Hyundai Builds Worker-Friendly BEV Plant in Korea

Hyundai is building a new $1.5 billion battery-electric vehicle production plant at its automotive center in Ulsan, South Korea.

The plant will also be the hub for its mobility production in the era of electrification and be “human-centric” to enhance employee work life.

The facility will form part of a 1.8 million-sq.-ft (166,950-sq.-m) site with a capacity to produce 200,000 BEVs annually, with full-scale construction set to begin before the end of this year. Construction is scheduled to be completed in 2025 and vehicle mass production will commence in first-quarter 2026. An electric SUV from Hyundai Motor Group's luxury brand, Genesis, will be the first model to be produced at the plant.

This BEV plant will be located on the site of Hyundai’s former proving ground first used in the 1980s, when the company was seeking to expand into overseas markets, developing vehicles that could withstand the diverse terrains and harsh climates found around the world. It will also be the automaker’s first new plant in Korea in 29 years, following the opening of the Asan plant in 1996.

Hyundai says it will focus on sustainable vehicle production applying a manufacturing platform it developed at the Hyundai Motor Group Innovation Center in Singapore to also future-proof the facility and prioritize employee safety, convenience and efficiency.

This platform includes artificial intelligence-driven control systems, eco-friendly, low-carbon construction methods to achieve carbon neutrality, 100% renewable energy use and human-friendly facilities.

The new plant will also feature a nature-friendly design to reduce worker fatigue and encourage interaction with each other. Natural light will be maximized inside the factory, a benefit known to boost worker comfort and be easier on the eyes while the group lounge, used as a rest and office space, will be organized in an open format so that people can gather naturally.

Euisun Chung, executive chair of Hyundai, says, “Just as the dream of building the best car in the past made Ulsan an automotive city today, I trust Ulsan will be an innovative mobility city that leads the way in the era of electrification, starting with a dedicated EV plant.”