▲ Hyundai Motor Group Chair Euisun Chung (L) and Nvidia Corp. CEO Jensen Huang pose for a photo in front of robots during Huang's visit to Hyundai Motor's headquarters in Seoul on June 8, 2026. (Pool photo) (Yonhap)
▲ U.S. chip giant Nvidia Corp. CEO Jensen Huang (R), accompanied by Hyundai Motor Group Chairman Euisun Chung, gives a thumbs-up while riding in the all-electric PV5 van manufactured by Kia, a smaller affiliate of Hyundai Motor Co., during a visit to the carmaking group's headquarters in Seoul on June 8, 2026. (Pool photo) (Yonhap)

(LEAD) Hyundai Motor-Nvidia

(LEAD) Hyundai Motor, Nvidia discuss expanding cooperation in physical AI, future mobility

(ATTN: ADDS comments in paras 8-9; RECASTS headline; ADDS photo)

SEOUL, June 8 (Yonhap) -- Nvidia Corp. and Hyundai Motor Group discussed future mobility technologies and artificial intelligence (AI) cooperation on Monday as the two companies seek to expand their partnership in emerging technologies.

"I am very excited to partner with Hyundai across all areas of AI, from mobility to robotics and AI factories," Nvidia Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Jensen Huang told reporters after a meeting with Hyundai Motor Group Executive Chair Euisun Chung at the automaker's headquarters in southern Seoul.

Huang highlighted mobility and physical AI as the next major wave of AI development, saying he and Chung discussed ways to expand autonomous mobility technologies and improve safety.

In response, Chung described Nvidia as an "indispensable" partner and said the U.S. chipmaker is one of Hyundai Motor Group's most important collaborators.

Chung also said he briefed Huang on the group's ambitious investment project to transform the Saemangeum reclaimed land area in southwestern South Korea into a hub for AI, robotics and hydrogen industries.

"I explained the Saemangeum project to him," Chung said. "If Nvidia is willing to join us, we could build an even more comprehensive AI, robotics and data center ecosystem."

The 9 trillion-won (US$5.87 billion) project, announced in February, calls for developing 1.12 million square meters of land in the Saemangeum area. The plan includes construction of an AI data center, a robotics manufacturing and components cluster, a water electrolysis plant and solar power facilities, among other projects.

Huang said he and Chung discussed the Saemangeum project, describing the area as an "AI Valley" -- a reference to Silicon Valley in the United States -- and noted that Chung invited Nvidia to establish a presence there.

"AI will be a very important technology for this area," Huang told reporters after meeting with Chung. "(Chung) invited me to build Nvidia in Saemangeum. And I said that so long as there's excellent barbecue pork, I'm very happy to build Nvidia in Saemangeum."

The meeting came during Huang's high-profile visit to South Korea, where he has been meeting with leaders of major conglomerates and researchers to explore broader cooperation opportunities in AI and robotics.

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