On April 24, 2026, Hyundai Motor Group made a bold move to secure its future in the rapidly evolving mobility industry. The conglomerate’s five key affiliates—Hyundai Motor, Kia, Hyundai Mobis, Hyundai Steel, and Hyundai Rotem—simultaneously announced plans to invest a staggering 8 trillion Korean won (KRW), or roughly $6 billion USD, in the creation of a new research and development hub. This ambitious project, tentatively named the HMG Future Complex, will rise near Bokjeong Station in Songpa-gu, Seoul, and is set to become the nerve center for Hyundai’s next-generation mobility ambitions.
According to Business Post, each affiliate publicly disclosed their capital contributions for the new real estate corporation. Hyundai Motor leads the pack with a 2.8886 trillion KRW investment, representing a 36.1% stake. Kia follows with 2.3635 trillion KRW (29.5%), Hyundai Mobis with 1.098 trillion KRW (13.7%), Hyundai Steel with 516.4 billion KRW (6.5%), and Hyundai Rotem with 460.8 billion KRW (5.8%). The initial sum from these five affiliates totals approximately 7.3281 trillion KRW, but with additional affiliates expected to join, the total investment will reach the 8 trillion KRW mark.
Construction of the HMG Future Complex is slated to begin in the first half of 2026, with completion targeted for the end of 2030. The new facility will occupy a prime mixed-use development site near Bokjeong Station, an area already buzzing with large-scale projects. Industry insiders have long speculated that Hyundai would choose this site, given its proximity to the company’s under-construction Global Business Center in Gangnam and its strategic location for attracting top-tier talent.
The driving force behind this massive investment is Hyundai Motor Group’s determination to transform itself into a smart mobility solutions powerhouse. As reported by Financial Post, the group’s chairman, Chung Eui-sun, envisions a future business portfolio composed of 50% automobiles, 30% personal air vehicles (urban air mobility, or UAM), and 20% robotics. This vision has prompted Hyundai to expand aggressively into next-generation mobility sectors such as future aerial mobility (AAM), robotics, and autonomous driving. The group is also pursuing mergers, acquisitions, and joint ventures to bolster its capabilities in these cutting-edge fields.
Central to the HMG Future Complex’s mission is a focus on artificial intelligence (AI) and software. The facility will serve as a core research and work hub, consolidating R&D personnel who are currently spread across multiple locations, including the Namyang Research Center in Hwaseong, Gangnam, Pangyo, and Uiwang. This move is expected to address several pressing challenges faced by Hyundai Motor Group: the rapid increase in workspace demand due to business expansion, the aging and saturation of existing research facilities, instability in leasing conditions, and operational inefficiencies caused by dispersed research locations.
Upon the complex’s completion in 2030, many AI and software R&D staff from the Namyang Research Center are expected to relocate to the new site. According to Maeil Business Newspaper, the Namyang facility will remain operational, but the new hub will become the focal point for future technology research, especially in AI, information and communication technology (ICT), and software-defined vehicles (SDV). Hyundai’s AVP (Advanced Vehicle Platform) division and the autonomous driving subsidiary 42dot are also expected to be based at the Bokjeong site, further consolidating the group’s R&D firepower.
The decision to build the complex in Seoul, rather than expanding the Namyang Research Center in Hwaseong, was influenced by the need to attract and retain top talent in AI and software development. As an industry source told Seoul Economic Daily, "Many companies consider Pangyo the minimum for attracting top talent," but Hyundai ultimately chose Bokjeong for its proximity to the group’s business headquarters and its appeal to skilled professionals. The result is expected to be a sprawling campus housing thousands of researchers, engineers, and developers—a veritable engine room for Hyundai’s future mobility ambitions.
The HMG Future Complex will not only provide a state-of-the-art environment for research and development but also signal Hyundai’s commitment to organizational sophistication and technological leadership. The group’s official disclosures cited several reasons for the investment: the need for increased office space, the limitations of aging research facilities, the risks associated with unstable leasing environments, and the inefficiencies of dispersed R&D operations. By bringing together its best minds and resources under one roof, Hyundai aims to foster collaboration, drive innovation, and accelerate the commercialization of advanced mobility technologies.
Hyundai Motor Group’s focus on software-defined vehicles is particularly noteworthy. The company has identified SDVs as a key growth engine for the future, especially as it seeks to catch up with rivals like Tesla in autonomous driving technology. Hyundai plans to unveil its first SDV prototype—the so-called "pace car"—in 2026, with mass production slated to begin the following year. The new research complex is expected to play a pivotal role in achieving these ambitious goals.
In addition to software and AI, the HMG Future Complex will support research in robotics, hydrogen vehicles, and autonomous driving. The group’s expansion into these areas reflects a broader strategy to diversify beyond traditional automobiles and position itself at the forefront of the mobility revolution. By investing in a centralized, world-class R&D facility, Hyundai Motor Group is betting that it can outpace competitors and shape the future of transportation—on the ground, in the air, and beyond.
Ultimately, the establishment of the HMG Future Complex marks a watershed moment for Hyundai Motor Group. It demonstrates the company’s resolve to adapt, innovate, and lead in a time of profound technological change. As the group breaks ground on its new research hub, all eyes will be on Songpa-gu to see how this investment shapes the next era of mobility—not just for Hyundai, but for the entire industry.