Hyundai Motor Group, together with six South Korean research institutes, will develop a vehicle intended for moon exploration.
It’s a 70 kg solar-powered rover that Hyundai will build using technology from Hyundai and Hyundai-owned KIA. This includes equipping the vehicle with cameras, lidar, motors, solar panels, and batteries that Hyundai and KIA have developed for their cars.
Hyundai aims to have a test version of the vehicle ready for testing in the second half of 2024 and a model that could be sent to the moon sometime in 2027. Above is an illustration of what Hyundai’s moon car could look like.
“Hyundai Motor Group has consistently stated its goal is to contribute to expanding human reach and the scope of human mobility experiences,” said Yong Wha Kim, Executive Vice President, and Head of R&D Planning & Coordination Center of Hyundai Motor and Kia. “The creation of the lunar exploration mobility development model not only reflects this goal, but also shows our ambition to achieve tangible results in the face of significant challenges. With the rover’s development, we are moving beyond land, sea and air mobility to expand into space mobility.”
–hyundaimotorgroup.com
