The Future Automobile Virtual Center, a facility where future automobile technologies such as autonomous vehicles and electric and hydrogen cars can be developed freely in a digital environment, has opened in Gimhae, Gyeongnam Province.
On the afternoon of April 29, Gyeongnam Province and Gimhae City held an opening ceremony for the center at the Myeongdong General Industrial Complex in Hallim-myeon, Gimhae, emphasizing the importance of innovation in the future automobile industry and the role of Gyeongnam Province.
The Future Automobile Virtual Center built in Myeongdong General Industrial Complex, Hallim-myeon, Gimhae-si, Gyeongnam. Provided by Gimhae City
The Future Automobile Virtual Center was built with a total project cost of 19.23 billion won, including 3.4 billion won from the national government and 9.7 billion won from the city. The three-story building covers a total area of 2,006 square meters and is equipped with equipment rooms, meeting rooms, exhibition halls, and office spaces.
Operated by Gyeongnam Technopark, the center will actively utilize "digital twin technology" to test the performance of actual vehicle models in a virtual space and link this data to real products and production processes.
Through this, it is expected that a variety of driving situations and extreme conditions that are difficult to reproduce in reality can be tested, significantly reducing both development time and costs.
In addition to a virtual reality (VR)-based simulator, the center is equipped with devices for predicting driving safety, noise and vibration design, and performance evaluation using Hardware-In-the-Loop Simulation (HILS) equipment. It also offers exhibitions of key electric vehicle components and virtual reality experiences.
Attendees at the opening ceremony of the Gimhae Future Automobile Virtual Center are taking a commemorative photo. Photo by Gimhae City
The opening ceremony was attended by key figures including Park Wansu, Governor of Gyeongnam Province; Hong Taeyong, Mayor of Gimhae; Kim Hyoseon, Director at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy; Choi Hakbeom, Chairman of the Gyeongnam Provincial Council; Kim Jeongho, National Assembly member; Ahn Seonhwan, Chairman of the Gimhae City Council; as well as officials from related organizations and company representatives, totaling over 100 participants.
Governor Park stated, "As we enter the era of future mobility, technological development and industrial advancement will determine the nation's future. Through this Virtual Center, we will be able to precisely verify component technologies through virtual simulation and dramatically reduce development time and costs, marking a groundbreaking milestone in the advancement of the future automobile parts industry."
He continued, "Going forward, we will expand infrastructure related to future vehicles, such as autonomous driving and thermal management, to establish Gyeongnam as a key hub for future car production in Korea. Gyeongnam will take the lead in collaborating with Gimhae City, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, related organizations, and companies to foster outstanding talent and lead technological development."
Mayor Hong said, "The automobile industry is a comprehensive sector closely connected to various material industries such as steel, metal, and rubber. We will do our utmost, in cooperation with Gyeongnam Province and Gyeongnam Technopark, to enable local companies to play a leading role in the era of future vehicles."
Park Wansu, Governor of Gyeongnam Province (far right), is asking questions about the parts exhibited at the Future Automobile Virtual Center. Photo by Gyeongnam Province
Gyeongnam Province plans to begin construction in the second half of this year on three centers within the 27,850-square-meter site of the Myeongdong General Industrial Complex: the Future Automobile Digital Twin Center, the Thermal Management System Commercialization Support Center, and the Heavy Load Autonomous Mobile Evaluation Center.
Upon completion at the end of 2026, Gyeongnam aims to advance the future automobile industry structure and lead digital transformation by fostering specialized electric vehicle components and developing core parts for autonomous driving.
Gimhae City, which has the largest number of automobile parts companies in the province with 916 firms, plans to actively support the transition of internal combustion engine-focused parts manufacturers to the future automobile parts industry, starting with the opening of this center.
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