[Edaily Reporter SOYEON KIM ] Samsung and HyundaiMotor Group—which have built trust and cooperation across three generations, starting with their founders—have made a bold “one-team” move to secure leadership in future high-tech industries. The two groups, once archrivals representing the business world, are strengthening their strategic alliance by expanding their existing collaboration in semiconductors, batteries, and automotive electronics to encompass future industries such as robotics and artificial intelligence (AI). The two groups, each possessing world-class competitiveness in the electronics/semiconductor and automotive sectors, plan to combine their technological and business capabilities to secure a leading position in the future mobility and physical AI markets.

On the 9th, SamsungElectronics hosted an “HMG Appreciation Day” at the SamsungElectronics Seocheon Training Center, inviting key executives from HyundaiMotor Group. This marks the first time SamsungElectronics has held such a large-scale invitation-only event for a major South Korean conglomerate.

Held under the theme “One Harmony Toward the Future,” the event was attended by a total of 177 people, including Jeon Young-hyun, Vice Chairman and Head of SamsungElectronics’ Device Solutions (DS) Division, and Jang Jae-hoon, Vice Chairman of HyundaiMotor Group, as well as executives and managers from major affiliates of both groups and their spouses.

Representing Samsung were Roh Tae-moon, Head of SamsungElectronics’ Device eXperience (DX) Division; Park Yong-in, Head of SamsungElectronics’ System LSI Business; Han Jin-man, Head of SamsungElectronics’ Foundry Business; Lee Cheong, President of Samsung Display; Choi Ju-seon, President of SAMSUNG SDI CO.,LTD.; and Jang Deok-hyun, President of SamsungElectroMechanics. From HyundaiMotor Group, attendees included Seo Kang-hyun, President in charge of Planning and Coordination; Manfred Hahner, Head of Research and Development (R&D) for HyundaiMotor and KIA CORPORATION; and Park Min-woo, Head of the AVP Division for HyundaiMotor and KIA CORPORATION.

In his welcome address, Vice Chairman Jeon Young-hyun stated, “HyundaiMotor Group and Samsung are steadfast partners who have written the history of South Korea’s industry together,” adding, “I look forward to the convergence of HyundaiMotor Group’s innovative vision for leading future mobility and Samsung’s technological capabilities—which span from components to finished products—opening up limitless possibilities.”

Vice Chairman Jang Jae-hoon remarked, “Samsung and HyundaiMotor Group are expanding the scope of our collaboration beyond automotive components—such as infotainment systems, audio, and batteries—to future industries like robotics and energy,” adding, “When the strengths of both groups, built up over three generations, come together, they will generate even greater synergy.”

The collaboration between the two groups is already yielding concrete business results. SamsungElectronics has agreed to supply HyundaiMotor with the “Exynos Auto V920,” a semiconductor for in-vehicle infotainment systems, while SAMSUNG SDI CO.,LTD. signed its first long-term supply contract for electric vehicle batteries with HyundaiMotor in 2023. Samsung SDI CO.,LTD.’s high-nickel NCA (nickel-cobalt-aluminum) prismatic batteries will be installed in KIA CORPORATION’s compact electric SUV and HyundaiMotor’s Ioniq 3. Samsung SDI CO.,LTD.’s prismatic batteries will also be used in the GV90, the flagship electric SUV from HyundaiMotor’s premium brand, Genesis. SAMSUNG SDI CO.,LTD., HyundaiMotor, and KIA CORPORATION have expanded their collaboration to the field of robotics by jointly developing batteries specifically designed for robots.

The Samsung Group possesses a broad range of core technologies essential for future vehicles, including not only semiconductors and batteries but also displays, multilayer ceramic capacitors (MLCCs), and automotive electronic systems. As the HyundaiMotor Group expands its business in electric vehicles, autonomous driving, software-defined vehicles (SDVs), and robotics, the scope of technological cooperation between the two sides is expected to broaden further. In particular, there is a consensus that synergies can be achieved in the field of physical AI. Analysts suggest that combining Samsung’s semiconductor, sensor, and battery technologies with HyundaiMotor Group’s robotics and autonomous driving technologies could strengthen competitiveness in future mobility.

The cooperative relationship between the two groups has spanned three generations, dating back to the founders’ era. In 1985, Samsung founder Lee Byung-chul attended the 70th birthday celebration of HyundaiMotor founder Chung Ju-yung—despite being ill at the time—and presented him with a piece of white porcelain he had personally selected. In 2001, former Samsung Chairman Lee Kun-Hee and Chung Mong-Koo, then chairman of HyundaiMotor and KIA CORPORATION, held a private meeting at Seungjiwon, Samsung’s official guesthouse. That same year, Samsung began purchasing the Equus—HyundaiMotor’s luxury sedan—as official vehicles for the presidents of its affiliate companies, and HyundaiMotor Group reciprocated by partially adopting SAMSUNG CARD CO., LTD. for its corporate credit card operations.

In 2020, SamsungElectronics Chairman Jay Y. Lee and HyundaiMotor Group Chairman Euisun Chung met twice—at the SAMSUNG SDI CO.,LTD. Cheonan plant and the HyundaiMotor and KIA CORPORATION Namyang Research Center—to discuss future mobility cooperation, including next-generation electric vehicle batteries. Since then, cooperation between the two sides has led to actual parts supply and joint development, and it is widely assessed that the two groups—once known as the business world’s “eternal rivals”—are evolving into strategic partners who are jointly targeting future industries based on pragmatism.