Hyundai Motor Group and KAI Sign MoU to Develop Electric Advanced Air Mobility Solutions
Hyundai Motor Group and Korea Aerospace Industries have signed a memorandum of understanding to jointly develop electrified advanced air mobility aircraft.
2026
1999
What Happened
The MoU was signed by executives including Jaehoon Chang, Vice Chair of Hyundai Motor Group, and Jong-chool Kim, President and CEO of KAI. The collaboration focuses on joint development of an AAM aircraft based on electrified aviation powertrains. Supernal, Hyundai's AAM affiliate, and KAI will jointly develop the aircraft, while Hyundai's Aviation Powertrain Sub-Division works on powertrain commercialization.
Hyundai Motor Group and KAI sign MoU to develop AAM solutions.
Supernal appoints Dr. Farhan Gandhi as CTO.
“Our partnership with Korea Aerospace Industries, a leader in Korea's aerospace industry, represents a significant step forward in our efforts to develop future air mobility solutions. By introducing safe and efficient Advanced Air Mobility offerings, we aim to expand the boundaries of mobility into the skies.”
KAI has played a central role in developing South Korea's aerospace industry since its founding in 1999, delivering platforms like the KT-1 trainer and Songgolmae UAV. The collaboration also extends across supply chains, certification, and global customer networks.
Why this matters
This partnership combines an automaker's electrification expertise with an aerospace company's aircraft design to bring electric flying vehicles closer to reality.
Terms in This Story
- Advanced Air Mobility (AAM)
- A system of air transportation that uses electric or hybrid aircraft to move people and cargo between locations not previously served by aviation.
- Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)
- A formal agreement between two parties outlining the terms and details of a collaborative project, not legally binding.
- Powertrain
- The components that generate power and deliver it to the wheels or propellers, including the engine, motor, and transmission.
- Rotorcraft
- A type of aircraft that uses rotating blades to generate lift, such as helicopters and tiltrotors.
Summarised from the linked release; details can be imperfect — always verify against the original source.