Hyundai has announced the opening of a new Innovation Center in Singapore (HMGICS) which it says will act as an open innovation lab for the Group’s future mobility research and development.
“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. “I am confident the innovations that spring from HMGICS will shape our future global society for the better and contribute to the progress of humanity.”
According to the company, HMGICS will develop innovative systems that combine advanced technologies such as AI, ICT and big data to enable a work environment where creative potentials are fulfilled and human value is enhanced. It also hopes to build a customer-centered smart mobility environment where products are tailored to customer needs and mobility services would enrich its customers’ lives.
The company says that in future, customers will be able to customize 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 620m-long Sky Track, sited on top of the Innovation Center, where the customer can test drive the vehicle. 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 also act as a testbed for a human-centered intelligent manufacturing platform with a small-scale EV production facility on-site, utilizing Industry 4.0 smart technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT) and robotics. The Group will also test versatile systems that produce multiple models, to respond efficiently to fast-changing market environments.
The site will be home to Hyundai R&D engineers 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.
Occupying an area of 44,000m2 with the building covering 28,000m2 , the manufacturer hopes construction of the site will be completed by the end of 2022.