Hyundai Motor Group, KAI Ink Deal for Joint Development of Future Aircraft

Hyundai Motor Group and Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to jointly develop future air mobility (AAM) aircraft. The partnership aims to lay the groundwork for entering the future aerospace market by combining their respective strengths, with a core focus on integrating Hyundai Motor Group's expertise in electrified aviation powertrains and KAI's proficiency in aircraft development.

The companies will share technology and human resources and expand cooperation to supply chains, certification, and customer networks. Supernal, Hyundai Motor Group's U.S.-based AAM subsidiary, and KAI will jointly develop AAM aircraft, while Hyundai Motor and Kia's Aviation Powertrain Business Unit will concurrently work on commercializing electrified aviation powertrains.

This collaboration is expected to contribute to fostering the domestic AAM industry ecosystem. When aircraft development, powertrains, certification, and supply chain cooperation proceed in an integrated manner, it can expand the collaboration base among domestic aviation and mobility companies. Hyundai Motor Group stated that the agreement with KAI will significantly boost its future AAM development efforts. KAI anticipates that the combination of its comprehensive capabilities in fixed-wing and rotorcraft systems with Hyundai Motor Group's mass production capabilities and mobility ecosystem will enable the development of leading K-AAM (Korean Advanced Air Mobility) products for the global market.

Supernal, Hyundai Motor Group's AAM specialist unit, has appointed Parimal Agrawal, who has over 30 years of experience in rotorcraft research, as its Chief Technology Officer (CTO) to enhance Supernal's technological advancements.