Hyundai Motor-KIAST Collaborate on Urban Air Mobility Development "Accelerating Ecosystem Formation"

From the left, Jaewon Shin, President of Hyundai Motor Company UAM Division, and Yeonmyeong Kim, Director of the Aviation Safety Technology Institute

[Asia Economy Reporter Changhwan Lee] Hyundai Motor Company announced on the 22nd that it will accelerate the development of domestic Urban Air Mobility (UAM), Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS), and hydrogen fuel cell systems for aviation, and actively engage in creating related ecosystems.

Hyundai Motor signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the development of the domestic UAM industry with the Korea Institute of Aviation Safety Technology (KIAST) on the 21st. The signing ceremony held at KIAST was attended by Shin Jaewon, President of Hyundai Motor's UAM Division, Kim Yeonmyeong, Director of KIAST, and other officials from both sides.

KIAST is a public institution under the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport established to contribute to aviation safety and the development of the aviation industry. It conducts testing and certification of safety and performance for civil aircraft, airports, and air navigation facilities, analyzes defects affecting aviation safety, and develops and standardizes advanced aviation technologies.

This MOU aims to share resources and capabilities such as personnel, technology, intellectual property, and research facilities between the two parties participating in the public-private UAM consultative body ‘UAM Team Korea’ and to cooperate mutually to contribute to the development of the domestic UAM industry and the establishment of safety systems for new aviation technologies.

Through this MOU, Hyundai Motor plans to accelerate the development of UAM, UAS, and hydrogen fuel cell systems for aviation. By actively striving to advance certification technologies in the aviation sector, the company intends to further strengthen its UAM technological competitiveness.

President Shin Jaewon stated, “KIAST, the only aviation safety specialized institution in Korea, is an essential partner for developing the ‘safety’ and ‘certification’ technologies, which are the most important elements in UAM development. Through this MOU, we expect to make a significant contribution to the development of the K-UAM industry.”

Director Kim Yeonmyeong said, “As the secretariat institution of the public-private UAM consultative body UAM Team Korea, we will actively cooperate with Hyundai Motor and spare no support to help Korea emerge as a leading country in UAM.”