the region.
A hydrogen-powered freight operation. Hyundai takes their ecological footprint very seriously. Rather than relying entirely on diesel trucks for moving parts between the plant and the port, they deployed a fleet of 21 XCIENT hydrogen fuel-cell heavy-duty trucks, where only water and heat are produced as emissions. For heavy-duty, high-utilization operations where battery-electric trucks face challenges with range and refueling time, hydrogen fuel-cell technology offers a compelling alternative with fast refueling and zero tailpipe emissions. To support and expand this fleet, Hyundai is working toward building a hydrogen refueling center in Pooler, Georgia, positioned close to the midpoint between the Metaplant and the port.
An integrated manufacturing campus. The Metaplant is not a single building. It currently spans 11 structures, each handling a different stage of the manufacturing process. Starting from rolls of raw steel and ending with a road-ready vehicle, the entire production sequence happens on one site. Specialized buildings handle stamping, welding, painting, and final assembly, and many of Hyundai’s key suppliers operate directly on campus: Hyundai Mobis builds the powertrain, Hyundai Transys produces the seats, and a Battery Joint Venture site supports EV production.
Hyundai Transys, the seat manufacturing plant. Using just-in-time manufacturing, seats are produced exactly when needed and in the exact sequence the assembly line requires. This efficiency removes excess inventory and warehouse backlog. When a finished seat enters the tunnel connecting Transys directly to the General Assembly plant, it is delivered seamlessly to the assembly line, maximizing production efficiency.
Technology at every step. Hyundai’s investment in automation is visible throughout the facility. Spot, the four-legged robot developed by Boston Dynamics, is an AI-powered vision system that inspect parts during stamping and welding. It has a camera in its mouth to read QR codes and assist with quality assurance. Rather than traditional fixed conveyor systems, Hyundai uses free-roaming automated “trains” to move vehicles and components throughout the factory. This gives the plant remarkable flexibility. Production sequences can be adapted as demand shifts, new models can be introduced, and the line can be reconfigured without the time and expense of rebuilding a fixed conveyor infrastructure.
Plant architecture. The plants are connected by second-story tunnels with exterior windows. So, as you’re standing outside, you can watch vehicles moving seamlessly from one production stage to the next. The nighttime view of the plant from the highway features lights spanning the front of the highway facing buildings to resemble the headlights of the Hyundai Genesis. The lights reminded me of Tron and gave a futuristic vibe. The parking lot is covered in solar panels. They generate a lot of energy and keep the cars in the parking lot cool. The employees love to park under the solar panels. They installed many skylights in the plants to provide natural lighting and as a morale booster for employees.
A Note on Workforce. Hyundai recognized that while Bryan County was an ideal location for the Metaplant, one of the biggest challenges would be developing and retaining a consistent, highly trained workforce. Rather than thinking of the plant simply as a place where people come to work, Hyundai designed the campus around employee wellbeing, convenience, and productivity.
They invested in innovative technology like Spot, the robotic dog, which can access difficult-to-reach areas and perform inspections, reducing the need for employees to perform strenuous or repetitive tasks that could create potential injury or medical risks.
Hyundai also brought everyday services directly onto the campus, including a fire station, bank, and medical center. The bank provides financial wellness programs, reflecting Hyundai’s belief that employees who have greater financial security are more likely to be healthier, happier, and productive.
The Story Behind the Site: Bryan County Development Authority
Our final stop was lunch with the Bryan County Development Authority (BCDA) in Ellabell, Georgia, where we heard from CEO Anna Chafin. Anna was a key player in securing control of the land that ultimately became Hyundai’s Metaplant site. When she started her role as CEO, she noticed that industrial demand was surging during COVID. A massive property alongside I-16 was under pressure to be sold piece-by-piece for warehousing and distribution development. Anna recognized that to appeal to a large industrial partner, it was imperative that the land be controlled by the county, with necessary site preparations in place. Even though it was a risky investment, she built the case for a regional and state partnership. In 2021, Georgia and local partners committed approximately $61 million to acquire and prepare the property covering environmental work, permitting, infrastructure, and site preparation.
Several major companies showed interest before passing. Then Hyundai came looking for a large site on a major highway where construction could begin within months. Because of Anna’s foresight and persistence, Bryan County was ready and was able to offer Hyundai exactly what they were looking for.