Hyundai partners with research institutes to develop vehicle for lunar surface exploration

SEOUL, South Korea — Hyundai Motor is moving to develop a vehicle for lunar surface exploration. 

The Korean carmaker and its sister company Kia Motors formed a consortium July 27 with six state-funded research institutes here to explore the concept of lunar exploration mobility and core technologies required. They will also layout strategies for sending the vehicle to the moon and operating it once there. 

The six partner institutes are:

• Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI)
• Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI)
• Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute (KASI)
• Korea Automotive Technology Institute (KATECH)
• Korea Institute of Civil Engineering and Building Technology (KICT)
• Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI)

“We will expand the scope of human movement experience beyond traditional means of transport and beyond the bounds of Earth to further contribute to the progress of humankind and help create a better future,” said Kim Yong-wha, executive vice president of Hyundai, in a July 27 statement.