Hyundai Motor Group announces development of lunar exploration rover

Yong Wha Kim of Hyundai Motor and Kia, said, "The creation of the lunar exploration mobility development model reflects our goal and our ambition to achieve tangible results in the face of significant challenges. With the rover's development, we are moving beyond land, sea, and air mobility to expand into space mobility."

Hyundai Motor Group has a long-term vision of expanding human reach and providing various innovative mobility solutions through robotics, artificial intelligence, and autonomous driving technologies. The collaboration with aerospace research institutes in Korea marks a significant milestone toward achieving its Metamobility vision.

Once the lower part of the rover is developed, the consultative body expects it to function as a mobility platform, supporting an upper part that will hold a variety of advanced technologies for digging, excavation, and human exploration of the lunar surface for resources.

Hyundai Motor Group's entry into the space exploration industry is a significant development for South Korea's aerospace sector, and it opens up new possibilities for innovation and technological advancement. The company's expertise in autonomous driving technology and mobility solutions will undoubtedly contribute to the success of the lunar exploration rover project, and it will pave the way for future space exploration missions.

Among the six Korean research institutions involved in the project are the Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute (KASI), Electronics and Telecommunication Research Institute (ETRI), Korea Institute of Civil Engineering and Building Technology (KICT), Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI), Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI), and Korea Automotive Technology Institute (KATECH).