Hyundai's flying car company in U.S. dubbed Supernal

Hyundai Motor Group named its U.S. entity dedicated to UAM as Supernal [HYUNDAI MOTOR GROUP]

Hyundai Motor Group's urban air mobility (UAM) company in America was christened Supernal.

The company, which was established in 2020, is headquartered in Washington D.C. and has been doing research on electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL), the technology that will allow cars to fly. It was originally called Genesis Air Mobility.

Supernal is planning to build a research center in California next year, according to the auto group.

“We are on a mission to develop a new type of mobility that moves and connects a society as well as changes the way people live,” said Shin Jai-won, CEO of Supernal.

Shin, who worked for the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), was hired by Hyundai in 2019.

“Utilizing Hyundai Motor Group’s smart mobility solution technology and manufacturing capacity, we are going to approach the public with high-quality products at affordable prices,” Shin added.

Supernal’s long-term plans aren't limited to developing and selling UAM products, Hyundai Motor said.

“We plan to incorporate UAM into the existing transportation system, where it will be operated as easily as today's car-sharing platforms,” the company said.

Supernal plans to come up with an electric UAM product by 2028, which is designed to operate in urban areas. In the 2030s, Supernal says it plans products for regional air mobility, or RAM, which will connect a city to a nearby city.

BY JIN EUN-SOO [jin.eunsoo@joongang.co.kr]