Hyundai’s innovation center in Singapore to revolutionise future mobility value chain

Hyundai Motor Group celebrated the groundbreaking announcement of the Hyundai Motor Group Innovation Center in Singapore (HMGICS) with a virtual ceremony early this week. The center will act as an open innovation lab for the Group’s future mobility research and development, with the aim of revolutionising the future mobility value chain.

“HMGICS is a major step forward for Hyundai Motor. The facility is the first of its kind in the world. It will pave the way for more Korean companies to invest here, partner with local suppliers and SMEs, and collaborate with our universities and research institutes,” said Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. “Singapore’s goal is to have all our vehicles run on cleaner energy by 2040, in line with our Paris Agreement commitments. We hope this will open up new growth areas for our economy, and create exciting jobs for Singaporeans.”

“Korea and Singapore have cooperated on multiple fronts and the HMGICS represents a new milestone in the continuing collaboration between our two nations,” said Sung Yun-mo, Korean Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy. “The key to this collaboration will lie in finding ways to bring together our respective strengths.”

“Hyundai Motor Group Innovation Center in Singapore will strive for ‘Human-Centered Value Chain Innovation for a Mobility Paradigm Shift.’ We will offer products and services tailored to customers’ needs,” said Hyundai Motor Group Executive Vice Chairman Euisun Chung. 

Hyundai hosted the virtual event with the Singapore government by connecting the Namyang R&D Center in Korea and Jurong Town Hall in Singapore as a safety measure amid COVID-19 pandemic. Officials from the Korean and Singaporean governments, as well as the Group, attended the ceremony, including Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong; Korean Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Sung Yun-mo; and Hyundai Motor Group Executive Vice Chairman Euisun Chung.

Through HMGICS, the Group will realise its vision for human-centered mobility value chain innovation with three strategic directions.

First, the Group will enhance the value of work and the dignity of workers through a human-centered digital transformation. HMGICS will develop innovative systems that combine advanced technologies such as AI, ICT, and big data to allow for a work environment where creative potentials are fulfilled, and human value is enhanced.

Secondly, the group will build a customer-centered smart mobility environment where products are tailored to customer needs and mobility services would enrich its customers’ lives.

Lastly, the Group will contribute to the building of Singapore’s Smart Nation as a responsible industry member in the smart ecosystem. HMGICS, located in the heart of Singapore, will use eco-friendly energy sources like solar and hydrogen energy to help achieve carbon neutrality.

During an event in May 2019, Executive Vice Chairman Chung emphasised the need to bring focus back to customers and their needs. Since then, the Group has worked to establish a customer-centered approach on multiple fronts. The Group continues the approach at HMGICS in its endeavor to revolutionise future mobility value chain.

In future, customers will be able to customise and purchase vehicles online using a smartphone, which will immediately start production using Hyundai’s on-demand technology. The customers can then watch their car being manufactured at HMGICS. Once the car is ready for delivery, it will be transferred to the 620-meter-long Sky Track where the customer can test drive the vehicle.

Sky Track will sit atop HMGICS’ state-of-the-art seven-story innovation lab located at the Jurong Innovation District (JID). JID enables how organizations collaborate – by bringing the various nodes of the advanced manufacturing ecosystem together into a single district to create a one-stop advanced manufacturing hub. Masterplanned to house the full manufacturing value chain, JID is home to a vibrant ecosystem of researchers, technology and training providers, and advanced manufacturers.

The building will also feature a landing port for Urban Air Mobility (UAM) as well as solar panels providing the site with clean renewable energy. The center will gradually expand its use of renewable energy to eventually use fuel cells as a power supply to minimise emissions from power generation.

HMGICS occupies a footprint of 44,000 m2 with the building covering 28,000 m2. Construction of the site will be completed by the end of 2022.

The center will also act as a test bed for a human-centered intelligent manufacturing platform with small-scale EV production facilities on site. The facility will utilise the latest ‘Industry 4.0’ smart technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT) and robotics. The logistics and assembly lines within HMGICS will be highly automated to establish a safe and efficient work environment. The Group will also test versatile systems that produce multiple models, to respond efficiently to fast-changing market environments.

Hyundai’s vision of progress for humanity also prioritises sustainability, and the center will play a pivotal role in identifying opportunities in the mobility field. The center also will explore new business concepts, including BaaS (battery-as-a-service) in order to enhance customers’ experiences of EV ownership.

HMGICS will be home to the Group’s R&D experts from around the world, including members of the Hyundai CRADLE innovation hub and AI Research (AIR) Center. Affiliate companies such as Hyundai Mobis, Hyundai Glovis, Hyundai Autoever, Hyundai WIA, Hyundai Rotem and Hyundai Transys will also take part in HMGICS.

The collaboration will go beyond the Group and into the Singaporean innovation ecosystem. Singaporean universities, startups and research institutes, including Nanyang Technological University, Singapore – the first local academic research partner – will be able to collaborate through the open innovation lab.

“Hyundai is a strategic partner in our effort to address future mobility needs through innovation and advanced manufacturing technologies. The Hyundai Motor Group Innovation Centre will introduce important new capabilities in areas such as electric vehicles and urban air mobility, and create new opportunities for Singaporeans. This will complement the vibrant base of companies that are involved in the development of autonomous driving and electrification technologies,” said Dr. Beh Swan Gin, Chairman, Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB).

Tan Boon Khai, CEO of JTC, said “Jurong Innovation District is shaping up well as a top-tier innovation ecosystem, with many top multinational giants joining in recent years. We will continue to bring together the best in advanced manufacturing and change the way all stakeholders collaborate to build the future of this industry. The Hyundai Motor Group Innovation Centre will further strengthen the district’s position as an advanced manufacturing hub that is home to state-of-the-art Factories of the Future.”