Battery Belt States Are Leading the Way on EV Jobs
Momentum is surging across America’s “Battery Belt.” This manufacturing corridor, which includes Georgia, South Carolina, Tennessee, Alabama, Kentucky, North Carolina, and Mississippi, has become the center of U.S. EV and battery growth. The region has attracted more than $80 billion in investments, fueling tens of thousands of new jobs across vehicle and battery plants, supply chains, and infrastructure (more from CBS News).
MAGNET: A Tri-State Push for Jobs and Innovation
This week, Georgia joined Alabama and Mississippi to launch MAGNET (Mississippi Alabama Georgia Network for Evolving Transportation), a tri-state manufacturing partnership headquartered at the University of Alabama. The initiative was formalized through a memorandum of understanding signed by the three governors, the CEOs of Southern Company and its utilities, and the presidents of the University of Alabama, the University of Georgia, and Mississippi State University.
MAGNET will serve as a hub for EV and battery innovation, workforce training, and economic development. Alabama Governor Kay Ivey noted that the three states “collectively built 1.9 million cars in 2023,” underscoring the region’s automotive strength. MAGNET is also a semifinalist in the National Science Foundation’s Regional Innovation Engines competition.
Forum Spotlight: EVs for All America at the Forefront
At the Battery Belt Charging Forward Forum, hosted by the Georgia Network for Electric Mobility at the University of Georgia, Mike Murphy, CEO of EVs for All America, presented our research on bridging partisan divides in EV adoption. He highlighted how economic growth, consumer choice, and American-made manufacturing can unite drivers across political backgrounds.
Gaby Pierre, Managing Director of GNEM, facilitated the event and introduced a range of leaders:
- Mike Oatridge, CEO of MAGNET and former Senior Vice President at Honda, discussed national competitiveness and the future of the mobility supply chain.
- Stephanie Valdez Streaty, Director of Mobility Research at Cox Automotive, presented data on EV adoption trends and consumer sentiment.
- Dr. Omar Asensio of Georgia Tech and Dr. Elaine Buckberg of Harvard’s Salata Institute, who is a former GM Chief Economist, spoke about how infrastructure and data can unlock economic growth.
The Role of South Carolina and Scout Motors
South Carolina is also a centerpiece of the Battery Belt. Scout Motors is investing more than $2 billion in a new EV production center near Columbia that will employ more than 4,000 workers and produce up to 200,000 vehicles a year (Torque News).
Additionally, battery manufacturer AESC has announced a $1.6 billion plant in Florence, SC, which is projected to create 1,600 jobs. Construction is currently paused due to market conditions, but the company remains committed to completing the project.
What the Battery Belt Means for Jobs
- More than 35 major EV and battery facilities have been announced or built in the region since 2020.
- Automakers, including Hyundai, Ford, GM, Rivian, SK On, and Scout, have made multi-billion-dollar commitments.
- The region already supports over 100,000 EV-related jobs, and that number is expected to double by 2030 (CBS News).
- Flagship projects include Hyundai’s $7.6 billion Metaplant in Georgia and Toyota’s $13.9 billion battery facility in North Carolina, both of which are set to employ thousands and produce batteries on a massive scale.
The Bottom Line
The Battery Belt is driving America’s EV future by creating jobs, attracting investment, and fostering innovation. From Georgia’s Hyundai Metaplant to South Carolina’s Scout Motors and North Carolina’s Toyota battery facility, the region is proving that EV manufacturing can thrive in red, blue, and purple states alike.
At EVs for All America, we are proud to stand alongside the leaders and workers who are building this momentum and to help ensure that the EV future is inclusive and nationwide.