Hyundai Motor is reportedly seeking partnerships with several Chinese technology firms, including Baidu, Momenta, and XPeng, to advance its autonomous driving technology, according to a Thursday report by South Korea’s Maeil Business Newspaper.
Citing industry sources, the report said discussions between Hyundai and Guangzhou-based XPeng are ongoing. XPeng, which recently confirmed plans to enter the South Korean market, announced on Wednesday that it aims to begin mass production of robotaxis in 2026.
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An autonomous driving industry insider told the newspaper that if a partnership is formed, initial testing would likely take place in China “due to map data and technical standards that differ by country.” The source added that “after gradual refinement, the technology could later be commercialized region by region.”
Hyundai has traditionally focused on developing autonomous driving systems internally. In 2022, the company acquired startup 42dot and launched its Advanced Vehicle Platform (AVP) division. Hyundai also collaborates with Waymo, Alphabet’s self-driving unit, in the United States and operates Motional, a joint venture with Aptiv, a major supplier for General Motors.
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Following a recent commitment from Nvidia to supply 50,000 GPUs, Hyundai is reportedly expanding its global cooperation strategy by forming technical partnerships with Chinese firms. This move aligns with its broader objective of strengthening its presence in the Chinese market.
In October, Hyundai opened pre-sale orders for the Elexio, a fully electric SUV developed specifically for China, five months after its initial unveiling. Built on a separate platform, the model reflects Hyundai’s plan to operate more independently in China. The automaker describes the Elexio as featuring a “family-centric design” and offering a range of 722 km (449 miles), with pre-sale prices starting at 130,000 yuan ($18,240).
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Momenta reportedly provided autonomous driving technology during the Elexio’s development. The Chinese startup also partners with Mercedes-Benz on its fully electric CLA model and works with Uber to support its robotaxi expansion in Europe.
