Georgia’s most ambitious industrial project—a $4.3 billion battery plant jointly developed by Hyundai and LG Energy Solutions—is facing delays despite being touted as a major driver of jobs and clean energy growth.
The South Korea-backed venture was expected to produce batteries for 300,000 electric vehicles annually and employ thousands of Americans.
LG has stated that its production timeline remains on track. Still, analysts in South Korea caution that setbacks are unavoidable and could damage confidence in the United States as a reliable destination for large-scale foreign investment.
Experts say the gap between initial promises and actual execution raises doubts about future projects.
The situation has drawn political attention. Former President Donald Trump suggested that highly skilled South Korean technicians could temporarily relocate to the US to train American workers in advanced battery and computer manufacturing.
He argued that this approach would fill the knowledge gap and ensure the project moves forward.
At Andrews Air Force Base, Trump said the best way to build local expertise was by bringing in people who already have the technical skills, allowing them to pass knowledge on to US employees before returning home.
He later posted on Truth Social that South Korea’s talent was welcome and that his administration would make it “quickly and legally possible” for companies to bring their specialists to the US.
The plant remains central to American efforts to expand clean energy production and reduce reliance on overseas supply chains.
However, delays raise concerns over whether the US can meet its electric vehicle goals while balancing domestic labor needs with the technical expertise South Korea is positioned to provide.
As the project moves forward, the debate over foreign workers, investment security, and the future of US-South Korea industrial ties is likely to intensify.