现代威亚拟中长期投入4000亿韩元扩张机器人业务

Hyundai Wia will invest 400 billion won in its robotics business. It is also pursuing equity investments in artificial intelligence (AI) and software startups to secure related technology. The strategy aims to create synergy with the large-scale infrastructure and investments being pursued by Hyundai Motor Group, through the expansion of automation businesses such as logistics and parking robots.
According to the industry on the 28th, Hyundai Wia (011210) said at its recent second-quarter earnings briefing that it plans to invest around 400 billion won in its robotics business over the medium to long term. This represents an injection of funds equivalent to 1.6 times Hyundai Wia's robot-related sales of 250 billion won last year, and it is being pursued separately from the Yeongnam-region investment plan announced by Hyundai Motor Group.
Hyundai Wia is also reviewing strategic investments in AI and software startups to secure automation technology early. Hyundai Wia is expected to secure the related funds through the sale of its defense business, which it is currently pursuing.
The investment funds will be used to expand the lineup of robots that can be used at manufacturing and logistics sites. Hyundai Wia is developing future products such as the mobile picking robot (MPR)—an autonomous-driving-based intelligent logistics robot that moves on its own in logistics warehouses or factories to accurately find and pick up designated goods—and driverless forklifts. In addition to technology development, the company also plans to build robot production facilities at sites including its Changwon plant.
Hyundai Wia's robots are used for parking and logistics automation. Hyundai Wia has deployed 94 logistics robots not only at Hyundai Motor Group's Hyundai Motor Group Innovation Center in Singapore (HMGICS) and Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America (HMGMA) in Georgia, but also at Hyundai Motor's Ulsan plant and Kia's Gwangju plant. The logistics robots are in use at HMGICS, HMGMA, and Kia's Hwaseong plant.
Hyundai Wia's robotics investment is intended to actively capitalize on opportunities arising from Hyundai Motor Group's expansion of AI robot investment. The company aims to preemptively secure technology and bases in preparation for rising demand for logistics automation and robot operation and integrated control systems in Saemangeum and the Yeongnam region, where Hyundai Motor Group is making new investments.
In particular, this investment is a move targeting synergy with the humanoid Atlas, which Hyundai Motor Group regards as a core focus. Hyundai Motor Group is drawing up a blueprint to build unmanned manufacturing sites using Atlas, and automation facilities are essential for this. Accordingly, the goal is to establish physical AI at manufacturing sites in a structure where Hyundai Motor and Boston Dynamics handle Atlas mass production and Hyundai Wia handles the construction of automation facilities.
Hyundai Wia also views the robotics business as a future growth engine in its own right. It has established a plan to expand the share of external sales in its robotics business to 50% by 2030. The company plans to expand its robot-related sales, which stood at 250 billion won as of last year, to 400 billion won by 2028.
A Hyundai Wia official said, "Ultimately, we aim to realize an 'AX (AI transformation) factory' that unmans the entire manufacturing and logistics process based on robots and AI." The official added, "By 2028, we plan to build a fully automated system at the Changwon plant to secure safety and technological capabilities, and to proceed with a structural improvement that reduces dependence on group affiliates."