Hyundai Motor Group is set to enhance its research capabilities in India by collaborating with three prestigious Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs)—IIT Delhi, IIT Bombay, and IIT Madras. This partnership aims to establish the Hyundai Center of Excellence (CoE) at IIT Delhi, focusing primarily on the advancement of battery technology and electrification. Given the highly competitive nature of the Indian automotive market, this initiative is positioned as a strategic move to meet growing demands for electric vehicles (EVs).
The agreement to form the Hyundai CoE was formalized during a ceremony at IIT Delhi, attended by key participants from both Hyundai and the IITs. Among those present were Prof. Rangan Banerjee, director of IIT Delhi; dean Sachin C Patwardhan from IIT Bombay; and dean Manu Santhanam from IIT Madras. Speaking to the publication, Naksup Sung, head of the Hyundai Motor Group Research and Development (R&D) Planning & Coordination Center, expressed enthusiasm for the collaboration, stating, “We are delighted to join forces with IITs, a group of leading engineering universities renowned for its exceptional education and research.”
Hyundai has earmarked a budget of approximately US$7 million for research initiatives related to batteries and electrification, to be distributed between the years 2025 and 2029. This investment reflects the group's commitment not only to battery development but also to broader areas such as software integration and hydrogen fuel cell technology.
The collaboration aims to complement the Indian government's efforts to establish a robust EV ecosystem. It intends to leverage the expertise of the Centre for Automotive Research and Tribology (CART), which is recognized as the sole EV-focused research institute in India and is housed within IIT Delhi.
In addition to the technical aspects of battery research, the Hyundai CoE will promote human resource development through the exchange of knowledge and expertise. This will include technical exchange meetings, special guest lectures by experts from Hyundai, and the organization of training programmes in South Korea for participants from the IITs. This comprehensive approach signifies Hyundai's intent to foster a collaborative environment that nurtures innovation and expertise in electric vehicle technology within India.
Source: Noah Wire Services