Hyundai is developing its own driver assistance system for 2029

07:23

Hyundai Motor Group is pushing forward its ambition in driver assistance software. The South Korean automaker now plans to launch vehicles equipped with internally developed technology starting at the end of 2029. In the meantime, the group will rely more on Nvidia to accelerate the deployment of advanced features as early as 2028.

A two-year delay

The project to develop a proprietary driver assistance platform was initially set to achieve its first commercialization by the end of 2027. Hyundai is now targeting the end of 2029, a delay that illustrates the difficulty of building software internally capable of managing increasingly complex driving situations.

To bridge this transition period, Hyundai and Nvidia will work together on level 2+ and 2++ driver assistance systems. Their arrival is announced for 2028.

These technologies remain different from fully autonomous driving: the driver must always monitor the road and be ready to take control of the vehicle.

Nvidia at the heart of the transition strategy

The partnership with Nvidia is expected to help Hyundai save time while continuing to develop its own software architecture. Park Min-woo, president of the group and former Nvidia executive, assures that this cooperation does not mean Hyundai intends to relinquish control of its technology.

The automaker aims to leverage the data collected by vehicles equipped with Nvidia solutions to train and improve its future in-house platform, named Atria.

This strategy reflects a significant shift in the group's approach. Hyundai is now looking to combine the technological capabilities of a specialized partner with the ultimate goal of having a software solution that it directly controls.

Sensors without lidar to start

The first vehicles using Nvidia's Hyperion 10 platform are expected to prioritize a set of cameras, radars, and ultrasonic sensors. Hyundai does not plan to systematically use lidar initially, a more expensive technology used for accurately mapping the vehicle's environment.

However, the automaker does not rule out its use for level 3 systems. At this stage, Hyundai considers sensor redundancy an essential element to ensure safety, especially in the event of a failure of one of the devices.

Level 3 corresponds to more advanced automation, allowing the driver to delegate certain driving tasks under precisely defined conditions.

Hyundai wants to capitalize on data

To develop its proprietary technology, Hyundai also plans to leverage the size of its global fleet. The group and its subsidiary Kia have a fleet of several million vehicles, which could provide them with a considerable amount of data from real-world driving situations.

Hyundai believes it can surpass its competitors in terms of accumulated driving data by 2033. This issue is strategic: in the race for autonomous technologies, the ability to collect, process, and utilize this data is a major lever for training artificial intelligence software.

A fiercely competitive race towards autonomy

Hyundai's delay comes as Tesla and several Chinese manufacturers are ramping up their efforts in automated driving systems. The automotive market is no longer just about engines, batteries, or design, but also about mastering embedded software and artificial intelligence.

Hyundai is simultaneously developing its relationships with Nvidia in other areas, including data centers dedicated to artificial intelligence and Boston Dynamics' humanoid robots.

The automaker aims to gradually build a broader technological ecosystem while preparing the transition to a driver assistance platform developed under its own control.