Hyundai and Kia has announced plans to revamp their research and development (R&D) organization to be agile and flexible like a startup
The car companies, which are part of the Hyundai Motor Group, are working to advance the transition to electrification and accelerate the development of software-defined vehicles (SDV).
The company has previously said its vehicles, including internal combustion vehicles, will be software defined by 2025 – examples include but not limited to cars that can receive over-the-air (OTA) updates that change more than just infotainment.
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Hyundai Ioniq 6
The Ioniq 6 is the first Hyundai model to offer OTA software updates for its electric powertrain, autonomous driving system and battery, among others.
Previously, OTA software updates in Hyundai, Kia and Genesis models were limited exclusively to satellite navigation maps and media software.
Hyundai Motor Group has brought together R&D areas directly related to vehicle development to “enhance the development of new vehicles and guarantee quality in mass production”. The companies are also separating technology teams in existing research and development divisions into standalone technology units.
The Total Vehicle Development Division (TVD) is being reorganized into vehicle classes to coordinate the development of new Hyundai, Kia and Genesis vehicles, as well as advance electrification.
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Kia EV6 GT
The Vehicle Software Technology Unit will focus on SDV development, including areas such as electronics, infotainment, autonomous driving and vehicle control capabilities.
The Mobility Engineering and Technology Acceleration Unit (META) will also lead the development of next-generation products, and the platform technologies that will support them.
Hyundai Motor Group will introduce vehicles from 2025 based on two new electric car platforms called eM and eS.
Both platforms will be derivatives of the Hyundai Motor Group’s Integrated Modular Architecture (IMA), an evolution of the current electric global modular platform (e-GMP).
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Hyundai Ioniq 5
The eM platform is being developed for EVs “across all segments” and is claimed to provide a 50 percent increase in driving range on a single charge compared to current electric cars.
The eM platform is also being developed to support Level 3 or higher autonomous driving technology.
The eS platform will instead be developed as a scaled skateboard platform for purpose-built vehicles (PBVs).
Kia recently detailed its upcoming PBV range based on this eS architecture, which will be built at a dedicated factory in South Korea. This PBV will provide solutions for companies operating in the delivery, logistics and car delivery sectors.
In addition, Hyundai Motor Group plans to also introduce feature-on-demand (FoD) services this year.
This is claimed to give customers the ability to “select and purchase functions and features that meet their needs and tastes”, and will follow similar services offered by BMW and Tesla.
It is unclear at this stage what features will be locked behind the paywall.
During this organizational restructuring of the R&D division, Hyundai Motor Group executive vice president Yong Wha Kim was promoted to president and named chief technology officer (CTO).
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Kia EV9
Mr. Kim will oversee the entire R&D organization, while also assuming the position of head of the Vehicle Software Technology unit.
Additionally, Hyundai Motor Group executive vice president Heui Wong Yang has been named head of the TVD Division.
“The new R&D organization will be fast and flexible, operate with the agility of a startup, and will allow us to lead in the rapidly changing mobility landscape,” said Mr. Kim.
“While the previous organization focused on the development of efficient vehicles, the new dynamic structure will meet the constant changes in global consumer demands and expand the organization to deliver aligned solutions in future mobility, electrification, software and robotics.”
MORE: All Hyundai Group cars will support OTA updates by 2025