Hyundai Motor Group is increasing investments in robotics, highlighting the role of its subsidiaries in parts and systems integration (SI). Hyundai Mobis is expected to handle actuators, which correspond to the joints and muscles of the robots, while Hyundai AutoEver will be responsible for the learning (deep learning) and monitoring roles of the robots working in factories.
Hyundai Motor Company's robotics business is expanding. From the end of this year, its robotics subsidiary Boston Dynamics plans to pilot the humanoid robot "Atlas" at its Georgia factory and establish a new robot manufacturing plant in the U.S.
The U.S. robot plant will have the capacity to produce 30,000 units annually. It is expected to manufacture robots including Atlas from Boston Dynamics, the quadruped robot known as Spot, and the logistics automation robot Stretch. Specific details such as the establishment timing and location have not been disclosed.
As the robotics business at Hyundai Motor Company becomes more visible, the role of its subsidiaries is also being highlighted. Hyundai Mobis participated in a paid-in capital increase of HMG Global to inject funds into Boston Dynamics. HMG Global is a joint venture of Hyundai Motor Company, Kia, and Hyundai Mobis, holding a 54.7% stake in Boston Dynamics.
Hyundai Mobis, specializing in automotive parts, will take charge of developing and manufacturing actuators, which are core components of robot hardware. In 2021, Hyundai Mobis added robot component manufacturing and sales as a business goal and is operating a dedicated R&D department. After an institutional investor presentation in April, it officially announced its entry into the actuator market at the CEO Investor Day held the day before.
An actuator is a device that implements movements similar to those of a human, such as robotic joints and muscles. It consists of a motor, reducer, and controller and is highly similar in technology to vehicle steering systems. It accounts for 30–40% of robot manufacturing costs (60% for humanoids). Hyundai Mobis plans to expand its areas into sensors, controllers, and hand grippers (robot hands), starting with actuators.
Hyundai AutoEver, a systems integration (SI) subsidiary, is likely to handle the software aspects necessary for robots to operate. Observations have been made that the company might take on the training (deep learning) and monitoring roles required for robots to work in factories, as well as overseeing overall robot distribution and after-sales services in the long term.
The introduction of robots in the automotive industry, including Hyundai Motor Group, is expected to steadily increase. The global manufacturing robot market has been primarily driven by the automotive industry, as the need for production efficiency and cost reductions continues to grow.
In particular, the humanoid market, in which Hyundai plans to pilot robots at factories starting at the end of this year, is projected to grow rapidly. The U.S. investment bank Goldman Sachs forecasts that the humanoid market could expand from $1.5 billion (approximately 2 trillion won) this year to $38 billion (approximately 53 trillion won) by 2035. Cumulative shipments are estimated to reach around 4.6 million units.