Hyundai Motor Group and Motional — a global autonomous technology leader — has celebrated the opening of the Hyundai Motor Group Innovation Center Singapore (HMGICS) and announce that Hyundai and Motional’s jointly developed all-electric IONIQ 5 robotaxi will be manufactured at HMGICS. The first production-ready IONIQ 5 robotaxis will be deployed as part of Motional’s commercial services in the U.S., starting in 2024.
Additionally, Motional and the Group revealed that the IONIQ 5 robotaxi is one of the first SAE Level 4 autonomous vehicles (AVs) to be certified under the US Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS).
HMGICS combines advanced automation and real-time monitoring and data evaluation to push the boundaries of what’s possible in production. It’s also equipped with advanced features bespoke to HMGICS to support AV production, including testing facilities and a calibration center.
Motional has deployed a team on site to assist with production. These employees are located at the Autonomous Vehicle Integration Center and will perform critical diagnostics, software development, calibration and validation tasks to ensure that finished examples of the IONIQ 5 robotaxi meet exacting specifications and are ready for deployment.
Motional and the Group have been preparing for the production of the IONIQ 5 robotaxi for several years, including the development of a limited series of prototype vehicles that have been tested in the US and Singapore for more than a year. The initial fleet of IONIQ 5 robotaxis recently completed a series of evaluations designed to demonstrate the quality, performance, and maturity of the robotaxi and its autonomous driving technology. Commercial production of the IONIQ 5 robotaxi is underway, and the first models have already arrived at Motional’s facility in the US. The vehicles are undergoing Motional’s testing and safety validation processes before beginning commercial service in 2024.
The Hyundai Motor Group Innovation Center Singapore (HMGICS) introduces a new ‘smart urban mobility hub’ concept, which includes a highly automated flexible production system and provides new ways for electric vehicle (EV) buyers to interact with their vehicles and the Hyundai brand. HMGICS symbolizes the Group’s determination to progress onwards with its global leadership in the creation of sustainable, innovative mobility solutions and progressive customer experience..
Following the Group’s groundbreaking ceremony at its new Ulsan EV factory, HMGICS will establish itself as one of two Hyundai Motor Group innovation pillars that will lead the company’s future in the electrification era.
Integrated into the Jurong Innovation District urban landscape and the broader Singapore smart city ecosystem, the seven-story, 86,900 m2 HMGICS facility has the capability to manufacture up to 30,000 EVs per annum. Operational since early 2023, HMGICS already produces IONIQ 5 and the fully autonomous IONIQ 5 robotaxi and will add IONIQ 6 to its portfolio of models built on-site next year. The facility will serve as a testbed for developing future mobility solutions—including Purpose Built Vehicles (PBVs)—thanks to its advanced manufacturing capability.
Operating as a digital twin Meta-Factory, HMGICS synchronizes the virtual and physical worlds in real time. This enables humans and robots to cooperate in ways not seen before. Approximately 50% of all tasks are carried out by 200 robots, with humans, robotics and AI systems achieving unprecedented levels of collaboration thanks to integration made possible by the digital twin platform. Employees can simulate tasks in the digital virtual space while robots physically move components on the production line.
Robots perform assembly, inspection, and production facility organization, and take care of more than 60% of component process management, ordering and transportation.