Hyundai Motor Group unveils smart factory vision at tech fair

(Hyundai Motor·Kia)

Hyundai Motor Co. and Kia Corp., the two automakers under South Korea’s Hyundai Motor Group, kicked off a three-day technology exhibition on Monday to share innovative technologies in smart factories and artificial intelligence (AI).

The latest E-FOREST TECH DAY 2024 serves as a platform for the two automakers to present their vision for what is known as Software-Defined Factory (SDF).

In addition to Hyundai Motor and Kia, startups and six companies from the Hyundai Motor Group, including Hyundai Mobis Co., Hyundai Rotem Co., Hyundai AutoEver Corp., and Hyundai Glovis Co., joined the fair to boast their innovations.

During the fair, the companies will present more than 200 new manufacturing technologies across four sectors — SDF, advanced air mobility, robotics, and startups.

The SDF envisions a factory where AI, robotics, and big data are all used to automate car manufacturing, allowing for flexible responses to unexpected factors with software updates.

Hyundai Motor Group has identified SDF as a goal to ensure more efficient manufacturing.