Winning the Super Bowl of Economic Development: How Hyundai Metaplant America Landed in Savannah

Overview

This case study offers valuable lessons for economic developers, site selectors, and policymakers worldwide. The story of Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America’s (HMGMA) decision to locate in Savannah, Georgia, illustrates how large-scale manufacturing site selection depends on local and state stakeholders working together to overcome challenges and coordinate across multiple institutions.

In this study, we document how the local economic development community created the conditions for Hyundai’s investment, highlight the key success factors, outline the company’s site selection process, describe the economic development agreement, and analyze the project’s regional economic impact. The economic development vision of the Savannah Harbor-Interstate 16 Corridor Joint Development Authority (JDA) allowed the community to transform a group of pine farms into one of the most significant investments in the EV supply chain in the U.S., bringing long-lasting prosperity for the region.