Hyundai Motor Company fleshed out its ‘Physical AI’ strategy that combines autonomous driving and robots at the shareholders’ meeting today (26th).
The plan is to install ‘level 2+’ autonomous driving technology in new cars this year and establish an annual production system of 30,000 robots by 2028.
Let’s find out by connecting with a reporter who is out in the field. Reporter Lee Ji-hyo.
This is in front of the Hyundai Motor Group in Yangjae-dong, Seoul, where the Hyundai Motor Company shareholders’ meeting was held.
At today’s general shareholders’ meeting, Hyundai Motor Company President Jose Muñoz once again emphasized his determination to transform the company into a ‘physical AI’ company.
We have prepared a statement from President Jose Muñoz.
[호세무뇨스/현대차 사장: 로봇 공학은 우리 사람들이 일하는 방식을 대체하는 것이 아니라 확장하도록 설계되었다는 점을 강조합니다. 2028년까지 연간 3만대 규모의 로봇 생산 능력을 갖추겠습니다.]
Specifically, Hyundai Motor Company will release the Genesis G90 equipped with ‘Level 2+’ autonomous driving technology within this year.
Level 2+ is the level at which the driver can take his or her hands off the steering wheel and drive autonomously.
Next year, we will launch a new car using the next-generation software-driven vehicle (SDV) platform.
The goal is to advance the technology to ‘Level 2++’ level, which can cover not only highways but also general city centers after 2028.
In the robotics field, we are promoting the introduction of Boston Dynamics’ humanoid robot ‘Atlas’ into production sites.
They also announced plans to build a robot production system with an annual capacity of 30,000 units by 2028.
You decided to focus not only on ‘physical AI’ but also on your main business, the automobile business?
Hyundai Motor Company also presented region-specific strategies in its core business to respond to external uncertainties.
First of all, our ambition is to continue the most aggressive growth in the North American market.
Specifically, a total of 36 new vehicles will be sequentially introduced in North America by 2030.
As it is a core market that accounts for 30% of total sales despite the imposition of tariffs, the strategy is to increase profitability by focusing on high-margin vehicles.
We are trying again in China. Hyundai Motor Company has not been able to escape from the sales slump that began after the THAAD incident.
Hyundai Motor Company will launch a total of 20 new models in China over the next five years.
We are aiming for a rebound by setting annual sales volume to 500,000 units, which is double the current amount.
In Europe, a total of 5 new models will be introduced over 18 months, starting with the release of ‘Ioniq 3‘ in April.
In India, an emerging market, we are beginning to expand investment in earnest.
The first electric sports utility vehicle (SUV) to be planned, designed, and produced locally will be launched next year.
We will invest $5 billion by 2030 to expand the production capacity of the new Pune plant to 250,000 units, while also considering entering into Genesis.
As the automobile business is still supporting performance, the ‘two-track strategy’ of combining main business and future investments is expected to continue.
You have also officially entered the rental car business, right?
The agenda of adding car rental business to the business purpose was also approved at this general shareholders’ meeting.
By strengthening the existing subscription platform ‘Hyundai Genesis Selection‘, it is expected to expand its business by directly supplying vehicles in the future.
In fact, Hyundai Motors is entering the rental car market in earnest.
There is an interpretation that the car rental business is also part of strengthening the competitiveness of the main business.
This is because you can go beyond simply selling cars and diversify your revenue sources by increasing vehicle utilization through subscriptions and rentals.
In particular, it has the effect of reducing risk as it can utilize not only new cars but also used cars and inventory.
This is Lee Ji-hyo of Korea Economic Daily from the Hyundai Motor Group headquarters in Yangjae-dong, Seoul.
Reporter Lee Ji-hyo jhlee@wowtv.co.kr
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