Hyundai Motor Establishes 'New Horizons Studio' for Future Mobility Development Organization

First Project Based on 'Elevate' Concept Car to Be Detailed Soon

Hyundai Motor Company is opening a future mobility development organization called 'New Horizons Studio.' The photo shows the New Horizons Studio logo. Photo by Hyundai Motor Company

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Ji-hee] Hyundai Motor Company announced on the 29th that it will open a future mobility development organization called ‘New Horizons Studio’ in Silicon Valley, USA.

New Horizons Studio will be responsible for concretizing key areas of future mobility. In particular, it plans to focus on developing new-concept mobility that transcends the boundaries of transportation, such as areas difficult to access with conventional vehicles. Additionally, it will conduct extensive research and development on technologies that impact human life overall by utilizing robotic element technologies that can complement the limitations of existing mobility.

John Suh, Executive Director who led the open innovation center ‘Hyundai Cradle’ located in Silicon Valley, will join New Horizons Studio. Dr. Ernestine Poo, who led research on ‘interaction between humans and autonomous vehicles’ at Stanford University’s Automotive Innovation Lab, will also participate to explore new possibilities for future mobility together. Executive Director John Suh said, “Our goal is to take the lead in developing the ultimate means of transportation that can be used in various situations.”

First, New Horizons Studio plans to concretize its first project based on the walking car concept ‘Elevate.’ Hyundai first unveiled the Elevate concept car at CES last year. Elevate is a new-concept mobility that moves on four robotic legs with wheels, making it useful in areas or situations difficult to access with conventional transportation.

Its walking speed is about 5 km/h, and it can maintain the vehicle body horizontally while climbing walls up to 1.5 meters high. When the robotic legs fold inside the vehicle body and transform into driving mode, it can run on regular roads using wheels like a conventional car.

Hyundai Motor Group plans to gain an advantage in the future mobility market competition and explore new possibilities from multiple angles through New Horizons Studio.