Hyundai Motor Group Launches Battery and Electrification Research Center at IIT Delhi

Hyundai Motor Group has inaugurated a new battery and electrification research center at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi. The Hyundai Center of Excellence (Hyundai CoE) aims to develop future mobility technologies, with a focus on battery systems tailored to the Indian market.

Nine joint research projects have been initiated under the collaboration, addressing areas such as battery cells, battery management systems, energy density, safety, durability, and diagnostics. The initiative also involves research on new materials and system components.

The center will be jointly led by Chang Hwan Kim, Executive Vice President at Hyundai Motor Group, and Professor Bijaya Ketan Panigrahi from IIT Delhi. Senior officials from Hyundai and representatives from IITs in Delhi, Bombay, and Madras participated in the opening ceremony.

This partnership marks Hyundai’s first academic-industrial collaboration model in a growth economy. The Group aims to expand its research network across India, targeting engagement with 10 universities and around 100 professors by the end of 2025.

The Hyundai CoE is part of a broader Future Technology Research Program launched by the Group in 2021. The program allows academic institutions to propose independent research topics, which are evaluated and supported by the company. Initially limited to domestic and Korean researchers, it now includes foreign faculty, starting with IITs.

Additional collaborative activities include technology exchange forums, global conferences on EV technologies, and policy dialogues involving Indian government and industry stakeholders. These efforts are intended to strengthen the Group’s innovation base in India and support sustainable mobility advancements.

Hyundai Motor Group’s initiative at IIT Delhi aligns with India’s growing focus on electric vehicle (EV) adoption and clean mobility solutions. India, one of the world’s largest automotive markets, is accelerating its EV transition through policy incentives and localization efforts. Collaborations with top institutions like IITs not only support Hyundai’s R&D capabilities but also enhance the country’s innovation ecosystem. The focus on battery research is particularly timely, as India aims to reduce dependency on imports and establish a robust domestic battery supply chain.