Savannah Chamber

19 3 Manufacturing Covered employment in manufacturing in the Savannah MSA increased to 24,261 as of early 2025. Since the May 2022 Hyundai Metaplant announcement, the regional manufacturing base has increased 29%, a gain of 5,442 workers. As a result, an additional $900 million in worker compensation is flowing through the regional economy. Over 88% of the manufacturing growth has been at employers in the transportation equipment sector, in other words, at Gulfstream, at the Hyundai Metaplant, and at supply chain firms for the Metaplant. A review of recent activity and announcements from headlining companies in the sector points toward another strong year for manufacturing in 2026. The Savannah Harbor-Interstate 16 Corridor Joint Development Authority (Savannah JDA), representing Bryan, Bulloch, Chatham and Effingham counties, continued its partnership with Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America (HMGMA). In March 2025, HMGMA held its grand opening, celebrating the largest economic development project in Georgia's history just two and a half years after breaking ground. In September 2025, Hyundai Motor Group announced the Phase 2 expansion, which will bring capacity to 500,000 vehicles and will include 3,000 jobs and $2.7 billion in investment. HMGMA is currently producing the IONIQ 5 and IONIQ 9 and is expected to begin production of additional EVs and hybrids in 2026. Supplier activity surrounding the project continued to expand, with more than $2.5 billion in new capital investment and approximately 7,216 announced jobs across Georgia. The Savannah JDA remains a key partner in supporting site development, infrastructure coordination and the project's ongoing impact across the four-county region. Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation is the largest private employer in Savannah with a global workforce of 20,000+ workers in production, service, maintenance, engineering, and research and development. Gulfstream announced the all-new, super-midsize Gulfstream G300 as the latest aircraft to join its next-generation fleet. The G300 made its first flight in December 2025, demonstrating significant program maturity and officially launching its rigorous flight test program. Gulfstream aircraft attained new milestones in 2025. The company announced its fleet of corporate, demonstration, and support aircraft have surpassed 3 million nautical miles flown on sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) blends. Gulfstream continues development of its fleet of aircraft. The first customer delivery of the all-new Gulfstream G800, the world's longest range business aircraft, was completed in 2025. The G800 entry into service follows its Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) certifications earlier this year. Gulfstream announced the 50th customer delivery of the G700. The aircraft was outfitted at the Savannah completions center. Since entering service in April 2024, the G700 operates globally, and the fleet has accumulated more than 11,700 flight hours. The G380 fleet also achieved a milestone as the fleet completed its 300 th customer delivery. The in-service G280 fleet has accrued more than 575,000 flight hours and completed nearly 358,000 landings, demonstrating high global demand and the durability and dependability of the aircraft. JCB's North American headquarters, centered in Savannah, is a 500,000-square-foot facility to support a network of over 115 dealers in the U.S. and Canada. In August of 2025, JCB was awarded a $45 million contract to supply 4CX Backhoe Loaders to the United States armed forces after an extensive evaluation period. In November 2025, the company won the coveted "Tractor of the Year" award for its all-new high-power Fastrac 6300 in recognition of the tractor's combination of industry-leading features, abilities and performance. The Savannah Economic Development Authority (SEDA) had another strong year as the organization continued working with partners to attract new job opportunities and investment to Chatham County. SEDA facilitated eight new companies or expansions in 2025. SEDA also finalized and adopted its new strategic plan, establishing a clear framework for priorities over the next five to seven years. In addition, SEDA collaborated with partners throughout the year on industry expansion, workforce needs and opportunities arising from major regional investments including the continued growth surrounding Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America. World Trade Center Savannah (WTCSav) advanced its international engagement efforts through high-impact programs and global outreach. In partnership with Georgia Power, WTCSav hosted the Southeast Georgia Good News and International Protocol Training for representatives from more than 23 counties. The organization also convened the inaugural Global Business Summit, bringing together nearly 130 leaders from Quebec, Washington, D.C., Georgia state agencies and Southeast Georgia to strengthen regional and global economic collaboration.

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