Autonomous driving·robot·city aviation… Hyundai Motor Group leaps forward as a mobility company

Input 2021.03.08 11:00

Chairman Eui-sun Eui, Expanding New Concept Mobility Business Area

Hyundai Motor Company (005380)The group is setting this year as the first year of implementation of the ‘2025 strategy’ and is speeding up the development of new businesses such as autonomous vehicles, robotics, and UAM (city aviation mobility). In the post-corona era, it is planning to leap to a future mobility solution company rather than a simple car manufacturer.

In December of last year, Hyundai Motor Group decided to acquire Boston Dynamics, an American robotics company, for about 1 trillion won. This is the first merger and acquisition (M&A) initiated after Chairman Eui-sun Eui-sun was elected as the group’s head in October last year. Boston Dynamics made its name known as’Spot,’ a four-legged robotic dog, raised by Amazon’s founder Jeff Bezos as a pet dog.

Hyundai Motor Company plans to strengthen its competitiveness in the future mobility sector through this acquisition. The global robot market is expected to grow at an annual average rate of 32% until 2025 due to the rapid increase in demand for automation due to an aging population and the spread of smart factories. An official from the group said, “I will mobilize Hyundai Motor’s mass production capabilities, R&D capabilities, and global business network to mass-produce robots for Boston Dynamics.”

At the group level Hyundai Mobis (012330)·Hyundai Glovis (086280)The company plans to expand the business area from entry into the robot market to smart logistics solutions in connection with the company, and establish a new robot-centered supply chain.

Last month, Hyundai Motor Company introduced’Tiger’, an unmanned walking mobility that combines mobility and robotics technologies. Tiger is regarded as an example of Chairman Eui-sun Eui’s plan to expand the area of ​​new concept mobility.

The Tiger is about 80 cm long, 40 cm wide, and weighs about 12 kg. It is a small unmanned mobility with 4 legs and wheels. It can move freely through the combination of intelligent robot technology and wheels, even on rough terrain that even off-road vehicles cannot go. Tiger can use the walking ability of a robotic leg when passing through terrain with obstacles or difficult to pass with wheels, and can transform into a four-wheel drive vehicle on flat terrain and drive at speed.

Hyundai Motor Group is also focusing on UAM development. The UAM concept’S-A1′ was introduced at’CES 2020′, the world’s largest electronics and IT exhibition held in January last year. It is a mobility under development based on four principles: safety, low noise, economy, ease of access, and passenger-oriented. In order to lead the UAM market, Hyundai Motor Company is setting out to build a comprehensive product line covering both the passenger and cargo transportation markets.

In 2026, it plans to introduce a cargo UAS (unmanned aerial system) equipped with a hybrid powertrain, and in 2028 it plans to introduce a fully electric UAM model optimized for urban operation. In the 2030s, it plans to launch regional aviation mobility products that connect adjacent cities with each other.