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Ahn Cheol-soo visits Hyundai's Namyang R&D Center

Published: 08 Apr. 2022, 17:36

Ahn Cheol-soo, chief of president-elect's transition team, left, and Hyundai Motor Group Chairman Euisun Chung, center, walk with four-legged robot Spot at the auto group's research and development center in Namyang, Gyeonggi on Friday. [HYUNDAI MOTOR]

Ahn Cheol-soo, chief of the president-elect's transition team, visited Hyundai Motor's Namyang R&D Center Friday to discuss ways to promote future mobility businesses, including electric vehicles (EVs), robotics and autonomous cars.

He was accompanied by Hyundai Motor Group Chairman Euisun Chung and other executives at the automotive company, including Chi Young-jo, president and chief inovation officer at Hyundai Motor.

Ahn rode in a Solati at the research center Friday. The Solati is a four-door van that utilizes Level-4 autonomous driving technology developed by Hyundai Motor. It is able to recognize the surroundings and make decisions on its own without driver input.

The van is being test run at the center.

Ahn also interacted with the Spot robot, which was developed by Boston Dynamics. Hyundai Motor, Hyundai Mobis, Hyundai Glovis and Euisun Chung acquired a controlling stake in the robotics company in 2020.

"The future mobility business can be a main pillar for the Korean economy along with semiconductors and smartphones," said Ahn. "It can play a vital role in establishing Korea as a science technology-centered country."

Ahn visited an exhibition set up at the research center where wearable robots and an Ioniq 5 robot taxi were display. He test drove Hyundai Motor's Nexo fuel-cell electric vehicle and its Xcient fuel-cell electric truck.

"The automotive industry is emerging into a mobility business which incorporates semiconductors, artificial intelligence, big data and fuel cell system technologies," said Chung. "Hyundai Motor Group will contribute in Korea's transition into globally innovative country."

Ahn had visited the headquarters of HYBE, the company that developed BTS, in Yongsan District on April 2 and discussed ways to promote Korean culture with Bang Si-hyuk, HYBE's board chairman.

BY JIN EUN-SOO [[email protected]]