Hyundai Robot-Operated Electric Vehicle Plant Opens in Singapore

Hyundai has opened a robot-operated electric vehicle (EV) production plant in Singapore, leveraging technologies including robotics and AI to automate operations. 

The Hyundai Motor Group Innovation Center Singapore (HMGICS) is a 935,380-square-foot, seven-floor facility that features 200 robots that handle 50% of daily tasks including assembly, inspection and production, as well as 60% of component processing, ordering and transport. 

Credit: Hyundai

According to the company, the facility can produce 30,000 customizable EVs each year using a range of automation technologies. Hyundai also said the facility will act as a testbed for future mobility solutions, including robotaxis and purpose built vehicles.

By giving the more repetitive and laborious tasks to the robotic workforce, Hyundai said it frees up human workers for more “creative and productive” duties. To streamline human-robot cooperation, the site leverages digital twin technology to combine the virtual and physical worlds of the factory.

“Employees can simulate tasks in the digital virtual space — or metaverse — while robots physically move components on the production line,” Hyundai said. 

The metaverse is also used to provide “immersive” experiences, including vehicle customization and optimization, virtual reality (VR) factory tours and test drives.

Related:Hyundai, Motional to Build Self-Driving Taxis in Singapore

Credit: Hyundai

“HMGICS is an open and connected urban innovation hub that encourages and embraces creativity and collaboration,” said Euisun Chung, Hyundai’s executive chair. “It seeks to completely redefine the very concept of manufacturing.”

“The more compact nature of facilities such as HMGICS makes it easier to integrate them into local communities, particularly in urban areas with limited space,” said Alpesh Patel, vice president, HMGICS. “With the help of robotics, AI, and IoT, we’ve built a human-centric manufacturing innovation system that can respond to changes in mobility, processes and products with agility and flexibility. These innovations are setting new benchmarks for efficiency and customization.”

The facility even has a Smart Farm where robots help produce nine crop types, providing something of a case study for agricultural robot use cases and allowing visitors to “interactively experience” the entire farming process.

The aim of the smart farm is to help bolster food security in Singapore, providing alternative ag-tech solutions and supporting domestic food production in the region. 

“The ideas and products created here are innovated in Singapore, not just made in Singapore,” said Jay Chang, Hyundai’s CEO. “Most importantly, HMGICS is an innovation facility centered on R&D. Grounded on Singapore’s future-oriented policies and infrastructure, we will act as a global incubator for Singapore’s talents and businesses through our Corporate Lab Program.”