Hyundai’s CEO announced the company’s new plant in Georgia will increase vehicle production by approximately 67%, following President Donald Trump’s implementation of new tariffs on foreign vehicle imports starting on April 2.
The Hyundai Motor Group Megaplant America held its grand opening on Wednesday. CEO Jose Munos detailed how the plant will increase its production from 300,000 units annually to 500,000. This uptick will translate into an extra 14,000 jobs for the plant.
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Munos explained that this goal will be met in two phases. The first phase will increase production to 300,000 units every year, and the second phase will add another 200,000 units.
Gov. Brian Kemp (R-GA) celebrated the new plant as a “once-in-a-generation opportunity.” The governor also thanked former Georgia governor Sonny Purdue for laying the foundation for the Hyundai plant to become a reality.
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While some, including Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY), have been critical of Trump’s use of tariffs, the United Auto Workers union has praised his latest tariff announcement, arguing it marks “the beginning of the end of a thirty-plus year ‘free trade’ disaster.”
Earlier this week, Trump and Gov. Jeff Landry (R-LA) announced Hyundai’s new $20 billion investment. The plan includes a $5 billion steel plant in Louisiana that is expected to create roughly 1,500 new jobs. The president said his announcement was “a clear demonstration” that tariffs work.