Science & Tech · Big Tech & Internet · 1 hr ago
Hyundai and Kia showcase factory AI and future autonomous plant plans
Hyundai and Kia presented new factory technologies at a manufacturing technology event in Uiwang, South Korea.
The tools include a camera-based system that checks vehicle bodies for defects as small as 1 millimetre.
The companies say bringing inspection and logistics technology in-house could reduce reliance on outside suppliers and lower some costs.
They are also developing virtual testing with Nvidia, so robots and factory equipment can be checked together before being installed.
An AI platform is being tested at Hyundai's Ulsan EV plant to analyse production and quality information and answer staff questions.
Hyundai and Kia are also working on standardised logistics robots, which the company says could cut production costs by about 30% and charge in as little as 12 minutes.
The longer-term plan is an autonomous factory using humanoid robots after 2032; the companies have not given further details on when or where that plan will be implemented.
Hyundai Motor and Kia will present more than 200 manufacturing technologies at their seventh e-FOREST Tech Day from October 19 to 21.
The companies are promoting a shift to software-defined factories, using shared data systems and development environments to apply new technologies across domestic and overseas plants.
Exhibits include factory AI agents, digital-twin simulations, automated inspection and energy solutions.
Hyundai and Kia also outlined a vision to use humanoid robots in autonomous-operation factories at new plants after 2032.
- Who
- Hyundai Motor and Kia, with their manufacturing partners.
- What
- They will showcase more than 200 manufacturing technologies and present plans for software-defined factories and autonomous plant operations.
- When
- The exhibition is scheduled for October 19–21, 2026; a media event was held on October 16.
- Where
- Hyundai Motor Group’s Uiwang Research Institute in Uiwang, Gyeonggi Province, South Korea.
- Why
- The companies aim to share manufacturing technologies and expand their use in production plants.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The POLARIS manufacturing AI agent platform began trial operation at Hyundai Motor’s Ulsan EV plant.
Hyundai Motor and Kia held a media event ahead of e-FOREST Tech Day.
The companies are scheduled to hold e-FOREST Tech Day 2026 at the Uiwang Research Institute.
Hyundai Motor and Kia’s vision calls for humanoid robots to be used in future new factories.
- Exhibition
- More than 200 technologies
- Event dates
- October 19–21, 2026
- Venue
- Hyundai Motor Group Uiwang Research Institute, Gyeonggi Province
- AI platform
- POLARIS began trial operation at the Ulsan EV plant in September 2026
- Robot-path technology
- Development completion target: June 2027
- Future factory plan
- Humanoid robots planned for new factories after 2032
What people are saying
We will share the excellence and practicality of innovative manufacturing technologies and expand the application of new technologies in production plants.
We are focusing on developing Sim2Real technology, which virtually recreates and predicts on-site conditions, to shorten the process of preparing for new vehicle production.