Hyundai Motor Group partners with IITs for electrification research

Hyundai Motor Group has partnered with the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) to establish a research collaboration focused on batteries and electrification. The partnership involves IIT Delhi, IIT Bombay, and IIT Madras, aiming to address the specific needs of the Indian market in these areas.  

A Hyundai Center of Excellence (CoE) will be set up at IIT Delhi, supported through sponsorships from Hyundai Motor Group. The CoE’s objective is to advance research and development in battery technology and electrification, facilitating innovation in line with India’s growing focus on sustainable mobility.  

At a ceremony held at IIT Delhi, representatives from Hyundai and the IITs signed an agreement to establish the Hyundai Motor Group-IIT Hyundai CoE. Officials present included Prof. Rangan Banerjee, Director of IIT Delhi; Dean Sachin C. Patwardhan of IIT Bombay; and Dean Manu Santhanam of IIT Madras.  

Hyundai Motor Group plans to invest approximately USD 7 million over five years, starting in 2025, to support joint research initiatives with the IITs. The research will initially focus on battery technology and electrification and is expected to extend into software and hydrogen fuel cells in the future.  

The partnership aligns with Hyundai's broader goal of contributing to India’s electric vehicle (EV) ecosystem development. The collaboration will also engage with the Centre for Automotive Research and Tribology (CART) at IIT Delhi, which specialises in EV-related research.  

In addition to research, the Hyundai CoE will promote academic-industrial cooperation by facilitating technical and human resource exchanges. This includes technical exchange meetings, special lectures by Hyundai experts, and Korean training programs for IIT students and researchers. These efforts aim to nurture talent and provide long-term employment opportunities.