Powering the Next Generation of Mobility

The Future of Mobility Is About More Than Vehicles

When we think about the future of mobility, the topic is something much bigger than vehicles. We are talking about economic competitiveness, energy reliability, workforce readiness, and consumer choice.

There are very few places in the country that sit at the intersection of those four corners quite like Georgia.

Georgia’s Electric Mobility Ecosystem: Built for Long-Term Growth

In our state of Georgia, electric mobility is not a trend. It is an ecosystem. One that has been built deliberately, patiently, and one which has origins that began long before federal incentives ever entered the conversation.

Georgia’s focus on sustainable mobility technology has resulted in record investment over the last several years as the state has worked to attract companies across the electric vehicle supply chain, battery production, eVTOL aircraft and other advanced solutions. At the same time, Georgia has aligned workforce programs with industry so companies can find the talent they need not just today, but decades into the future.

These advancements are exciting, but what matters most in this story is timing and leadership.

Early Leadership Positioned Georgia Ahead of Federal Incentives

Georgia has been ahead of the curve since the very beginning. Our state began its transition toward attracting electric mobility and battery technologies well before the Inflation Reduction Act was signed in August of 2022. In fact, Hanwha Qcells opened its first Georgia facility in 2019. And Hyundai selected Georgia before the IRA became law. Thanks to bold leadership, an innovative approach, and strong partnerships across key institutions, our foundation was already in place.

To understand how we arrived at this moment, let’s look at our history. What was Georgia doing years earlier? How did we find ourselves here?

Key Investments That Built Georgia’s EV Supply Chain

In 2018, SK Battery America announced what was then a historic investment in Jackson County. Groundbreaking followed in 2019, bringing 2,000 jobs and $1.67 billion in capital investment. That announcement would set in motion a ripple effect – attracting investment from global e-mobility suppliers like Duckyang, Enchem Ltd, TEKLAS, GEDIA, and more.

We also saw that vision play out at scale with Rivian. In 2021, Rivian announced what was then the largest economic development project in Georgia’s history—7,500 jobs and $5 billion in capital investment. Vertical construction on that site is set to begin this year, and we’ll see vehicles rolling off that line as early as 2028. In the meantime, Rivian has landed their east coast headquarters in the heart of Atlanta, doubling down on our state and proving that we are well-suited for the next generation of mobility on every level.

These investments were not just reactions to federal policy. They were strategic decisions based on Georgia’s workforce, infrastructure, logistics, and long--term vision.

Hyundai’s Metaplant and the Power of Industrial Clustering

Then there’s Hyundai.

The Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America selected Georgia in October of 2021 and formally signed their agreement in May of 2022. The initial announcement included 8,100 jobs and $5.5 billion in investment. With the addition of the LG Energy Solution joint venture on site, that total rose to 8,500 jobs and more than $7.5 billion in capital investment.

Since then, 20 suppliers have announced plans to locate in Georgia, bringing more than 7,000 additional jobs and $4.5 billion more in investment.

That type of clustering does not happen by accident.

Policy Accelerated an Existing Advantage

By the time the Inflation Reduction Act was signed, at least 34 electric mobility projects were already active or in discussion in Georgia. Between 2018 and 2023, e-mobility and battery projects represented more than $27 billion in planned investment.

In regards to the IRA’s effect on the e-mobility landscape in Georgia, the best way to describe its impact is this: it poured gasoline on a fire that was already burning. Or, to update our metaphor - added capacity to a full battery

Yes, capital followed incentives. But companies chose Georgia because the ecosystem was already here. The workforce pipeline was proven. Infrastructure planning had been done. Utility partners were engaged early. Georgia had a head start, and it shows.

Long-Term Planning and Site Readiness Drove Major Wins

That head start did not come without lessons learned.

In 2015, Georgia worked hard to recruit a major automotive OEM to Bryan County but ultimately lost the project. State and local leaders took that loss seriously. So as a result, our local leaders formed a joint development authority to ensure regional alignment. They preserved land for a future mega-auto- project. They planned infrastructure years in advance—power, water, gas, sewer, rail. They studied wetlands early to reduce risk.

That seven-year commitment is what laid the groundwork for Georgia to win Hyundai, the largest project in the state’s history. It is a reminder that economic development success is rarely about a single moment. It is about sustained discipline.

Integrating Electric Mobility with Georgia’s Energy Grid

From an energy perspective, electric mobility is not just about manufacturing vehicles. It is about how those vehicles integrate with the grid. And how can you support a project of this size reliably and on time. It’s also about mobility via air, not just land.

Think efficient movement of freight at our Georgia Ports via massive ship-to-shore electric gantries via vessels and docks and eVTOL solutions like those from Archer Aviation that are being manufactured right here in Georgia to revolutionize air travel.

At Georgia Power and across Southern Company, we are focused on ensuring that electric mobility strengthens, rather than strains, our energy system. That means investing in reliable, scalable power to support large-scale manufacturing. It means expanding EV charging infrastructure across urban and rural communities alike – alleviating range- anxiety across every part of our state. It means piloting managed charging programs that reduce peak demand and enhance grid stability.

Advancing Vehicle-to-Grid Technology and Energy Innovation

It also means advancing vehicle-to-grid and vehicle-to-everything technologies.

For our team and our organization, it’s crucial that we fully embrace electric mobility, and to be at the forefront of this movement both for the future of our organization and the confidence of our customers. That means reinvesting in our past work as well as building for a future that is becoming more and more reliant on electric transportation. Georgia Power has extended both our EV infrastructure and charger rebate programs through 2028, and this year began a vehicle-to-grid (V2G) pilot using electric school buses – the first of its kind across the Southern Company system.

V2G represents a future where electric vehicles are not just loads on the system, but mobile energy assets — assets that can provide resilience, support grid operations, and enhance reliability during extreme weather events. This work ensures that as electric mobility grows, it does so in a way that benefits customers, communities, and the grid as a whole.

Consumer Demand and Flexible Manufacturing in Georgia

When it comes to consumer adoption, the conversation often focuses on short-term market fluctuations. But Georgia is set up to dive much deeper than surface level conversations. Our ecosystem is optimized for fluctuations.

What makes Georgia different is flexibility. We are able to move with consumer demand.

Hyundai and Kia can scale internal combustion or electric production as market demand dictates. Rivian is adjusting its product mix in response to consumer preferences. Georgia’s approach allows organic adoption rather, not mandating the manipulation of markets. The state brings together public and private partners to build the infrastructure that allows consumers—not policy—to drive the pace of change.

Why Georgia Leads in the Future of Electric Mobility

This electric mobility wave, which has brought billions of dollars in additional investment beyond the headline projects, mirrors what Georgia experienced following Kia’s decision to locate in West Georgia nearly two decades ago. It is also why competition for automotive OEMs is so intense today.

Electric mobility is reshaping how we build, how we move, how we power, and how we compete. It’s shaping the way we innovate, how goods are moved, and how we perceive our world. Electric Mobility is not just about vehicles.

Georgia’s success comes from starting early, staying disciplined, and aligning policy, infrastructure, workforce, and energy leadership around a shared vision.

At Georgia Power and Southern Company, we are proud to help power not just the vehicles of the future, but the economic future of Georgia.