Hyundai gives advanced air mobility demo in Indonesia

Hyundai Motor Group on Monday unveiled its advanced air mobility (AAM) technology and demonstrated an AAM prototype aircraft, or a flying car, in Indonesia as the South Korean automotive group is seeking to build an AAM network in the world’s largest archipelago.

In the presentation, the parent of Hyundai Motor Co. and Kia Corp. showcased integrated future ground and AAM technology optimized for Indonesia composed of about 18,000 islands. 

Indonesian government officials, including those from the transport ministry and the Nusantara Capital Authority (NCA) overseeing its capital relocation, got first-hand experience of the future mobility technology during the demonstration. It was held at Samarinda Airport, near its new capital of Nusantara.

Indonesia is building its new capital of Nusantara in East Kalimantan province on the island of Borneo and aims to make it a green, smart and sustainable city.

Hyundai Motor Group has been collaborating with Indonesia to build an AAM network in Indonesia’s new capital by establishing AAM application plans, verifying ground and air mobility transportation concepts and conducting on-site tests.

To do so, it signed a strategic cooperation agreement in 2022 with the Nusantara Capital Authority.

At the demo, Hyundai also introduced its Shucle, a mobility service app through which users can order a bike, bus, kickboard or taxi. It demonstrated how to hail its County Electric minibus on the app for transport to the hangar of Samarinda Airport.

Hyundai is betting big on Indonesia's future mobility market. It is leading the electric vehicle market in the Southeast Asian country and plans to double its production there.

The Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI) gave a flight demonstration of its AAM prototype aircraft Oppav at Samarinda Airport, along with Hyundai.

Oppav is short for optionally piloted personal air vehicle, or a demonstrator prototype aircraft for the electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) technology developed by the state-funded institute.

Hyundai’s distributed electric propulsion technology was applied to Oppav’s electrified powertrain and used to independently drive multiple motors and batteries.

Alongside the technology demonstration, Hyundai displayed its new AAM aircraft model, dubbed S-A2, drawing keen interest from Indonesian government officials for its design and performance.

Last year, Supernal, Hyundai Motor's urban air mobility development unit, showcased a concept model of its eVTOL aircraft, which it aims to bring to market by 2028.

In March of this year, Hyundai Motor Group Chairman Chung Euisun discussed cooperation on hydrogen-fueled cars and EVs with Indonesia’s Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto.

Write to Jung-Eun Shin at newyearis@hankyung.com
 


Yeonhee Kim edited this article.