SHERIDAN, WYOMING – July 19, 2026 – Kia America and Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America (HMGMA) have officially started production of the 2027 Kia Sportage Hybrid at the Savannah, Georgia facility — a moment that carries three firsts for the plant at once: the first Kia model, the first hybrid electric vehicle, and the third model overall to roll off its lines. The milestone extends Kia's nearly two-decade manufacturing presence in Georgia and signals a clear push to bring more of its electrified lineup closer to its largest consumer market. Georgia Governor Brian Kemp attended the celebration alongside Kia and HMGMA executives, with the first completed Sportage Hybrid making its stage debut aboard an Autonomous Mobile Robot.
A Plant Built for Flexibility From the Start
HMGMA was designed from the ground up to handle multiple powertrains without major retooling between models. That flexibility is now paying off: the facility already assembles the Hyundai IONIQ 5 and IONIQ 9 electric vehicles, and the addition of a hybrid model demonstrates that the plant can move across Hyundai Motor Group's full range of electrification technologies. HMGMA has capacity to produce up to ten different vehicles, leaving significant room to expand further as Kia and Hyundai continue building out their lineups.
To prepare for Sportage Hybrid production, approximately 200 HMGMA team members — referred to internally as Meta Pros — underwent extensive training, with many traveling to Kia's West Point, Georgia facility and to South Korea to learn hybrid-specific manufacturing best practices directly from existing production lines.
What It Means for Kia's Georgia Footprint
The Sportage Hybrid joins a substantial Georgia manufacturing operation that was already well established. Kia's West Point plant, which employs over 3,200 people, currently assembles the second-generation Telluride, the EV9, the EV6, and gasoline-powered versions of the Sportage and Sorento. With HMGMA adding close to 2,000 jobs — the large majority filled by Georgia residents — Kia now has combined annual capacity for up to 550,000 vehicles across both facilities.
Sean Yoon, president and CEO of Kia North America and Kia America, described the HMGMA investment as the brand's second major commitment to Georgia and a sign of long-term confidence in the state's role in automotive production. Tony Heo, president and CEO of HMGMA, pointed to the plant's flexible manufacturing system as the foundation that made the transition to hybrid production possible on this timeline.
The Sportage Hybrid's Momentum Heading Into US Assembly
The timing of the production shift matters. The Sportage Hybrid has been one of Kia's fastest-growing models — May 2026 alone saw Sportage HEV sales jump 171 percent year-over-year, setting a best-ever monthly record. Moving assembly to Georgia positions Kia to scale production more responsively to that demand and potentially qualify for US assembly designations that carry weight with buyers tracking domestic manufacturing content.
For consumers, the practical implication is straightforward: a Sportage Hybrid assembled in Georgia, rather than imported from Korea, may become easier to source in volume and carry a clearer American-made story at the dealership level.
A Broader Signal on Electrification Strategy
The HMGMA expansion is part of a larger pattern. Hyundai Motor Group is using its Georgia footprint to demonstrate that hybrid and electric production can coexist on the same lines — a manufacturing argument as much as a product one. With Kia now producing its best-selling hybrid SUV domestically alongside Hyundai's two flagship EVs, the Savannah facility is becoming one of the more significant electrification hubs in American automotive manufacturing.
Georgia Governor Brian Kemp framed the moment as a product of an ongoing partnership between the state, Kia, and the local community, with job creation and long-term economic investment at its center.
Mini FAQ
Q: What are the three firsts the Sportage Hybrid represents for HMGMA? A: It is the first Kia model, the first hybrid vehicle, and the third vehicle overall to be produced at the facility.
Q: Where was the Sportage Hybrid previously built? A: It was assembled at Kia's Gwangju plant in South Korea before production shifted to Georgia.
Q: How many vehicles can Kia now produce annually across its Georgia facilities? A: Combined capacity across the West Point plant and HMGMA reaches up to 550,000 vehicles per year.
Q: Which other models does HMGMA currently produce? A: The Hyundai IONIQ 5 and IONIQ 9 electric vehicles were already in production at the facility before the Sportage Hybrid launch.