Sources say new partnership to fuel Boston Dynamics' growth momentum
Hyundai Motor Group said Friday that it has forged a strategic partnership with Nvidia, the world’s leading designer and manufacturer of GPUs, to boost the applications of artificial intelligence across its business operations, spanning software-defined vehicles and robotics.
Key executives, including Kim Heung-soo, head of global strategy office at Hyundai Motor Group, and Rishi Dhall, vice president of automotive at Nvidia, attended the signing ceremony for the AI partnership on Thursday in a hotel in Las Vegas, US.
Under the agreement, the car manufacturer plans to utilize the Nvidia Omniverse platform, a modular platform using advanced application programming interfaces and microservices, to develop physical AI and digital twin applications to simulate its auto plants. This initiative aims to improve manufacturing efficiency and quality control as well as streamline costs.
Hyundai Motor Group will also leverage Nvidia’s accelerated computing and AI Enterprise software to help process the massive amounts of data required to develop and train its AI models for various applications, including vehicles that add functions and services through software updates.
Notably, the company is poised to accelerate the development of more sophisticated AI-based robots and virtual reality required for robot training with the Nvidia Isaac robotics platform.
“Hyundai Motor Group is expected to enhance the performance of its robots made by Boston Dynamics, (its US-based robotics subsidiary),” said a source who consults for Hyundai Motor Group’s robotics business on condition of anonymity.
“Despite recent advancements in the hardware capabilities of its robots, the robotics arm still needs to develop more advanced general-purpose humanoids capable of performing precision tasks in factory settings. The partnership with Nvidia will likely accelerate its growth momentum.”
Boston Dynamics’ Atlas humanoid, which gained fame for its acrobatic moves, appeared on YouTube on Oct. 30 last year, showcasing its ability to transport car engine parts in a demo space. The robot is yet to be deployed in real-world applications.
Industry insiders said Nvidia’s recent presentation at the 2025 Consumer Electronics Show hints at a strong robotics partnership between Boston Dynamics and the chipmaker.
During his keynote speech, Jensen Huang, Nvidia’s co-founder and CEO, was joined by 14 on-screen humanoids while unveiling the company’s new Cosmos platform, designed to create state-of-the-art physical AI systems for robots and autonomous vehicles. The Atlas was the only robot affiliated with a Korean company.
“Hyundai Motor Group is exploring innovative approaches with AI technologies in various fields such as robotics, autonomous driving and the smart factory,” stated Kim. “This partnership will speed up our progress, positioning the company as a frontrunner in driving AI-empowered mobility innovation.”
Following the announcement, Hyundai Motor Company’s stock price on the nation’s main bourse, the Kospi, soared 6.6 percent earlier in the day, reaching an intraday high of 227,000 won ($155.40).
Meanwhile, Hyundai Motor Group has committed to increasing the share of advanced robots in its business portfolio to 20 percent by 2030. Executive Chair Chung Euisun, highlighting the significance of the robotics market as a new driver of growth, personally invested 240 billion won in 2021 to acquire Boston Dynamics.
Aside from humanoids, the carmaker’s robotics division has developed a wearable robotic exoskeleton, the X-ble Shoulder, designed to reduce stress on factory workers’ arm muscles and joints.
