Hyundai Motor Group Executive Chair Chung Euisun attends the 2026 Semafor World Economy forum at a hotel in Washington, D.C., Monday. Courtesy of Hyundai Motor Group
Hyundai Motor Group Executive Chair Chung Euisun has outlined the group’s vision for next-generation mobility centered on artificial intelligence (AI), robotics and hydrogen at the 2026 Semafor World Economy forum.
The event, hosted by global digital media platform Semafor in the United States, launched its five-day run on Monday (local time), bringing together top executives from Fortune Global 500 companies and public and private sector leaders worldwide to discuss key economic and technological challenges.
Hyundai Motor Group is participating in track sessions and roundtables to present its future mobility strategy and reinforce its global leadership.
Chung emphasized that intensifying competition serves as a catalyst for innovation.
“Competition — driven by changing conditions — stimulates innovation,” he said in a written interview with the event organizer on Sunday. “We can tackle crisis with our inherent flexibility and resilience.”
He highlighted Hyundai’s approach of combining global expansion with regional agility to navigate increasingly fragmented markets.
The company is expanding hybrid production in Korea and the U.S., while at the same time establishing new manufacturing bases in India and the Asia-Pacific region to maintain resilience amid growing uncertainty.
On future technologies, Chung identified robotics and physical AI as central to Hyundai’s evolution beyond traditional mobility.
He said the group seeks to connect human beings and AI-powered collaborative robots to drive innovation across industries.
Hyundai Motor plans to deploy its Atlas humanoid robot, developed by Boston Dynamics, in manufacturing facilities by 2028 and scale up its production to as many as 30,000 units annually by 2030.
Chung also reaffirmed hydrogen’s role in the global clean energy transition, noting that rising energy demand — from data centers to electrified transport — has made energy security a critical issue.
He described hydrogen fuel cell vehicles and electric vehicles as complementary solutions in Hyundai’s clean mobility portfolio.
The group is accelerating its transformation through large-scale domestic investment, including a 9 trillion won ($6.07 billion) project in Saemangeum in North Jeolla Province to build a future business ecosystem spanning robotics manufacturing, AI data centers and renewable energy infrastructure, the company said.
Meanwhile, Hyundai Motor CEO Jose Munoz is set to lead discussions on global mobility innovation and energy transition during a mobility track session on Tuesday, with Hyundai’s luxury brand Genesis serving as a track sponsor.
Genesis is also operating a dedicated lounge at the venue, showcasing its signature Korean hospitality and premium brand experience.
“Hyundai Motor Group will continue to actively communicate with policymakers and business leaders to strengthen our future mobility leadership,” an official from the carmaker said.
