An evening at the Hyundai Motor Group Innovation Center Singapore
While South Korea seems to be having a lively argument with the SEAblings about proper etiquette in concerts, my wife and I happened to have a very unique experience at Hyundai Motor Group Innovation Center Singapore, the brand’s innovation and research and development hub in the world. Hyundai was attracted to Singapore because of its openness to technology and progressive attitude towards artificial intelligence, key drivers for progress and innovation in Hyundai’s strategy for the future.
Located in the Jurong Innovation District, Singapore’s 600-hectare hub for manufacturing and technology innovation, the HMGICS Facility fits perfectly here.
The Hyundai Motor Group Innovation Center Singapore or HMGICS facility, which opened in late 2023 is a 86,900-square meter seven-story “smart urban mobility hub” in the Jurong Innovation District, serving as a global open innovation hub, R&D, EV assembly, and AI-driven, human-centric manufacturing.
It acts as a testbed for advanced manufacturing using robotics, AI, and digital twin technology, with a capacity to produce up to 30,000 EVs annually while offering immersive, next-generation customer experiences. It’s a huge facility, with bright windows in its facade, minimalist but very futuristic.
It has offices, the electric vehicle assembly line with a capacity for 30,000 EVs annually, the Smart Farm, various interactive displays areas for customers and tour goers, the elevated Sky Track, and finally Na Oh, Hyundai’s highly regarded Korean Fine Dining Restaurant which is in partnership with Korean-American Corey Lee, a Three Star Michelin Chef and the first Korean to achieve this prestigious status.
The electric vehicle assembly line builds the Ioniq 5, Ioniq 6, the KIA EV5 and the IONIQ 5 Robotaxi, a self-driving taxi that is currently in use in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA with plans for wider release soon. HMGICS currently has the Pope Mobile Ioniq 5, the state vehicle donated by Hyundai for the Papal Visit of the late Pope Francis (+) in Singapore in late 2024. It will soon be sent to The Vatican, following Papal Tradition where all personal belongings of Popes will be kept there for safekeeping.
We had a go at HMGICS’s Sky Track. It’s an elevated banked oval test track on HMGICS’ fifth floor, about 28 meters above street level. It’s around 620 meters long with a maximum banking of 37 degrees at its highest, steepest point. At the maximum allowed track speed of 80 kilometers per hour, you can experience 3gs! It’s built in small sections then connected together. Each small section of the track is supported by dampers which absorb the vibration of the car running at speed.
The Smart Farm on the other hand is an innovate and space saving wag to grow greens in the future. It’s a fully automated, state-of-the-art hydroponics farm that grows organic greens. It is a 2-storey, fully automated, high-tech indoor vertical farm that utilizes robotics and artificial intelligence to grow up to nine types of leafy greens (such as mustard greens and romaine) without pesticides.
The farm produces 250–350+ plants daily for Na Oh, and for visitor, with a focus on sustainable, urban food production. There are five robot arms and a “Mega Robot” (nearly 30 feet tall) that handle seeding, transferring, and harvesting, covering 568 growing towers.
While we saw them only in passing, the offices and the cafeteria appear more university than corporate atmosphere which helps set the mood and environment to allow creativity to flow. Definitely a nice place to work in!
The last activity saw us don 3D virtual reality googles for an immersive interactive tour of the EV assembly line. We were given simple virtual tasks wherein we helped assemble our own Ioniq 5. Really cool as we were fumbling about with the simple activities with our virtual hands. From there we were led to the releasing lounge where actual customers can take delivery of theur.
The highlight for me and the missus of course was dinner at Na Oh. My wife and I enjoyed an early Korean themed Valentine’s Date with a set menu themed for the winter. After the traditional appetizers, we were served a hearty and very filling portion of mains (pork cheeks for me and galbijim for the missus) which had me ordering extra serving of rice.
The tour is free so log onto HMGICS website and join the scheduled tours listed. If you have a large group, you can ask for a private tour but the maximum is only 16 persons and HMGICS will require you to pay Singapore Dollar $150 which they in turn donate to the Singapore President’s Challenge.
Trust me, it’s worth it! And don’t forget to book a dinner at Na Oh as well.
