Hyundai Motor Group Vice Chair Chang Jae-hoon, left, poses with Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) CEO Kim Jong-chool after signing a partenrship in co-developing future air mobility platforms at the carmaker's headquarters in Seoul, Friday. Courtesy of Hyundai Motor Group
Hyundai Motor Group and Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) have forged a partnership to jointly develop next-generation advanced air mobility (AAM) aircraft by combining their expertise in electrified powertrains and aerospace engineering, the carmaker said Sunday.
Under the agreement, the two companies will collaborate on the development and mass production of future air mobility platforms — powered by electrified aviation powertrains. The partnership will extend beyond technology and human resource sharing and include cooperation in supply chains, certification processes and customer networks, both firms said.
In particular, Supernal, the carmaker’s AAM subsidiary in the United States, and KAI will co-develop the AAM aircraft. Hyundai Motor Group’s aviation powertrain division will also work with KAI to commercialize electric propulsion systems for aircraft.
“We will introduce safe and attractive future air mobility services that will expand the boundaries of mobility into the skies,” an official from the automaker said.
KAI also expressed hopes for the partnership with Hyundai Motor Group, saying that KAI’s integrated capabilities in fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft systems, combined with Hyundai’s mass-production expertise, could help create globally competitive Korean AAM platforms.
Meanwhile, Supernal recently appointed Farhan Gandhi, a renowned expert in vertical takeoff and landing aerodynamics, as its new chief technology officer. Gandhi, who has more than three decades of experience in rotary-wing aircraft research, is expected to play a key role in advancing the company’s technological capabilities.
KAI, which was established in 1999, has focused on developing military aircraft, including the KT-1 basic trainer and the Songgolmae unmanned aerial vehicle. The company has recently expanded its business into civilian advanced air mobility sector.
Source: Korea Times News
