Samsung Electronics, Hyundai Motor Group hold first inter-group exchange event to deepen robotics partnership

Samsung Electronics has invited senior executives from Hyundai Motor Group to an appreciation event — the first large-scale inter-group exchange the two companies have held.

The two conglomerates, which have long cooperated on automotive semiconductors, displays and batteries, are now looking to deepen their partnership as the era of autonomous driving and physical AI takes shape. Analysts say South Korea's two most prominent business groups are joining forces to prepare for the coming age of robotics and mobility.

Samsung Electronics is hosting Hyundai Motor Group's top executives Monday afternoon at its training center, "The Universe," in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, for an "Appreciation Day" event, according to industry sources. The couples-invited gathering will feature performances, a dinner and other exchanges.

The event is co-hosted by Jeon Young-hyun, vice chairman and head of Samsung Electronics' Device Solutions (DS) division, and Jang Jae-hoon, vice chairman of Hyundai Motor Group. About 170 executives and their spouses from both companies are expected to attend.

Samsung's attendees include Vice Chairman Jeon as well as Roh Tae-moon, president and head of the Device Experience (DX) division; Choi Joo-sun, president of Samsung SDI; Jang Deok-hyun, president of Samsung Electro-Mechanics; and Lee Cheong, president of Samsung Display. Hyundai Motor Group's contingent includes Jose Munoz, president of Hyundai Motor, and Manfred Harrer, president of the Hyundai Motor and Kia research and development division.

Samsung Electronics organized the event to express gratitude for its business partnership with Hyundai Motor Group. Cooperation that began in automotive semiconductors, displays and batteries has recently expanded into robotics as the physical AI era arrives.

The partnership between Samsung Electronics and Hyundai Motor Group gained momentum under Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong and Hyundai Motor Group Chairman Euisun Chung. Relations between the two groups had cooled in the past when Samsung Group entered the finished-vehicle business, but a shared recognition that they must work together to compete in global markets has since reinvigorated the relationship.

The two chairmen have also visited each other's facilities. Euisun Chung visited Samsung SDI's Cheonan plant in 2020, and Lee Jae-yong returned the visit that same year with a trip to Hyundai Motor's Namyang research center, where the two discussed future mobility business.

Samsung Electronics has not only supplied automotive semiconductors to Hyundai Motor Group but has recently secured foundry orders from the automaker as well. In 2023, Samsung Electronics announced it would supply Hyundai Motor with the Exynos Auto V920, a processor for in-vehicle infotainment systems, beginning in 2025. Last year, Samsung won an order for Hyundai Motor's autonomous driving chip, according to industry sources. The chip is targeted for mass production in 2030.

Collaboration is also active in components such as batteries, displays and cameras. Samsung SDI signed its first electric vehicle battery supply agreement with Hyundai Motor in 2023, beginning a commercial relationship that will see it supply batteries for next-generation electric vehicles bound for the European market from this year through 2032.

Samsung SDI's prismatic batteries will also be fitted in the GV90, the flagship electric SUV of the Genesis lineup. The GV90 will additionally receive two Samsung Display OLED panels — a 24.6-inch unit and a 13.2-inch unit.

Analysts say the two groups' robotics businesses are now moving into full gear, broadening the scope of their cooperation. Euisun Chung has publicly signaled his willingness to collaborate with Samsung Electronics in robotics.

At CES 2026 in Las Vegas in January, Chung visited the Samsung Electronics booth and, while looking at a robot vacuum cleaner, turned to Roh Tae-moon, head of Samsung's DX division, and said, "Why don't we try collaborating together?" The suggestion was to combine Hyundai Motor Group's MoBeD — a compact autonomous mobility platform — with Samsung Electronics' robot vacuum cleaner.

There is also talk of Samsung SDI batteries and Samsung Electro-Mechanics cameras being fitted in Atlas, the humanoid robot made by Boston Dynamics, a Hyundai Motor Group affiliate. Samsung SDI announced last year that it would jointly develop a dedicated robot battery with Hyundai Motor Group.