The Samsung Group and the Hyundai Motor Group are strengthening their partnership to a 'one team' level, going beyond business-specific cooperation. Based on the trust and cooperative relationship built over three generations since the founding chairmen Lee Byung-chul and Chung Ju-yung, they aim to enhance synergies in business collaboration and jointly lead global cutting-edge industries such as physical AI (artificial intelligence) and mobility.
The Samsung Group held an 'HMG Appreciation Day' event on the 9th at the Samsung Electronics Secheon Training Center, inviting key executives from the Hyundai Motor Group. This is the first time the Samsung Group has hosted a large-scale event inviting major domestic groups. A total of 177 people attended, including Vice Chairman Jeon Yong-hyun of Samsung Electronics, Vice Chairman Jang Jae-hoon of the Hyundai Motor Group, key executives and officers from affiliated companies, and their spouses.
Trust spanning three generations… "Greater synergy"
The event was conducted under the concept of 'One Harmony for the Future,' as the two groups sought to explore new possibilities in future industries based on their long-standing trust and cooperation.
The Samsung Group and the Hyundai Motor Group have built a relationship of trust since the founding generation. Lee Byung-chul, founder of the Samsung Group, attended Chung Ju-yung's 70th birthday celebration in November 1985 despite being ill, conveying his congratulations and gifting white porcelain. Late Chairman Lee Kun-hee of the Samsung Group also invited Chung Mong-koo, honorary chairman of the Hyundai Motor Group, to Seongjiwon, the Samsung Group's guest house, for a private meeting in March 2001, after which cooperation between the two groups began.
Lee Jae-yong, Chairman of Samsung Electronics, and Chung Eui-sun, Chairman of the Hyundai Motor Group, are strengthening their business-specific and affiliate-level cooperative relationship into a 'one team' and strategic partnership to secure a leading position in future markets.
The two met consecutively at the Samsung SDI Cheonan plant in May 2020 and at the Hyundai Motor and Kia Namyang Research Institute in July of the same year to discuss business cooperation on next-generation electric vehicle batteries and explore possibilities for collaboration in the future mobility sector. Hyundai Motor and Samsung SDI saw the fruits of their cooperation by signing their first electric vehicle battery supply contract in 2023. Samsung SDI supplied batteries to the Hyundai Ioniq 3 and Kia EV2 this year. Samsung SDI batteries will also be applied to the Genesis GV90, the top-tier model scheduled for release within the year.
The two groups aim to further strengthen their cooperation to maximize synergies in physical AI and future mobility. The Samsung Group holds core technologies necessary for realizing future mobility, including semiconductors, batteries, automotive electronics, and displays. The Hyundai Motor Group is leading global innovation in future mobility fields such as electric vehicles, autonomous driving, software-defined vehicles (SDVs), and robotics. Chairman Lee and Chairman Chung have met frequently whenever opportunities arise to discuss business cooperation, including at an event held at the Everland Speedway in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, in 2024, and during Jensen Huang's visit to Korea as CEO of NVIDIA last October.
On this day, Vice Chairman Jeon said, "The Hyundai Motor Group and the Samsung Group are steadfast partners who have written the history of South Korea's industry together." He added, "We look forward to opening new values and infinite possibilities together where the innovative vision of the Hyundai Motor Group, which leads future mobility, meets the technological prowess of the Samsung Group, which covers everything from components to finished products."
Vice Chairman Jang also stated, "The Samsung Group and the Hyundai Motor Group are expanding the possibilities for cooperation in future industries such as robotics and energy, going beyond collaboration in vehicle component fields like automotive electronics, audio, and batteries." He added, "Since the strengths of each group, accumulated over three generations since their founding, can produce greater synergy when combined, we look forward to respecting each other's strengths and joining forces to face future challenges together."
Samsung exhibits 'core solutions' for mobility
Meanwhile, the event opened with a video screening depicting the history of collaboration between the two companies and their future vision. The video featured early scenes of both companies driving Korea's growth, the process of domesticating semiconductors and automobiles, and interactions between the top executives of both groups. This was followed by a 1 hour and 10 minute collaborative performance by the Gyeonggi Philharmonic and cellist Han Jae-min.
The Samsung Group also set up an exhibition space at the venue to introduce core solutions from key affiliates related to future mobility.
The DS (Device Solutions) Division of Samsung Electronics introduced advanced automotive semiconductor technology. Samsung SDI showcased eco-friendly energy technologies for realizing next-generation mobility, including all-solid-state batteries, various battery cells, and battery pack modules.
Samsung Electro-Mechanics exhibited automotive electronics solutions such as camera modules and multilayer ceramic capacitors (MLCCs) for vehicles, which are necessary for realizing autonomous driving environments. Samsung Display and Samsung Harman introduced automotive electronics solutions aimed at the future transition to SDVs, including next-generation displays, central control units (CCUs), and telematics control units (TCUs).
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