Hyundai Motor Group is expanding its presence in Silicon Valley as part of a wider strategy to advance autonomous driving, artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics.
Its plans include closer collaboration with research organisations, engineering talent, and technology companies, such as NVIDIA and Waymo.
The announcement follows the company’s presentation at the San Francisco AI Summit on 24 July, where Executive Chair Euisun Chung introduced Hyundai’s “Physical AI” vision. The strategy sets out a roadmap that begins with AI-enabled vehicles and robots before extending to connected infrastructure and AI-supported urban environments.
Autonomous driving forms a central part of this approach, with Hyundai aiming to combine its vehicle engineering and manufacturing expertise with software and AI capabilities developed through partnerships across the technology sector.
As part of this work, Hyundai highlighted its ongoing collaborations with NVIDIA and Waymo, alongside Boston Dynamics’ partnership with Google DeepMind. The company said these relationships are intended to support the development of AI-defined vehicles, autonomous driving systems and robotics.
New Silicon Valley Hub
Hyundai has also established AVP Silicon Valley, a new research and innovation hub intended to accelerate work on AI-defined vehicles (AIDVs), autonomous driving and robotics.
The centre will be led by Senior Vice President Jeremy Ma, whose previous experience includes engineering and leadership roles at NASA, Apple, Toyota Research Institute and NVIDIA. According to Hyundai, the facility will focus on integrating AI, computer vision, robotics and autonomous driving technologies into future mobility programmes.
The new organisation complements Hyundai CRADLE, the group’s open innovation platform established in Silicon Valley in 2011 and rebranded in 2017.
Through Hyundai CRADLE, the company has invested in and collaborated with startups developing technologies including AI, autonomous driving, robotics, smart cities and clean energy.
Alongside its research activities, Hyundai is increasing its efforts to recruit AI and autonomous vehicle specialists.
The company will hold its HMG Tech Talent Forum in Silicon Valley this September, bringing together engineers and researchers working in AI, software, robotics and future mobility.
The event will also support Hyundai’s first integrated HMG Global Tech Talent Recruitment programme, which aims to identify engineering talent while encouraging collaboration with researchers and technology specialists.
Future Autonomous Mobility
Beyond research and recruitment, Hyundai is investing in projects designed to support wider AI and robotics development.
These include plans to develop a Robot Reference Platform using Hyundai’s robotics expertise alongside NVIDIA’s Physical AI technologies. The company also referenced investment in the proposed Saemangeum AI Valley project in South Korea, which is intended to support AI and robotics innovation.
Separately, Hyundai has entered into a partnership with San Francisco’s Exploratorium science museum. The collaboration will contribute to the development of an experiential science museum at the company’s Global Business Complex in Seoul, due to open in 2032.
The project is intended to promote science education in fields including AI, robotics and autonomous driving, while supporting the long-term development of future engineering talent.
