Hyundai Mobis announced on July 28 that it has been selected as the lead research institution for the 2026 shipbuilding and marine industry technology development project and will participate in a U.S.-Korea shipbuilding R&D agreement.
This initiative, supported by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and the Korea Institute for Advancement of Technology (KIAT), aims to enhance export competitiveness and secure new markets by developing core technologies and equipment in the shipbuilding and marine plant sectors.
Hyundai Mobis has been designated as the lead institution for the research and development of 'key technologies for intelligent autonomous transporters for ultra-large block transportation to transform the smart ship manufacturing paradigm' among eight new projects related to the shipbuilding industry.
The project aims to develop autonomous transport technology capable of safely and efficiently transporting shipyard blocks (large structures for ship assembly) and to validate this technology in U.S. shipyards. The project will last for 42 months and receive a total of 19 billion won in government support.
The company explained that its selection as the lead institution is based on over 35 years of experience in smart logistics and the advancement of autonomous driving technology that integrates artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics.
Hyundai Mobis plans to secure innovative technologies for shipbuilding processes through the development of ultra-heavy autonomous transport robots, integrated control and virtual driving verification, AI-based block transport stability simulations, and the creation of overseas validation support scenarios.
Notably, this national project will be pursued through technological exchange and cooperation between the U.S. and South Korea. Hyundai Mobis also participated in the opening ceremony of the 'U.S.-Korea Shipbuilding Cooperation Center' on July 23 in Washington, D.C., where it signed a technology cooperation agreement with the Southwest Research Institute, a major research institution in the U.S.
Hyundai Mobis stated, "We are honored to participate in this significant shipbuilding cooperation project between the U.S. and South Korea and will carry out the research and development without any setbacks."
Meanwhile, Hyundai Mobis is a total smart logistics solution company engaged in logistics automation, screen doors, and IT services. It is also a key affiliate of the Hyundai Group, led by Chairman Hyun Jeong-eun, alongside Hyundai Elevator.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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