Hyundai Motor Group Expands Pan-India Network to Accelerate Battery & Electrification Research

Hyundai Motor Group has expanded its Centre of Excellence (CoE) in India by partnering with four additional universities— IIT Kanpur, IIT Hyderabad, VNIT Nagpur, and Tezpur University—bringing the total number of academic collaborators to seven. This extension builds upon the original 2025 launch with IIT Madras, IIT Delhi, and IIT Bombay, creating India’s foremost academic-industrial network dedicated to battery and electrification research. The initiative aims to accelerate the development of India-specific electric vehicle (EV) technologies while strengthening the country’s broader research ecosystem in sustainable mobility. The expanded Hyundai CoE platform currently oversees 39 joint research projects focused on critical areas such as battery cell design, battery management systems, energy density, safety, durability, and diagnostics. These projects address challenges unique to the Indian market, including the optimisation of battery materials and the development of an AI-driven Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) platform. Hyundai’s strategic investment programme launched in 2025 underpins these efforts, reflecting a long-term commitment to fostering innovation through collaboration with leading Indian academic institutions. Key figures from Hyundai Motor Group and partner universities gathered in New Delhi to formalise the new agreements, highlighting the importance of this collaboration for India’s electrification journey. Chang Hwan Kim, Head of the Electrification Energy Solutions Tech Unit, emphasised the potential of the consortium to create “powerful synergies” that will benefit both Hyundai and India’s sustainable growth. The initiative also includes knowledge exchange programmes such as a Korea Visiting Program and global e-conferences designed to promote dialogue between Indian and Korean researchers and industry experts. Looking ahead, Hyundai envisions the CoE evolving into a comprehensive research hub that supports India’s transition to electric mobility through continuous innovation and academic-industry engagement. By leveraging the expertise of India’s top technical institutes alongside Hyundai’s industry experience, the platform aims to drive the development of cutting-edge EV solutions tailored to local needs. This collaborative approach is expected to foster a vibrant research ecosystem, positioning India as a key player in the global electrification movement.