Euisun Chung: "Atlas Production to Reach 30,000 Units Annually by 2030... Hydrogen Is the Key to the Future"

Hyundai Motor Group is strengthening its leadership in future mobility by participating in the 2026 Semaphore World Economy event, which is being held at the Conrad Hotel in Washington, D.C., United States, from April 13 to 17 (local time).

The Semaphore World Economy is a large-scale economic conference hosted by Semafor, a global digital news platform based in the United States. The event brings together major CEOs from Fortune’s Global 500 companies as well as public and private sector leaders from around the world.

During this year’s Semaphore World Economy, Hyundai Motor Group is sharing its vision and strategies for future mobility through track sessions and roundtables. In addition, the Genesis brand is participating as a partnership sponsor, establishing a dedicated brand space and solidifying its status as a luxury brand.

Key executives from Hyundai Motor Group, including Chairman Euisun Chung, Vice Chairman Jaehoon Chang, President Sung Kim, and Global President & COO Jose Munoz, are also in attendance at the 2026 Semaphore World Economy.

Chairman Chung Euisun of Hyundai Motor Group attending the 2026 Semaphore World Economy event. Hyundai Motor Group

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In a written interview with Semafor, Chairman Euisun Chung outlined Hyundai Motor Group’s vision to present a sustainable future based on technological innovation required in the era of future mobility and artificial intelligence (AI).

He specifically emphasized the Group’s direction and competitiveness in responding to a rapidly changing global business environment, future businesses centered on robotics and AI, and the energy transition.

Chairman Chung commented first on the current international business environment, stating, "As the global market becomes increasingly segmented, Hyundai Motor Group is navigating this environment with flexibility and resilience. The Group’s approach combines global expansion with regional agility, and we hold differentiated competitive advantages in each region where we operate."

He also discussed strategies to maintain competitiveness amid uncertainties, citing the expansion of hybrid production at plants in Korea and the United States, as well as the establishment of new manufacturing bases in India and the Asia-Pacific region.

Chairman Chung stressed, "Global dynamics are challenges we must all navigate. Thanks to the flexibility and resilience embedded in Hyundai Motor Group’s DNA, we can effectively respond to crises." He added, "Competition brought on by a changing environment is a driver of innovation. In that sense, Hyundai Motor Group welcomes competition," demonstrating a strong commitment to both competition and innovation.

Regarding future businesses, Chairman Chung said, "Robotics and physical AI are central to Hyundai Motor Group’s evolution beyond mobility. We are working to achieve this by connecting people with collaborative robots powered by advanced AI."

Chairman Chung provided specifics, stating, "By 2028, we plan to deploy Boston Dynamics’ humanoid robot, Atlas, in manufacturing facilities, and by 2030, we aim to produce up to 30,000 Atlas units annually. Leveraging the Group’s capabilities in R&D, software and AI, design, and advanced manufacturing, we are strengthening our global leadership for the next era."

On future energy strategy, Chairman Chung highlighted hydrogen as a key pillar in Hyundai Motor Group’s vision for sustainable future mobility, saying, "I believe hydrogen can play a crucial role in the global transition to clean energy."

He elaborated, "With global energy demand surging-from data centers and AI infrastructure to electrified transportation-energy security has become a critical issue for everyone. Hyundai Motor Group sees great potential in hydrogen as a solution to energy challenges, and we are offering both hydrogen fuel cell vehicles and electric vehicles (EVs) as complementary clean technologies to our customers."

As part of its strategic investments, Hyundai Motor Group announced a mid-to-long-term domestic investment plan worth KRW 125.2 trillion over the next five years last year, and recently unveiled an innovative growth hub investment project in the Saemangeum region.

Specifically, the Group plans to invest approximately KRW 9 trillion in a 1,124,000-square-meter (about 340,000-pyeong) site in Saemangeum to establish a value chain for future new businesses, including a robotics and parts manufacturing cluster, water electrolysis plant, AI data center, 1GW-scale solar power generation, and an AI hydrogen city. This will accelerate the Group’s transformation into a future technology company centered on robotics, AI, and energy solutions.

Genesis brand space inside the 2026 Semaphore World Economy event venue. Hyundai Motor Group

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On the second day of the event, April 14 (local time), Genesis will serve as the track sponsor of the future mobility track session, with President Jose Munoz participating as a speaker to lead discussions on global mobility innovation and the energy transition.

In the context of the Semaphore World Economy, the "track" refers to key topics shaping the global economy, such as finance, trade, AI, energy, and mobility. President Munoz will explain Hyundai Motor Group’s multi-powertrain strategy as part of its energy transition policies in response to energy price volatility and significant geopolitical uncertainties in the global business environment.

By introducing Hyundai Motor Group’s strategy of providing diverse, customer-centric mobility solutions based on multi-powertrain technologies-including both electric and hybrid vehicles-he will underscore the Group’s vision as a leader in future mobility.

Throughout the event, Genesis is creating a dedicated space at the Conrad Hotel in Washington, D.C., where the brand’s hospitality philosophy and luxury experience will be showcased.

Since 2022, Genesis has been working as a founding partner with Semafor, utilizing brand cultural spaces such as Genesis House New York and Genesis Studio Zurich to host business events for global leaders in various fields, thereby continuing its partnership with Semafor in this manner.

Genesis anticipates that by combining its unique hospitality culture with the credibility of a global news platform in forums for policy discussion, it can offer key decision-makers a differentiated brand experience, thereby expanding its global influence as a luxury brand.

A Hyundai Motor Group official stated, "We will continue to actively communicate with policymakers and business leaders who will drive future economic and technological development and further strengthen Hyundai Motor Group’s leadership in future mobility."

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