Hyundai Opens New Battery and Electrification Research Center at IIT Delhi to Advance Future Mobility!

Hyundai Motor Group has officially opened the Hyundai Center of Excellence (CoE) for future mobility technology at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi. This new initiative aims to foster advanced research and innovation in electrification and battery systems, reflecting the Group’s commitment to tailoring future mobility technologies to meet the unique needs of Indian customers.

As part of a broader collaboration with India’s leading academic institutions, Hyundai has selected nine joint research projects to focus on critical areas such as battery cells, battery management systems (BMS), energy density enhancement, safety, durability, and diagnostic technologies. The initiative also explores new materials and system components to drive further innovation in battery design and performance. These research projects will serve as a foundation for advancing Hyundai’s electrification goals while benefiting India’s evolving automotive sector.

The grand opening ceremony was attended by key Hyundai officials, including Heuiwon Yang, President and Head of R&D Division, Unsoo Kim, Managing Director of Hyundai Motor India Limited, and Chang Hwan Kim, Executive Vice President of the Electrification Energy Solutions Tech Unit. They were joined by IIT Delhi representatives, including Prof. Rangan Banerjee, Director of IIT Delhi, and Deans from IIT Madras and IIT Bombay. The Steering Committee of the Hyundai CoE will be co-chaired by EVP Chang Hwan Kim and Dean Bijaya Ketan Panigrahi at IIT Delhi.

Heuiwon Yang expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration, stating, “We’re excited to work with India’s brightest minds in battery innovation. Collaborating with leading researchers and IIT professors through the Hyundai Center of Excellence for future mobility technology will help us develop technologies tailored to India while contributing to its economy and society. We see this partnership with India’s academia and industry as a foundation for building a sustainable future together.”

The establishment of the Hyundai CoE marks an important milestone in the Group’s broader Future Technology Research Program, which has been in operation since 2021. This program allows university faculty to propose their own research topics, which are then selected by Hyundai. Initially limited to Korean universities, the program has now been expanded to include faculties from India’s prestigious IITs, signaling Hyundai’s commitment to globalizing its academic collaboration.

By the end of 2025, the Hyundai CoE plans to extend its collaborations to 10 universities in India, including non-IIT institutions, and engage around 100 professors in total. This initiative will strengthen India’s position as a global leader in battery and EV technology innovation while supporting the Group’s goals to enhance research, technological development, and electrification efforts within the Indian market.

In addition to fostering research, Hyundai’s CoE will facilitate technology exchange forums, global conferences, and policy dialogue sessions to engage stakeholders from India’s government, academia, and industry. Through these efforts, Hyundai is committed to helping shape the future of mobility in India, driving technological advancements, and fostering a localized innovation ecosystem.

This collaboration between Hyundai and IIT Delhi reflects the Group’s ongoing efforts to create sustainable, efficient, and accessible solutions for the future of transportation and electrification in India.