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Building together: HYUNDAI-POSCO Louisiana Steel marks a major milestone, welcomes nearly 700 residents to Community Day. Sep 09, 2026, 09:00 ET * $5.8 billion steel mill project marked with ceremonial event on September 4, followed by Community Day celebration two days later * Sequential events demonstrate HPLS's commitment to manufacturing investment and community partnership * Community Day featured live music, interactive activities, cultural exchanges bridging Louisiana and Korea DONALDSONVILLE, La., Sept. 9, 2026 /PRNewswire/ - Just days after marking its $5.8 billion steel mill project launch with a ceremonial event on September 4, HYUNDAI-POSCO Louisiana Steel (HPLS) demonstrated its commitment to community partnership by hosting a celebration on September 6 that drew nearly 700 Donaldsonville residents. HPLS, a joint venture between Hyundai Steel, POSCO, Hyundai Motor and Kia Corporation, marked the launch of its $5.8 billion steel mill project on September 4. The first Electric Arc Furnace-based integrated steel mill in the U.S. will begin commercial production in 2029 and is expected to create 5,400 jobs, including 1,300 direct positions, while reducing CO[2] emissions by approximately 70 percent compared to conventional methods. Two days later, HPLS brought that strategic vision directly to the community. On September 6, the company hosted Community Day at Louisiana Square in Donaldsonville under the slogan "Building the Future of Steel, Together with Louisiana." The celebration featured live music performances by local artists Red Tape Musiq, King Pakayea' Band and Royal Essence, interactive activities, and cultural exchanges that brought together HPLS executives, employees and community members. Local leaders including Donaldsonville Mayor Leroy Sullivan joined the celebration alongside HPLS CEO Hyung-Jin Kim. "We are pleased to see the HPLS project launch ceremony successfully held here in our community," said Donaldsonville Mayor Leroy Sullivan, "We look forward to seeing HPLS grow as a long-term partner in our community and build a shared future together with the people of Donaldsonville." Interactive activities brought families together, including a miniature shovel game to find letters spelling "HPLS" and a 29-second bucket-stacking challenge - a playful nod to 2029, when commercial production is scheduled to begin. Participants who completed the challenge received HPLS-branded merchandise including T-shirts, caps and eco-friendly coasters. Food offered another point of connection between Louisiana and Korea, with residents enjoying local favorites such as jambalaya and chicken wings alongside Korean dishes including dakgangjeong (Korean sweet and crispy fried chicken) and vegetable fried rice. At a photo area, families posed with hard hats and shovels, capturing memorable moments celebrating the project milestone. Investing in Community Partnership Beyond the Community Day celebration, HPLS has committed to building long-term partnerships with local institutions. The company is collaborating with Louisiana State University and River Parishes Community College to develop workforce training programs, including the RPCC - Hyundai Workforce Training Center in Donaldsonville. In 2026 alone, HPLS donated more than $30,000 to local organizations including the Modeste Food Bank, local youth programs, and community events. "The event marked another opportunity for HPLS to connect with the Donaldsonville community, building on the relationships and engagement already established as the company begins building not only a new steel mill, but also long-term relationships in Louisiana," said Hyung-Jin Kim, CEO of HPLS, "HPLS is grateful to the residents, local leaders and community partners who helped make the day possible and looks forward to continuing to build its future in Louisiana together with the community." The Louisiana steel mill represents Hyundai Steel's first North American steelmaking facility and a cornerstone of Hyundai Motor Group's broader $26 billion U.S. investment commitment. The facility will supply high-quality, low-carbon automotive steel to Hyundai Motor and Kia plants in the U.S. as well as other major automakers, establishing a resilient automotive supply chain. About HYUNDAI-POSCO Louisiana Steel (HPLS) HYUNDAI-POSCO Louisiana Steel (HPLS) is a $5.8 billion landmark investment redefining the future of manufacturing in the United States. Located in Ascension Parish, Louisiana, this first-of-its-kind