Georgia Ports Authority leaders discussed how the port system supports the state’s auto industry at the State of the Port of Brunswick on Tuesday. Their remarks came weeks after Audi announced plans for a central Georgia manufacturing facility expected to bring 4,500 jobs to the state, according to the authority.
The Brunswick supply chain handles vehicle imports and exports, vehicle processing, finished-vehicle distribution and parts storage, the GPA said. BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Volvo use the port to ship finished vehicles. The Port of Savannah, meanwhile, serves as a gateway for containerized auto parts.
Ports leaders pointed to seaport access, rail infrastructure and direct highway connections as advantages for manufacturers in the Southeast. They also cited Hyundai Motor Group’s Metaplant America in Bryan County, which sits on a 3,000-acre site and has attracted 22 suppliers to the region.
The GPA’s press release also identified Rivian’s northeast Georgia manufacturing project as a $5 billion investment expected to bring 7,500 jobs to Georgia by 2030. That projection, like Audi’s job estimate, describes a planned project rather than jobs already created.
GPA CEO Griff Lynch said the ports create opportunities for business growth, strengthen supply-chain competitiveness and support job growth in port communities and across the state. GPA President Kevin Price said the auto manufacturing sector is growing alongside heavy machinery markets, including construction and farm equipment.
Yolonda Harris
News Now Georgia
