Mighty Earth responds to Hyundai’s $21 billion U.S. investment
Washington D.C. — Today, the South Korean automaker Hyundai announced a $21 billion investment in U.S. manufacturing and supply chain development. The plan includes a new steel plant in Louisiana, which is set to hire about 1,500 employees and will produce the “next generation” of steel that will be used to manufacture Hyundai’s electric vehicles. The move is part of Hyundai’s effort to sidestep potential incoming tariff threats that have been signaled by the administration.
Responding to the announcement, Mighty Earth Senior Director of Decarbonization Matthew Groch said:
“Hyundai’s announcement is intended to highlight its focus on the American market and its expanding EV production, but the company’s steel supply chain for these vehicles remains deeply troubling. Hyundai hopes to project an image of itself as an industry leader in the transition to EVs and sustainability, even as its steel supply chains remain linked to Russian coal, labor violations, pollution-related deaths, and the disappearance of activists. Hyundai says its new $5 billion steel mill will produce ‘next-generation’ steel—but progress truly worth celebrating would be Hyundai committing to steel made with green hydrogen instead of dirty coal or natural gas and with full protections for human rights and the environment.”
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For more information or to arrange an interview please contact:
Sydney Jones, Press Secretary (based in Washington D.C.)
Notes to editors:
- A recent report, “Tainted Steel: the Deadly Consequences of Hyundai’s Dirty Steel Supply Chain,” by Mighty Earth details troubling links in Hyundai’s steel supply chain. Research shows that despite its glossy image of sustainability through EV promotion, Hyundai has yet to shift away from coal steel, allowing harmful practices in its supply chain to persist. As the world’s third-largest automaker and owner of its own steel company, Hyundai has both the opportunity and responsibility to lead change.
- Steel production accounts for 7% of global emissions, with the auto industry as the third-largest consumer. Automakers’ reliance on coal-based steel is worsening global heating.
- Research shows that Hyundai Steel continues to source steel manufactured with Russian coal, which likely ends up in cars sold in the U.S. and EU.
About Mighty Earth
Mighty Earth is a global advocacy organization working to defend a living planet. Our goal is to protect half of Earth for Nature and secure a climate that allows life to flourish. We are obsessed with impact and aspire to be the most effective environmental advocacy organization in the world. Our team has achieved transformative change by persuading leading industries to dramatically reduce deforestation and climate pollution throughout their global supply chains in palm oil, rubber, cocoa, and animal feed, while improving livelihoods for Indigenous and local communities across the tropics.
