Governor Brian P. Kemp announced Monday that Daechang Seat Corp. USA, a supplier specializing in automotive seat frames, will invest $72.5 million in the Savannah Chatham Manufacturing Center, in close proximity to Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America (HMGMA), creating over 500 jobs.
“Today’s news of another HMGMA supplier coming to Georgia is just the latest reminder of the impact projects like the Hyundai Metaplant have beyond their initial investment,” said Governor Brian Kemp. “To date, suppliers for this project alone reach at least nine counties, and we’re excited to add Daechang Seat Corp. USA to our growing manufacturing base centered around Chatham County and the Savannah region.”
Daechang Seat Corp. (DSC) was established in 1979 in Kyungju, South Korea, and has become one of the largest seat frame producers in the world. Globally, DSC employs more than 5,000 people in seven countries. The company’s production process includes fully automatic lines with arc welding and spot-welding machines.
“I’d like to express our heartfelt appreciation to the State of Georgia, its local communities, and the City of Savannah. DSC takes great pride in its role in creating improved opportunities and employment prospects within Chatham County and the Savannah area, and I am deeply honored that DSC can maintain its steadfast partnership with the City of Savannah,” said Jinsuk Lee, CEO of Daechang Seat Savannah Corp. “Our primary objective is to drive the growth of DSC through facility expansions, ultimately transforming DSC into a global entity. Presently, DSC holds a prominent partnership with Hyundai Transys and Hyundai Mobis at HMGMA, and we hope to collaborate with even more projects in the future.”
DSC’s new facility will be located at the Savannah Chatham Manufacturing Center. The company will be hiring for assembly operators, equipment technicians, mechanical engineers, and electrical engineers through local job fairs and website postings in the future.
“Only minutes from the Port of Savannah, DSC is ideally located to take advantage of Georgia’s world-class connectivity,” said Griff Lynch, Georgia Ports Authority President and CEO. “At GPA, we’re all-in on providing the best global gateway for U.S. supply chains, and we’re excited to welcome DSC as the latest job creator in Georgia’s automaking sector.”
“It is exciting to announce that the third Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America supplier will be locating in the Savannah Chatham Manufacturing Center and bringing 500 new jobs and $72.5 million in capital investment in Chatham County,” said Savannah Economic Development Authority President and CEO Trip Tollison. “Daechang Seat Corp. USA is a well-established global company, and we look forward to working with them as they grow and become part of our community.”
Director of Project Implementation and Supplier Strategy Alyce Thornhill represented the Georgia Department of Economic Development’s (GDEcD) Global Commerce team on this competitive project in partnership with the Savannah Economic Development Authority, Georgia Ports Authority, Georgia Power, and Georgia Quick Start.
“Countless partners are helping transform Georgia into a center of the automotive and mobility industry, and we’re excited to welcome DSC in Savannah,” said GDEcD Commissioner Pat Wilson. “Savannah is an established global gateway, and Chatham County has leveraged that advantage to create a bustling community where people come to live, work, and enjoy the Hostess City of the South. Congratulations to DSC, our partners in Savannah, and everyone else who has been a part of the good news!”
As the market transitions to electric vehicles, Georgia has pursued the entire supply chain, creating more than $25 billion in investments and 30,000 jobs since 2018. In fiscal year 2023, job creation in the automotive industry increased by 324 percent when compared to FY21, and suppliers attracted by Georgia’s mobility original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) resulted in over $2 billion in investment across the state in FY23.
