“A trusted partner” ... Samsung and Hyundai Motor Group executives gather, seeking “one-team” synergy through physical AI

[Financial News]“Hyundai Motor Group and Samsung are trusted partners who have written the history of South Korean industry together.” (Jun Young-hyun, vice chairman of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.) “Samsung and Hyundai Motor Group are broadening the possibilities for cooperation beyond vehicle parts to future industries such as robotics and energy.” (Chang Jae-hoon, vice chairman of Hyundai Motor Group)
As executives from Samsung and Hyundai Motor Group gathered in force on the 9th to reaffirm their commitment to cooperation, the ties between the two groups—which began with exchanges between their founders and continued through the supply of automotive parts—are now expanding into robotics and energy.
As Samsung’s semiconductors, batteries, automotive electronics and displays find common ground with Hyundai Motor Group’s electric vehicles, autonomous driving, software-defined vehicles (SDVs) and robotics, cooperation between the two groups, spanning from their founders to third-generation executives, appears set to expand into physical artificial intelligence (AI).
The two groups, once leading rivals in South Korea’s business community, are strengthening their strategic cooperation as a “K One Team” to lead global high-tech industries of the future. Analysts expect this to have a significant positive effect across South Korea’s industrial sector.
Heads of Samsung’s semiconductor, battery and automotive-electronics affiliates and executives responsible for finished-vehicle R&D and manufacturing at Hyundai Motor Group gathered at the HMG Appreciation Day held that day at Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.’s Seocheon Training Center. This was the first time Samsung had held such a large-scale invitation event for major domestic business groups.
In his welcoming remarks, vice chairman Jun Young-hyun said, “I hope that Hyundai Motor Group’s innovative vision for leading future mobility and Samsung Group’s technological capabilities, which span everything from parts to finished products, will come together to open up new value and boundless possibilities.” In his response, Hyundai Motor Group vice chairman Chang Jae-hoon said, “The strengths each group has built over three generations since its founding can create even greater synergy when brought together, and I hope we will join forces to take on the challenges ahead.”
The vice chairmen of both groups expressed their commitment to expanding cooperation, and attention is now focused on how far the relationship built through vehicle-parts transactions will extend into physical AI, including robotics and autonomous driving.
A total of 177 people, including executives, officers and spouses from both groups, attended the event. Samsung was represented by vice chairman Jun and Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. president Roh Tae-moon, along with executives responsible for semiconductor design and foundry operations and leaders from Samsung SDI Co., Ltd., Samsung Electro-Mechanics, Samsung Display Co., Ltd. and Harman. Hyundai Motor Group attendees included vice chairman Chang, president in charge of planning and coordination Seo Gang-hyun, Hyundai Motor Company and Kia Corporation R&D head Manfred Harrer, and head of Manufacturing Jung Jun-cheol.
The technologies on display at the event showed areas where the two sides could cooperate. Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. presented automotive semiconductors, Samsung SDI Co., Ltd. showcased solid-state batteries, and Samsung Electro-Mechanics displayed camera modules for autonomous driving. Samsung Display Co., Ltd. and Harman introduced next-generation displays and integrated control units for SDVs.
Analysts say the presence of so many leaders from the two groups’ affiliates was more significant than ever, given that the more software in finished vehicles integrates control of driving, safety and convenience features, the greater the need to assess component performance and vehicle design together.
The trust between the two groups was forged in November 1985, when Lee Byung-chul, Samsung’s founder chairman, who was ill at the time, attended the 70th-birthday banquet of Hyundai founder chairman Chung Ju-yung and presented him with a white porcelain piece he had personally selected. The relationship carried into 2001, when then Samsung chairman Lee Kun-hee and then Hyundai-Kia chairman Chung Mong-koo met privately at Seungjiwon, Samsung Group’s VIP guest house. Cooperation then became more visible through Samsung’s purchase of Hyundai Equus cars for business use and Hyundai Motor Group’s adoption of Samsung Card for some of its needs.
Under Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. chairman Lee Jae-yong and Hyundai Motor Group chairman Euisun Chung, cooperation further evolved into collaboration at R&D sites. In 2025, Samsung SDI Co., Ltd. and Hyundai Motor Company and Kia Corporation also began jointly developing batteries designed specifically for robots.
This is seen as a sign that cooperation between the two groups could expand into physical AI. The synergy between Samsung and Hyundai Motor Company, which have grown into global companies in the very different fields of electronics and automobiles, is expected to be considerable.
An industry official said, “The closer cooperation between Samsung and Hyundai Motor Group could help overcome the turmoil at the dawn of advanced industries,” adding, “The ‘three-legged race’ partnership between Samsung and Hyundai Motor, two representatives of South Korea’s industry, could invigorate the country’s entire industrial ecosystem and serve as an example and a healthy source of motivation for the many companies taking on future high-tech industries.”
[email protected] Kim Hak-jae Reporter