Hyundai Motor (005380) Group will build next-generation charging infrastructure for electric vehicles and test physical artificial intelligence technologies using South Korea's nationwide expressway network.
The group said on the 1st that it signed a memorandum of understanding with Korea Expressway Corp. on the 30th of last month at the Yangjae headquarters of Hyundai Motor and Kia (000270) in Seoul's Seocho district. The agreement covers joint research and field testing of expressway-based next-generation intelligent charging infrastructure and physical AI technologies. Jung Ho-keun, executive vice president and head of Hyundai Motor Group's Future Strategy Division, and Cho Sung-min, head of Korea Expressway Corp.'s Road Traffic Research Institute, attended the signing ceremony.
The need to expand charging infrastructure on expressways and adopt automation and intelligent technologies has grown as the shift to electrification accelerates. Through the agreement, Hyundai Motor Group will use the country's expressway network as a testing ground to validate both next-generation charging technologies and physical AI technologies.
The two sides plan to pursue research on next-generation intelligent charging infrastructure at expressway rest areas, which would serve as hubs for new charging technologies; research on physical AI-based expressway safety and maintenance technologies, supported by data gathered in partnership with startups backed by ZER01NE, Hyundai Motor Group's open innovation platform; and joint development of future road technologies drawing on the group's business experience and Korea Expressway Corp.'s research capabilities.
"Robotics and mobility technologies are only completed after validation in real-world settings," Jung said. "The nationwide expressway infrastructure held by Korea Expressway Corp. is the ideal stage for large-scale testing of not only Hyundai Motor Group's charging technologies but also the physical AI technologies of startups backed by ZER01NE."
After the signing ceremony, robots performing a range of services including watering, security and delivery were demonstrated at the Hyundai Motor and Kia Yangjae headquarters.
