Hyundai Delays In-House ADAS, Turns to Nvidia

Hyundai Motor Group plans to introduce vehicles running its proprietary driver-assistance software in late 2029, delaying the technology by about two years as the South Korean automaker expands its partnership with Nvidia.

Before its own system arrives, Hyundai will work with Nvidia to deploy advanced Level 2+ and Level 2++ driver-assistance systems in 2028. Hyundai had originally targeted late 2027 for the debut of its internally developed automated driving technology.

The revised timeline highlights the challenges Hyundai faces in building autonomous driving software while competing with Tesla and rapidly advancing Chinese automakers.

Hyundai Motor Group President Park Min-woo said the Nvidia partnership does not mean the company is surrendering control of its autonomous driving strategy. Instead, Hyundai will jointly develop technology with Nvidia and use driving data generated by the systems to improve its proprietary Atria software platform.

Park, a former Nvidia executive who joined Hyundai in January, has pushed for closer cooperation between the two companies. The strategy differs from that of his predecessor, Song Chang-hyeon, who prioritized in-house software development before leaving in December.

Hyundai vehicles using Nvidia's Hyperion 10 platform will initially rely on cameras, ultrasonic sensors and radar rather than more expensive lidar technology. However, Hyundai is considering lidar for Level 3 autonomous driving, where vehicles can operate hands-free under certain conditions.

Park said sensor redundancy will be important for ensuring safety, allowing other sensors to maintain vehicle operation if one fails. Hyundai has not disclosed when it expects to commercialize Level 3 technology.

Hyundai and Kia, which collectively sell more than 7 million vehicles annually, also intend to leverage their global fleet to gather data for autonomous-driving development. Hyundai expects its accumulated driving data to surpass competitors by 2033.

The Nvidia partnership extends beyond automotive technology to AI data centers and humanoid robots developed by Hyundai-owned Boston Dynamics. While Level 2+ primarily enhances highway driving, Level 2++ can handle more complicated urban environments, although both systems still require active driver supervision.