Hyundai Motor Group, Safran sign MOU for advanced air mobility development cooperation

Hyundai Motor Group (Seoul, South Korea) and Safran (Paris, France) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to explore and identify possible opportunities in advanced air mobility (AAM) industry that would be beneficial to both parties and potential customers. Both companies agree to explore potential cooperation in various fields such as electric propulsion systems, avionics and flight control and cabin interiors, though it is not limited to these topics. Hyundai Motor Group’s reveal of a UAM cabin concept incorporating composite materials suggests potential exploration in this space.

“Safran will be one of the most important partners in promoting Hyundai Motor Group’s AAM development,” Jaiwon Shin, president of Hyundai Motor Group’s Advanced Air Mobility Division, notes. “Starting with this MOU, we will focus on finding the ways of cooperation to lead AAM development from the technical and business perspective.”

Alexandre Ziegler, senior executive vice president, international and public affairs, Safran, underlines that through this agreement, Safran demonstrates its will to support Hyundai by bringing its extensive experience in aerospace, advanced high technologies and expertise in certification to speed up Hyundai’s development and secure the entry into service of the vehicles.

Earlier this year, Hyundai Motor Group announced its AAM development roadmap, which encompasses the urban air mobility (UAM) and RAM segments to offer eco-friendly air mobility solutions for intracity and intercity transportation. The Group’s U.S.-based Supernal (Washington, D.C., U.S.) unit is aiming to begin UAM services in the U.S. in 2028 while the group plans to launch RAM services in the 2030s.