According to Hyundai Motor (Hyundai) on Tuesday (31 March), an open innovation lab will be built in Singapore in order to develop future mobility technologies so as to facilitate growth into world markets.
The South Korean automaker embarked on this initiative as part of its plan to transform the company into a smart mobility solutions provider.
The new laboratory will be constructed in the advanced manufacturing hub developed by JTC Corporation in the Jurong Innovation District.
The building of the 28,000 square metre Hyundai Mobility Global Innovation Centre will likely commence in May this year with its completion by the second half of 2022. The Singapore Economic Development Board will also support the project.
Hyundai stated that Singapore’s strong track record of open innovation, forward-looking economic policies, strategic location, pro-business environment, and competitive workforce are the contributing factors which made the country an ideal spot for its laboratory.
Prior to creating an automated platform to manufacture smart vehicles, the new laboratory will test out a small-scale electric vehicle production facility.
By integrating digitalisation, robotics, the Internet of Things, and artificial intelligence, the platform will substantially lower the needed manpower as well as making automotive plants safer.
Customers will also be allowed to build their vehicles with a larger scope of customisation options through the on-demand production system test that the laboratory will conduct on the platform.
Through the laboratory, Hyundai will also test out last-mile mobility, on-demand shuttle via e-scooters, and multi-modal mobility services.
As a pilot study for Singapore’s Smart Nation initiative, Hyundai stated that it would review a potential collaboration for the project.
For a start, the automaker plans to collaborate with “competitive local partners” to conduct joint projects and co-found research centres with educational institutions like Nanyang Technological University as well as test innovative solutions for advanced mobility services.
