New Mobility Training Center Showcases the Power of Partnership
Georgia’s position as a national leader in advanced manufacturing and mobility strengthens with the recent opening of the 89,000-square-foot Hyundai Mobility Training Center of Georgia.
As seen in EV Magazine, Georgia’s new training hub in Ellabell is more than a state-of-the-art facility: it is a clear signal that Georgia’s workforce development model is meeting the needs of one of the world’s most innovative industries.
The Center will train up to 824 individuals at a time, supporting the creation of approximately 8,500 jobs at the adjacent Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America (HMGMA) campus by 2031. At the Center’s Grand Opening, Governor Brian Kemp emphasized the state’s unwavering commitment to supporting the “generational project” and its talent pipeline.
A Solutions-first Approach that Attracts Global Innovators
Georgia’s ability to deliver on a proven track record of workforce solutions attracted Hyundai Motor Group from the beginning. Kia Georgia’s training center has been delivering results for over a decade.
HMGMA, one of the most advanced facilities in the world, needs a next-generation workforce. President and CEO of Hyundai Motor Company José Muñoz described the partnership as creating access to world-class training that will help Georgia lead in advanced manufacturing.
The secret to success is Georgia’s partnership model.
The facility is designed and operated by Georgia Quick Start, the state’s internationally recognized workforce development program within the Technical College System of Georgia. Quick Start collaborated directly with Hyundai to simulate real-world production environments, develop custom training lines, and create hands-on labs that mirror the company’s next-generation manufacturing processes.
This alignment between state resources and industry needs enables rapid economic development at scale.
Innovative Training for an Innovation-driven Sector
The Center methodically moves future Meta Pros, Hyundai’s new generation of EV manufacturing professionals, through a series of training environments that instill safety and efficiency in trainees:
STEP Line (Safe Transition for Efficient Production): An introductory line where trainees build timing, awareness, and coordination skills in a controlled, digital environment.
IMPACT Line (Immersive Manufacturing Process and Conveyor Training): A full-length, moving production line with 53 integrated assembly activities and a built-in quality check system replicating real-world EV production.
High Voltage Battery and Safety Lab: Specialized space for crucial hands-on learning that prepares workers to safely handle advanced EV and hybrid vehicle technologies.
VR Experience Lab: A simulated environment for safety and hazard identification.
Automation & Mechatronics Lab: Focused on programmable logic controllers (PLCs), sensors, motion systems, and industrial automation.
An additional 5,760-square-foot multipurpose “Momentum Room,” six flexible classrooms, and robotics, welding, and paint labs provide more options and spaces for flexible curriculums.
Adaptability is central to Georgia’s economic development strategy. As vehicle technology evolves, so will the training programs, ensuring that companies operating in Georgia remain at the forefront of innovation.
A Model of Public-private Collaboration
The success of this project is rooted in close coordination between state agencies, local partners, and Hyundai Motor Group’s leadership.
Scott McMurray, Deputy Commissioner of Georgia Quick Start, highlighted this collaborative approach: Quick Start subject-matter experts partnered directly with HMGMA teams to understand the exact skills needed for Meta Pros and then built training environments to match.
This level of partnership not only accelerates hiring and onboarding but also ensures quality, safety, and consistency across the workforce pipeline.
Tony Heo, President and CEO of HMGMA, summarized the impact: “This training Center 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.”
Strengthening Georgia’s Position as an Advanced Manufacturing Hub
Georgia’s ability to combine workforce development, technical education, and strategic business partnerships is a cornerstone of the state’s economic development success. The Hyundai Mobility Training Center of Georgia is the latest proof point that this model works, delivering both the talent that companies need and major opportunities for Georgians.
As industries across the globe transition to electrification, automation, and advanced manufacturing, Georgia is ensuring that workers and businesses evolve together. The result is a more resilient economy, a stronger talent pipeline, and a clear message to the business community: In Georgia, the future of advanced manufacturing isn’t just being imagined – it’s being trained, built, and powered.
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