Autonomous technology company Motional and the Hyundai Motor Group have opened the Hyundai Motor Group Innovation Center Singapore (HMGICS). The facility will manufacture the co-developed all-electric Ioniq 5 robotaxi, with the first production-ready Ioniq 5 robotaxis deployed as part of Motional’s commercial services in the USA, starting in 2024.
The Ioniq 5 robotaxi is one of the first SAE Level 4 AVs to be certified under the US Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS). The certification, says Motional president and CEO Karl Iagnemma, acts as “a testament to the vehicle’s thorough development and testing program, its safety and reliability, and the sophistication of the autonomous technology”.
HMGICS combines advanced automation and real-time monitoring and data evaluation to push production boundaries. It’s also equipped with advanced features bespoke to HMGICS to support AV production, including testing facilities and a calibration center.
Motional has deployed a team on-site to assist with production. These employees are located at the Autonomous Vehicle Integration Center and will perform critical diagnostics, software development, calibration and validation tasks to ensure that finished examples of the Ioniq 5 robotaxi meet exacting specifications and are ready for deployment.
Motional and the Hyundai have been preparing for the production of the Ioniq 5 robotaxi for several years, including the development of a limited series of prototype vehicles that have been tested in the USA and Singapore for over a year.
The initial fleet of Ioniq 5 robotaxis recently completed a series of evaluations designed to demonstrate the quality, performance and maturity of the robotaxi and its autonomous driving technology. Commercial production of the Ioniq 5 robotaxi is underway, and the first models have already arrived at Motional’s facility in the USA. The vehicles are undergoing Motional’s rigorous testing and safety validation processes before beginning commercial service in 2024.
Commenting on HMGICS’s role in bringing the IONIQ 5 robotaxi from development to production reality, HMGICS CEO Hong Bum Jung said, “HMGICS stands as Hyundai Motor Group’s first global innovation hub and global testbed for future mobility. Our mission at HMGICS is to revolutionize the mobility value chain by developing and producing advanced and diverse forms of future mobility solutions. Commencing production of the IONIQ 5 robotaxi in collaboration with Motional, we are committed to a continuous journey of innovation, aiming to spearhead the paradigm shift in the future of mobility.”