Hyundai Motor chair stresses innovation during trip to Singapore

By Nam Hyun-woo

Hyundai Motor Group Executive Chair Chung Euisun stressed the importance of innovation during a town hall meeting with employees at the group’s regional hub in Singapore, which marked its first anniversary.

According to the automaker, Chung visited Hyundai Motor Group Innovation Center Singapore (HMGICS) to commemorate its first foundation anniversary and held a meeting to share his vision on HMGICS’ efforts to transform itself into a software-centric plant and strengthen trust among employees.

During the meeting, Chung applauded the dedication and hard work of employees there, saying “Our journey has been impressive so far, but the best is yet to come.”

“We can meet the challenges ahead because we are Hyundai. We can meet the challenges because we have what it takes — the right people like you, and our vision of progress for humanity,” he said.

Chung said the group decided to establish HMGICS to create an innovative platform that can prepare for the future. He said the group needed a test bed capable of conducting research and production tailored to increasingly diverse mobility needs.

HMGICS was completed in November last year in Western Singapore as a research and development center and a test bed for new manufacturing technologies.

Powered by digital twin technology, HMGICS established a multimodel small-scale production system that enables a flexible response to market demands. Instead of traditional conveyor belts for mass production, the facility uses oval-shaped cells capable of producing various types of mobility solutions, with robots carrying vehicle bodies and components to enable the efficient manufacturing of different vehicle models with varied specifications. It is now manufacturing the IONIQ 5, the IONIQ 6 and robotaxis.

The manufacturing technologies developed at HMGICS will be gradually applied to factories globally, including Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America in Georgia, and the dedicated electric vehicle plant in Ulsan.

Chung stressed the importance of HMGICS’ mission of developing sustainable, innovative mobility solutions and enhancing customer experiences, saying “HMGICS is exploring new business ideas and technologies that will revolutionize future mobility.”

Hyundai Motor President and CEO Chang Jae-hoon, who will become the group’s vice chair on Jan. 1, emphasized the role of the innovation hub in Hyundai Motor Group's long-term strategy.

“We will proactively develop essential technologies for future factories, such as artificial intelligence, robotics and automation, and verify their effectiveness through concrete projects,” Chang said. “The expertise accumulated during this process will become key assets for building smart factories and will be applied to Hyundai’s global manufacturing sites.”