Toyota and Hyundai have recently announced a strengthened partnership aimed at advancing future mobility technologies, with a specific focus on hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles and humanoid robot development. The decision to deepen their ties was made during a meeting in South Korea between Toyota Motor chairman Akio Toyoda and Hyundai Motor Group executive chair Chung Euisun.
The collaboration between these two auto giants goes beyond just motorsport, as they plan to work together on the development of hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles and robotics. This partnership is expected to bring synergy given that Toyota and Hyundai are currently the world’s largest and third-largest car sellers, respectively, in the first half of this year.
Toyota and Hyundai have a strong presence in the development of hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles and are both key members of the Hydrogen Council, which boasts a membership of 140 companies. Toyota Motor introduced the world’s first commercial hydrogen fuel cell car, the Mirai sedan, in 2014, followed by Hyundai Motor with its hydrogen fuel cell model, the NEXO, four years later.
Despite the significant investment required to develop a hydrogen ecosystem, both Toyota and Hyundai remain committed to this initiative, as evidenced by the unveiling of a range of new concept hydrogen vehicles on October 27. Additionally, Hyundai’s Boston Dynamics and Toyota Research Institute have recently formed a robotics alliance to accelerate the development of general-purpose humanoid robots.
These AI-powered robots are intended to be used in the automakers’ factories to reduce costs and improve quality. Hyundai Motor plans to deploy Boston Dynamics’ humanoid robots in the coming years, while Toyota is also expected to integrate humanoid robots into its car production process following this partnership.
Other automakers like Tesla and BMW have already introduced humanoid robots into their production lines, signaling a trend towards the integration of robotics technologies into future car models. The collaboration between Toyota and Hyundai in the areas of hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles and robotics holds great promise for the future of mobility and underscores their commitment to innovation in the automotive industry.
