Hyundai Wia will invest 400 billion won in its robotics business. To secure related technologies, the company is also pursuing equity investments in artificial intelligence (AI) and software startups. The strategy aims to create synergy with the large-scale infrastructure and investments being pursued by Hyundai Motor Group through the expansion of automation businesses such as logistics and parking robots.
According to industry sources on the 28th, Hyundai Wia (011210.KS) said at its recently held second-quarter earnings presentation that it is planning a robotics business investment of 400 billion won over the mid- to long-term. This represents funding equivalent to 1.6 times Hyundai Wia's robot-related sales of 250 billion won last year, and is being pursued separately from the Yeongnam region investment plan announced by Hyundai Motor Group.
Hyundai Wia is also reviewing strategic investments in AI and software startups to secure automation technology in the early stages. Hyundai Wia is expected to secure the related funding through the sale of its defense business, which it is currently pursuing.
The investment funds will be used to expand the lineup of robots that can be used in manufacturing and logistics sites. Hyundai Wia is developing future products such as the Mobile Picking Robot (MPR), an intelligent logistics robot based on autonomous driving that moves on its own in warehouses or factories to accurately find and pick up designated products, as well as unmanned forklifts. In addition to technology development, the company plans to build robot production facilities at its Changwon plant and other locations.
Hyundai Wia's robots are used for parking and logistics automation, among other applications. Hyundai Wia has deployed 94 logistics robots not only at Hyundai Motor Group Innovation Center in Singapore (HMGICS) and Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America (HMGMA) in Georgia, U.S., but also at Hyundai Motor's Ulsan plant and Kia's Gwangju plant. The logistics robots are in use at HMGICS, HMGMA, and Kia's Hwaseong plant, among others.
Hyundai Wia's investment in the robotics business is aimed at actively capturing opportunities arising from Hyundai Motor Group's expansion of AI robot investments. The company plans to preemptively secure technology and bases in preparation for growing demand for logistics automation and robot operation and integrated control systems in Saemangeum and the Yeongnam region, where Hyundai Motor Group is making new investments.
In particular, this investment is a measure aimed at creating synergy with Hyundai Motor Group's humanoid strategy. Hyundai Motor Group is drawing up a blueprint to build unmanned manufacturing sites using humanoids, and automation equipment is essential for this. Accordingly, the goal is to establish physical AI in manufacturing sites, with Hyundai Motor and Boston Dynamics handling humanoid mass production and Hyundai Wia handling the construction of automation equipment.
Hyundai Wia itself also sees the robotics business as a future growth engine. The company has established a plan to expand the proportion of external sales from its robotics business to 50% by 2030. It plans to expand robot-related sales, which stood at 250 billion won as of last year, to 400 billion won by 2028.
"Ultimately, we aim to realize an 'AX (AI transformation) factory' that makes the entire manufacturing and logistics process unmanned based on robots and AI," a Hyundai Wia official said. "By 2028, we will build a fully automated system at the Changwon plant to secure safety and technological capabilities, and we also plan to improve our fundamentals to reduce dependence on group companies."
