Joint investment confirmed by five affiliates: Hyundai, Kia, Mobis, E&C, and AutoEver
Saemangeum AI Valley project valued at 9 trillion won, with a dedicated SPC to be officially established this November
Aiming to break ground in March 2027 and begin operations in early 2030 to build physical AI infrastructure
Expected to leapfrog into a next-generation mobility hub linked to autonomous driving and SDVs
Hyundai Motor Group has finalized an investment plan to build a large-scale artificial intelligence (AI) data center worth a total of 9 trillion won in the Saemangeum area of North Jeolla Province. The strategy is to secure an ultra-large computing hub that will support the development of autonomous driving, software-defined vehicles (SDVs), and physical AI technologies, which are the core pillars of future mobility.
According to the industrial sector, five key affiliates within the group—including Hyundai Motor, Kia, Hyundai Mobis, Hyundai Engineering & Construction, and Hyundai AutoEver—will participate in this project through joint equity investments. The group plans to officially establish a dedicated special purpose company (SPC) this November, complete administrative procedures, break ground in March 2027, and start full-scale operations by early 2030.
The Saemangeum AI Data Center is designed as an eco-friendly, RE100-based advanced infrastructure that directly procures renewable energy such as offshore wind and solar power. By processing and learning from vast amounts of driving data collected from vehicle sensors and factory automation robots in real time at ultra-high speeds, it will serve as a key base to narrow the AI technology gap with competitors like Tesla in the global finished car market.
This investment is expected to act as a catalyst for balanced regional development by dispersing AI R&D and data infrastructure that have been concentrated in the capital area to the west coast hub, while creating large-scale jobs for youth. An industry insider noted, "Securing massive power grids and regulatory approval support will be the key variables determining the success or failure of the project," urging close infrastructural cooperation from the government and local authorities.