facility represents Hyundai Motor Group's inaugural steelmaking base in North America - establishing a fully integrated, made-in-America supply chain supporting automotive production nationwide. More information about HPLS can be found at: https://www.linkedin.com/company/hyundai-posco-louisiana-steel/ About Hyundai Steel Hyundai Steel Company is a leading steel manufacturer headquartered in Seoul, Republic of Korea. Established in 1953, Hyundai Steel is a core member of Hyundai Motor Group and supplies high-quality steel products to global industries including automotive, construction, machinery, shipbuilding, and energy sectors. More information about Hyundai Steel, please see: https://hyundai-steel.com/en SOURCE HYUNDAI-POSCO Louisiana Steel

The upcoming Hyundai Tucson N could be a hybrid with close to 350 HP. Hyundai's all-new hybrid powertrain could do more than save fuel. With a bit of luck, it may also enable a bigger punch for the next-gen Tucson N Published: 9 Sep 2026, 10:55 UTC - By: Photo: Hyundai The Hyundai Tucson has recently switched over to an entirely new generation, and there is a spicy option reportedly lurking in the background. Hyundai's performance division is purportedly working on a high-performance model, with electrified oomph providing the extra shove needed to turn the South Korean giant's bestseller into a more exciting machine. Before going any further, Hyundai still hasn't confirmed the alleged model. The proposal comes from British motoring publication Auto Express, which is citing a few comments from the head of the N Management Group. Nevertheless, the idea and the timing are very compelling. Hyundai made it clear that regular versions of the all-new Tucson, including hybrids, are due in the fourth quarter of 2026 for the 2027 model year. The company also said that its N lineup will add many new models as Hyundai works toward 100,000 annual N sales by decade's end. Compared to the current 20,000-vehicle baseline, that's a tall order in a very short timeframe to boot. In other words, the purported Tucson N seems perfect for widening the performance sub-brand's scope. Speaking to Auto Express, Joon Park explained that Hyundai and the N division are working on N-specific hybrid systems with different characteristics from those used by N-Line and non-N specifications. Hyundai Motor Group has already unveiled a next-gen hybrid system built around a dual-motor arrangement. The first of two motors handles battery charging and engine starting, whereas the other provides regenerative braking and propulsion. This architecture can be paired with a variety of internal combustion engines, and it's also designed to cover outputs exceeding 300 horsepower. Photo: Hyundai The system can incorporate an electrified rear axle, giving N engineers considerably more freedom during the calibration phase of performance-oriented models. Electric torque, therefore, could be controlled independently between the front and rear axles to sharpen the vehicle's responses in the corners. There is, however, an important caveat here because Hyundai never said that its upcoming Tucson N will use this exact hybrid configuration. Auto Express hypothesized this powertrain for this particular application, adding that maximum output could reach 350 brake horsepower. Beyond electric all-wheel drive, adaptive suspension is also expected. Larger wheels, better tires and brakes, and enough chassis tuning to keep the Tucson N entertaining without turning everyday driving into an endurance race should also be taken into consideration. As of this writing, the most powerful hybrid series-production Hyundai that money can buy is the Palisade with the 2.5-liter turbo setup. In the US market, said model is rated at 329 horsepower and 339 pound-feet (460 Newton-meters) of twist. The Palisade Hybrid integrates two motors inside the automatic transmission's housing up front. Instead of an electrified rear end, all-wheel-drive vehicles use a traditional driveshaft. Looking at the bigger picture, the potential Tucson N represents the opening salvo in Hyundai's much-rumored hybrid performance offensive. Its powertrain could easily trickle down to smaller models, paving the way for the hot versions of the i30 N, Kona N, and i20 N. That said, the N division's expansion plan includes seven new models by the end of the decade. Liked the article? Follow Autoevolution to see more articles from autoevolution in your Google feeds. After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well. Full profile