Hyundai Motor Group has officially opened the Hyundai Centre of Excellence for future mobility technology at IIT Delhi. This new research hub is part of a long-term partnership between Hyundai and India’s premier institutes of technology. It will focus on nine key projects covering battery cells, system testing, battery management systems, boosting energy density, safety measures, durability and diagnostic tools. By working closely with IIT researchers, Hyundai aims to develop battery solutions that deliver better efficiency and reliability in India’s varied driving and climate conditions.
Senior leaders from both Hyundai and the IITs gathered in New Delhi for the launch ceremony. Hyundai was represented by Heuiwon Yang (President and Head of R&D), Unsoo Kim (Managing Director, Hyundai Motor India) and Chang Hwan Kim (Executive Vice President, Electrification Energy Solutions). They were joined by Prof. Rangan Banerjee (Director, IIT Delhi), Dean Manu Santhanam (IIT Madras) and Dean Sachin C. Patwardhan (IIT Bombay). Moving forward, the Centre’s steering committee will be co-chaired by Chang Hwan Kim and Dean Bijaya Ketan Panigrahi of IIT Delhi to guide the research agenda.
Along with this launch, Hyundai is expanding its Future Technology Research Program which was introduced in 2021 to include faculty members at IIT campuses. Unlike typical collaborations, this scheme allows professors to propose their own research topics which Hyundai then reviews and selects. Currently, about 30 professors from IIT Delhi, IIT Bombay and IIT Madras are involved. The Group plans to broaden the network by December 2025 to include ten universities across India and engage around 100 professors. To support this growth, Hyundai will organize technology exchange forums, host global conferences on battery and electric-vehicle technologies and hold policy dialogue sessions to share insights and build a stronger innovation ecosystem.
