Hyundai, Kia and Genesis EVs face uncertainty amid production hold-up
More than 300 Korean citizens return home after an ice attack
South Korea has signed a contract with the United States following an ice attack at the Hyundai Battery Factory in Georgia. Over 300 Koreans return home.
- Hyundai produces several popular EVs across its brand portfolio.
- ICE’s attack on Hyundai’s multi-billion dollar Georgia plant has created serious production problems for Korean companies.
The US Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency stormed Metaplant America, the Hyundai Motor Group in eastern Georgia on September 4th. The agency has detained 475 workers on allegations of being illegally employed in the United States.
The attack shocked the auto industry as carmakers are already tackling tariff disruptions due to the Trump administration’s trade stance. The ice attacks on modern plants could have a serious impact on Korean automakers, which have emerged as a major player in the EV scene in recent years.
What does Hyundai ice attack mean for Korean brands?
Hundreds of people have been arrested at the battery factory on the Hyundai Metaplant Campus
Steven Schrank, a special agent responsible for Georgia’s Homeland Security Investigation, talks about the arrests of around 475 people at HL-GA Battery Co.
The Hyundai Motor Company calls its factory a “significant pillar” of its $12.6 billion investment in Georgia. The vehicle assembly and battery plants are set up to produce up to 500,000 hybrid and electric vehicles for the company’s brand portfolio.
Hyundai also pledged $21 billion in US manufacturing growth from 2025 to 2028, so the decision to storm South Korean automaker’s factories has baffled several political observers given President Donald Trump’s sought private and foreign investment.
On September 11th, more than 300 Hyundai employees headed to South Korea from Atlanta. According to Axios, “production at the battery plant is likely to be two to three months behind.”
What does modern ice raids mean to car buyers?
It is no secret that Hyundai produced notable electric vehicle products such as the Hyundai Ionik 5 and the KIA EV6. Production delays can mean that plants do not produce many of the popular EVs. It could also mean that production of planned new electric vehicle nameplates for 2026 will be delayed.
Furthermore, battery production could have cost impacts on car manufacturers and consumers if Hyundai delays it to import batteries and parts. Ultimately, it’s too early to tell how impactful the ice attack will have on Hyundai, Kia and Genesis, but production delays are bad news for all three Korean brands as rivals Honda, General Motors and Ford continue to gain momentum.
Hyundai EV sales status for 2025
Hyundai Motor Company’s EV sales have been up year-on-year. Sales report data shows that August Ioniq 5 small SUV sales increased by 61% compared to 2024. August Ioniq 6 sales increased 30% compared to August 2024.
As of August 2025, Hyundai sold 32,683 small electric SUVs in IONIQ 5 and 8,318 small electric sedans in IONIQ 6. The Korean automaker is projected to easily beat the 2024 sales figures of both EV models.
This year, Hyundai introduced the Ioniq 9 electric medium-sized SUV. This is slotted above the Ioniq 5. As of August, Hyundai sold 3,102 Ioniq 9 SUVs that year.
Hyundai’s EV sales are strong, but automakers are competing in the EV space. Tesla remains an uncontroversial sales champion, with Chevrolet’s Equinox EV being a success for the US brand. The recent Hyundai Ice Raid in Georgia has managed to set up the company at a critical time in the fight for market share.
