Incheon City to reshape the auto industry with AI, build future mobility hub in Cheongna

【Financial News, Incheon = Reporter Han Gap-su】 As the center of gravity of the automotive industry shifts toward artificial intelligence (AI) and hyperconnectivity technologies, Incheon has embarked on building a key hub for the future mobility industry. Its strategy is to boost industrial competitiveness by clustering companies, universities and research institutes around Cheongna and securing next-generation vehicle communications and AI service technologies.
On the 27th, Incheon City announced its “Incheon AI Connected Mobility Future Vision” and signed a memorandum of understanding with the Korea Automotive Technology Institute (KATECH) and major companies at the “2026 Connected Mobility Alliance General Assembly,” held at Paradise City on Yeongjongdo Island.
Incheon's strength lies in its established industrial base. The city plans to connect the semiconductor, automotive electronics parts and robotics industries, drawing on around 860 automotive-related companies and approximately 27,000 employees, while leveraging the global accessibility of its airports and ports and the advanced infrastructure in Songdo International City, Cheongna and Yeongjongdo Island.
The flagship project is the “AI Connected Mobility Science Park,” which will be developed around Cheongna Robot Land, the IHP Urban High-Tech Industrial Complex and Investment Attraction Block 6.
The city plans to establish an innovation hub where companies, universities and research institutes can collaborate, and to work with the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy to develop next-generation vehicle communications and AI-based service platforms.
As an implementation strategy to support this effort, the city presented its “G-A-T-E strategy,” encompassing the creation of innovation hubs (Ground), accelerating corporate growth (Accelerate), industrial and technological convergence (Together) and global expansion (Expand). The plan is to build a broad regional industrial network by linking Yeongjongdo Island, Gyeyang, Songdo International City, Namdong and Bupyeong around Cheongna, and extending cooperation as far as Magok in Seoul.
KATECH and related companies, including Hyundai Mobis, LG Innotek, Hyundai KEFICO, Intellian Technologies, HL Klemove, LOTTE INNOVATE, Tmap Mobility Co., Ltd., Solid, Inc., AUTOCRYPT and PESCARO, took part in the agreement to advance the project. The participating organizations agreed to cooperate on joint technology development, industry promotion and the creation of a key hub in Cheongna.
The task ahead is to turn the vision into tangible industrial results. Whether the development of the science park and core technologies leads to corporate investment, commercialization and the creation of quality jobs is expected to be a key indicator of the success of Incheon's future mobility strategy.
Mayor Park Chan-dae said, “We will combine AI and connectivity technologies with Incheon's global connections and technological infrastructure to develop it into the center of South Korea's future mobility industry.”
[email protected] Han Gap-su Reporter