Euisun Chung Says Competition Driven by Change Spurs Innovation, Highlights Hyundai Motor Group’s Future Mobility Leadership

[The Financial News] Euisun Chung, chair of Hyundai Motor Group, took part in the opening of the 2026 Semafor World Economy in Washington, D.C., on the 13th (local time) and underscored his commitment to reinforcing the Group’s future mobility leadership.
Semafor World Economy is an event organized by the U.S. digital news platform Semafor. It is a large-scale economic conference that brings together key chief executives from Fortune magazine’s Global 500 companies as well as leaders from around the world.
Hyundai Motor Group will use track sessions and roundtables at Semafor World Economy, which runs through the 17th, to present its vision and strategy for future mobility. This year’s event is attended by senior executives including Chair Euisun Chung, Vice Chair Jang Jae-hoon, President Sung Kim, and Hyundai Motor Company President Jose Munoz.
In particular, during the future mobility track session scheduled for the second day of the event on the 14th (local time), Jose Munoz will speak as a presenter. He will lead discussions on global mobility innovation and the energy transition, while Genesis serves as the track sponsor.
The tracks at Semafor World Economy cover core themes of the global economy such as trade, Artificial Intelligence (AI), energy, and mobility. Track sessions feature CEO interviews and panel discussions by sector. The track sponsor helps shape and drive the key agenda of each session.
During the session, Munoz will present Hyundai Motor Group’s multi-powertrain strategy as part of its energy transition policy to address geopolitical uncertainties, including oil price volatility. The aim is to highlight the Group’s vision of offering a wide range of customer-centric mobility solutions, built on its multi-powertrain technologies that span both electric and hybrid vehicles.
Genesis will set up a dedicated space at the Conrad Hotel in Washington, D.C., the venue for the event. Inspired by Korean culture of warmly welcoming guests, the Genesis Lounge will showcase Genesis’s unique hospitality philosophy and luxury brand experience to global leaders attending the conference.
In a written interview with Semafor conducted just before the event, Chair Euisun Chung emphasized Hyundai Motor Group’s vision of presenting a sustainable future based on Robotics and Physical AI.
He stated, "Competition driven by a changing environment is a factor that spurs innovation," adding, "Global dynamics are a challenge we all must navigate, and thanks to the flexibility and resilience embedded in Hyundai Motor Group’s DNA, we have been able to respond effectively to crises."
He went on to stress that "Robotics and Physical AI are at the center of Hyundai Motor Group’s evolution beyond the mobility sector," noting that a human-centered AI robotics strategy is a core element of the Group’s future businesses.
Chung also reaffirmed plans to deploy Boston Dynamics’ Atlas humanoid robot at manufacturing facilities by 2028 and to produce up to 30,000 units of the Atlas humanoid robot annually by 2030. In line with this vision, Hyundai Motor Group last year announced a domestic mid- to long-term investment plan totaling 125.2 trillion won over the next five years and recently unveiled an innovation-led growth investment project in the Saemangeum region.
Hyundai Motor Group Vice Chair Jang Jae-hoon stated, "Based on the insights gained at Semafor, we plan to discuss within the Group how to effectively execute our strategic tasks, including transitioning into future businesses such as robots, AI, and energy, as well as our investments in Korea and the United States."
eastcold@fnnews.com Kim Dong-chan Reporter