Hyundai Mobis opens software-oriented R&D center in India

Employees and executives from Hyundai Mobis pose during an event marking the opening of the firm's integrated R&D center in Hyderabad, India, Wednesday. Courtesy of Hyundai Mobis

Hyundai Mobis has opened its software-dedicated R&D center in India, identifying the facility as an advanced base to provide integrated software solutions to global automakers, the auto parts maker said Monday.

The company combined two existing research centers into one large-scale R&D base to turn it into its software strategy hub that can handle multiple projects from the early stages of new product development to software development for vehicles, it said.

The integrated R&D center is located in the center of India, in Hyderabad, a tech city located in the state of Telangana, with a total floor area of some 24,000 square meters.

Hyundai Mobis opened its first Technical Center of India in 2007 and established its second research center there in 2020. The latest integrated R&D center will accommodate the increasing number of software personnel and combine the firm’s dispersed research centers to maximize efficiency.

The opening of the research facility shows the growing importance of software and auto parts for major carmakers in an era of software-defined vehicles.

Hyundai Mobis has chosen to establish its R&D base in India, recognizing the country's fast-growing automotive market. With annual new car sales reaching approximately 5.2 million — making it the third-largest in the world — the market is projected to grow to 6.2 million by 2028, according to the company.

The Indian auto market is also rapidly transitioning from small cars to SUVs and electric vehicles. The trend increases demand for more tech-intensive in-vehicle parts and software systems, such as large displays and advanced driver-assistance systems.

The company also plans to collaborate with vehicle software firms near the facility so it can achieve competitiveness in product cost and quality.

“We will promote the advancement of software and contribute to improving product competitiveness,” said Lee Jong-keun, head of Hyundai Mobis Technical Center of India.