Hyundai’s Groundbreaking EV Factory Opens Doors in 2026

Hyundai Motor’s Ulsan factory, the heart of South Korea’s automotive industry, is embarking on a new challenge to become a century-old company in the era of electrification, carrying on the grand dream of half a century ago.

Hyundai Motor held a groundbreaking ceremony for the Ulsan EV-exclusive factory within the Ulsan factory premises on the 13th.

The Ulsan EV-exclusive factory is planned to serve as the hub of Hyundai Motor’s mobility production in the era of electrification, as a human-centric factory equipped with an innovative manufacturing platform and an optimal working environment.

Hyundai Motor will actively inherit the brand heritage, automotive business know-how, and technical capabilities it has accumulated over 56 years, and based on human-centered humanism, it will innovate for humanity even in the era of electrification.

Key figures including Hyundai Motor Group Chairman Euisun Chung, Hyundai Motor President Jaehoon Chang, and Executive Vice President Dongseok Lee, as well as Ulsan Mayor Doo-Kyeom Kim, First Vice Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Young-jin Jang, Congressman Chae-ik Lee, Congressman Sang-heon Lee, and Congressman Sung-min Park attended the event.

Chairman Chung said, “The Ulsan EV-exclusive factory is another beginning towards the era of electrification for the next 50 years,” and added, “It is an honor to share the dream of a 100-year-old company at this place.”

Chairman Chung continued, “Just as the dream of making the best car has turned Ulsan into an automotive industrial city today, I believe that Ulsan will become an innovative mobility city leading the era of electrification with the start of Hyundai Motor’s EV-exclusive factory.”

Ulsan Mayor Kim Doo-Kyeom said in his greeting, “It is an undeniable fact that Hyundai Motor has played the biggest role in Ulsan’s growth,” and added, “We will do our best to draw a new future together in line with the changes in the global automotive industry.”

First Vice Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Young-jin Jang said in his congratulatory speech, “I believe that Hyundai Motor will stand tall as a strong player in the era of electric vehicles with a decisive investment,” and mentioned, “The government will also prioritize improving the corporate investment environment, such as bold tax benefits and breaking killer regulations.”

■ Hyundai Motor’s ‘Ulsan Factory’… A Mecca of Challenges Accumulating Dreams for a Better Life and Movement

The late Chairman Chung Ju-yung took the first step in Ulsan to realize the dream of a better life and movement, firmly believing that the automotive industry would be the cornerstone of the national economy and national industrial development, to the point where he described a car as a ‘running national flag.’

The message of the late Chairman Chung Ju-yung, which was restored through artificial intelligence (AI) and revealed at the groundbreaking ceremony on the day, represented the long-held dream of Hyundai Motor employees who want to leap forward as a global car maker while showing the humanistic spirit that values people as the most critical value.

“We have the world’s best weapon, ‘the world’s best-skilled workers.’ I am confident that the day will come soon when our cars, Korean cars, will sweep the world market thanks to the ability and dedication of these excellent and wonderful people.”                                                                                                                                                                     – Late Chairman Chung Ju-yung

The Ulsan factory, which started as an assembly plant in 1968, has made unprecedented leaps in the history of the world’s automobile in a short period thanks to its employees’ endless passion and dedication, with the grand dream of presenting Korea’s automobiles to the world market.

In particular, the mass production of Hyundai Motor’s first proprietary model, the ‘Pony,’ in 1975 was a highlight that showed the tenacious perseverance and astonishing driving force of Hyundai Motor employees who wanted to develop Korea’s first independent car model despite the poor domestic environment and skeptical views.

The mass production of the Pony went beyond simple vehicle development to become a stepping stone for technological independence, leading to the active movement of domesticating automobile equipment and parts that had been dependent on overseas and leading to the development of domestic automobile production technology.

In addition, the quality-first principle represented by ‘quality management’ of Honorary Chairman Chung Mong-koo became the source for Hyundai Motor to leave a clear footprint in the global automobile industry beyond Korea and to be reborn as a global brand.

Through this, the Ulsan factory, which has been around for over half a century, has grown to become the world’s largest single factory, the center of Hyundai Motor’s finished car production, and the cradle of the development of the Korean automobile industry.

■ Human-centered EV-exclusive factory…Inheriting the spirit of humanism even in the era of electrification

Hyundai Motor plans to continue its growth trajectory under the humanistic spirit of the late Chairman Chung Ju-yung, which has been nurtured by the efforts of many employees, even in the era of electrification.

The Ulsan EV-exclusive factory is Hyundai Motor’s new domestic factory for the first time in 29 years since the Asan factory 1996.

Hyundai Motor established an EV-exclusive factory to lead the era of electrification, provide products that exceed customer expectations, and strengthen the domestic-related industry base.

Hyundai Motor’s human-centered value of providing a free movement experience to humanity and seeking harmonious coexistence is directed at customers and employees who make products.

For this, the newly established Ulsan EV-exclusive factory plans to present a human-centered factory that will lead the next 50 years by creating a space that can coexist with nature’s innovative production facilities and an optimal working environment for employees.

President Jaehoon Chang said, “For the past half-century, Hyundai Motor’s Ulsan factory has evolved as technicians on the production line learn, create, and challenge,” and added, “Inheriting the heritage of the Ulsan factory, which has made grand dreams a reality with human power, Hyundai Motor will continue to strive to create innovative mobility for people.”

■ The largest EV-exclusive factory in Korea…The start of the development of next-generation mobility and the future

The Ulsan EV-exclusive factory will be built on a 548,000 square meter (approximately 165.9 acres) site with the capacity to produce 200,000 electric vehicles annually.