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Hyundai Motor Group targets hands-free urban driving by 2029. By Lee Min-hyung * Published Sep 13, 2026 2:25 pm KST * Updated Sep 13, 2026 3:07 pm KST Group plans Nvidia-powered vehicles from 2028 while developing its own system. Hyundai Motor Group plans to start mass-producing vehicles capable of hands-free autonomous driving in urban areas in the second half of 2029, while launching vehicles using Nvidia's validated autonomous driving technology a year earlier. The group unveiled the road map Friday during an autonomous driving media day at the headquarters of 42dot, its autonomous driving software subsidiary in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province. The strategy centers on a two-track approach: using Nvidia's technology to accelerate commercialization while developing its own autonomous driving system to secure long-term technological independence. The group plans to apply Nvidia's vehicle AI computing platform and autonomous driving software to Level 2+ vehicles in the first half of 2028 and Level 2++ vehicles in the second half. Level 2+ allows drivers to take their hands off the wheel on highways, while Level 2++ extends hands-free driving to urban roads. At the same time, the group is advancing Atria AI, its proprietary end-to-end (E2E) autonomous driving system jointly developed by its Advanced Vehicle Platform (AVP) Division and 42dot. It aims to mass-produce Atria AI-powered Level 2++ vehicles in the second half of 2029. A key part of the strategy is the group's newly activated Data Flywheel, which creates a continuous cycle of data collection, AI training, validation and deployment. Hyundai Motor and Kia sell more than 7 million vehicles annually across about 190 countries, providing a potential large-scale source of real-world driving data. The group currently operates about 40 dedicated data-collection vehicles and is standardizing sensor systems across Hyundai Motor, Kia, 42dot and Motional around Nvidia's DRIVE Hyperion 10 architecture to improve data collection and utilization. "Competitiveness is determined by how much data you secure, how quickly you learn and how effectively you can reflect those results in actual products and services," said Park Min-woo, president and head of the AVP Division and CEO of 42dot. 42dot is also developing vision-language-action (VLA) models alongside its E2E technology. The company is currently validating the VLA technology through simulations and plans to begin real-vehicle testing late this year through early next year. The group plans to conduct a real-world Level 4 autonomous driving pilot in Gwangju by the end of this year in partnership with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, using the resulting data to further train and validate its AI systems. The group is seeking to narrow the gap with U.S. and Chinese autonomous driving leaders. Tesla is estimated to have accumulated about 7 billion miles of real-road driving data as of the end of last year, while Waymo and Baidu had accumulated about 160 million kilometers and 110 million kilometers, respectively, by the middle of last year. Hyundai Motor Group did not disclose its cumulative data. "Once mass production of autonomous driving systems begins in earnest, we could surpass the amount of data accumulated by competitors within five years," said Jeong Seong-gyun, a group lead at 42dot's Atria Division. Park said the group could potentially move faster but deliberately set the 2029 target to avoid rushing an immature system. "The 2029 timeline is a strategic choice to focus on our North Star while using Nvidia's technology for mass production starting in 2028," he said. * Q. * Q. * Q.

Nvidia and Hyundai expand partnership to focus on robotaxis and Physical AI. Nvidia and Hyundai have solidified their collaboration with a renewed focus on autonomous driving and physical AI technologies. Their partnership, established in 2015, aims to leverage both companies' strengths to innovate in mobility solutions. During a recent visit to Hyundai's headquarters in Seoul, Jensen Huang, the CEO of Nvidia, highlighted the significant potential of this alliance. He emphasized Hyundai's manufacturing capabilities, stating that the company is well-positioned to make strides in the rapidly evolving landscape of artificial intelligence and robotics. Long-standing collaboration. Hyundai Motor Group, which includes Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis, has collaborated with Nvidia since 2015. A noteworthy achievement occurred in November 2020 when the two firms announced that Nvidia DRIVE technology would power in-vehicle infotainment systems across upcoming vehicle models. Progress accelerated further during CES 2025, marking a major expansion in their strategic partnership to embrace accelerated computing and generative AI. By October 2025, both companies committed to constructing an AI factory powered by Nvidia's Blackwell technology, supported by a joint investment of approximately $3 billion, including contributions from the South Korean government. This initiative includes establishing an Nvidia AI Technology Center and a Physical AI Application Center at Hyundai. Autonomous technology update. The partnership has recently focused on advanced autonomous driving technologies. Reports have indicated that Hyundai's internally developed Atria AI system fell short in initial evaluations, scoring 25 out of 100 in a benchmark, compared to Tesla's FSD which scored 90. This has prompted Hyundai to consider adopting Nvidia's Alpamayo platform, which features advanced reasoning capabilities and draws data from over 2,500 cities, enhancing its potential to compete in the market. In March 2026, an expanded partnership aiming at next-generation autonomous systems was formalized at the GTC, where Hyundai committed to integrating Nvidia DRIVE Hyperion technology into specific vehicle models and advancing robotaxi services through its joint venture, Motional. Leadership changes and focus. To align with the evolving landscape of autonomous driving, Hyundai has made significant leadership changes. Park Min-woo, a former Nvidia executive, was appointed CEO of 42dot, while Milan Kovac, previously associated with Tesla's humanoid robot program, joined Boston Dynamics as a director shortly after. These changes indicate Hyundai's commitment to advancing both autonomous driving and robotics capabilities. Transformations at Hyundai's Yangjae headquarters include renovations designed to support robotics testing, where various robotic innovations are currently being deployed to enhance operational effectiveness. Despite the challenges faced by humanoid robotics, solutions stemming from Nvidia's infrastructure could expedite the development of these technologies. Hyundai plans to utilize up to 50,000 Nvidia Blackwell GPUs to enhance training and validation efforts across multiple applications, including in-vehicle intelligence and factory automation. Hyundai and Nvidia's partnership continues to evolve, positioning both companies at the forefront of the automotive and AI sectors.