SEOUL — South Korea’s industrial landscape is witnessing a profound transformation as traditional manufacturing giants forge tight-knit technology alliances. Building upon high-profile leadership summits that united top figures from Hyundai Motor Group, Samsung Electronics, and Nvidia over the past year, Hyundai is aggressively expanding its ecosystem for "physical artificial intelligence (AI)"—the next frontier where digital intelligence meets physical execution.

Industry sources reported on Wednesday that Samsung recently hosted key executives and their spouses from Hyundai Motor Group at the "HMG Appreciation Day" event held at Samsung’s Seocheon Training Institute. Marked as a rare, large-scale gathering exclusively dedicated by Samsung to a peer corporate group, the event brought together 177 high-ranking officials and leaders, including Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Jeon Young-hyun and Hyundai Motor Group Vice Chairman Chang Jae-hoon.

Representing Hyundai were top-tier executives heading strategic planning, research and development, advanced vehicle platforms, and manufacturing. Speaking at the event, Vice Chairman Chang noted that the partnership with Samsung is evolving beyond traditional automotive parts—such as electronic components, audio systems, and batteries—into future-oriented industries like robotics and energy solutions.

Fusing Global Tech Competencies for Physical AI

The strategic alignment between Hyundai, Samsung, and Nvidia is primarily driven by the overarching goal of commercializing physical AI. While Nvidia provides critical high-performance computing infrastructure and virtual simulation platforms—allowing autonomous vehicles and humanoid robots to train and safely test complex real-world scenarios in virtual environments—Samsung brings hardware manufacturing depth.

Samsung SDI has already cemented a long-term supply agreement to power Hyundai’s upcoming European electric vehicles through 2032 and provides prismatic batteries for flagship models like the Genesis GV90. Furthermore, affiliates across the Samsung umbrella, including Samsung Electronics, Samsung Electro-Mechanics, Samsung Display, and Harman, hold key assets in automotive semiconductors, camera modules, and smart displays.

The Race Toward Humanoid Robotics

Hyundai’s aggressive pivot toward physical AI is underscored by its roadmap for Boston Dynamics' humanoid robot, Atlas. The automaker aims to introduce Atlas into its upcoming Metaplant America in Georgia by 2028, with plans to expand its integration into full assembly lines by 2030, supported by a localized US manufacturing facility capable of producing 30,000 units annually.

Achieving this requires a seamless blend of hardware control, software intelligence, and robust component engineering. While Boston Dynamics spearheads robotics mechanics and 42dot spearheads autonomous software, collaborations are also expanding into the component supply chain. Notably, Samsung SDI and Hyundai·Kia signed an MOU early last year to co-develop high-performance batteries specifically tailored for robotics.

Automotive analysts point out that as future vehicles evolve into "smart living spaces on wheels" and industrial sites transition toward automated robotics, the convergence of AI, semiconductors, and advanced hardware will define industrial leadership. By cementing these cross-industry alliances, Hyundai and Samsung are laying the groundwork to dominate the next generation of global mobility and intelligent manufacturing.

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