SEOUL, January 18, 2024 – In a move that’s revving up the automotive world, Hyundai Motor Company and Kia Corporation today announced a major reshuffle in their research and development (R&D) garages. Heui Won Yang, previously the Executive Vice President of Total Vehicle Development (TVD), has been handed the keys as the new President and head honcho of the revamped R&D Division. Known for his high-octane approach to vehicle development and platform engineering, President Yang is set to steer Hyundai and Kia down the fast lane of innovation.
Under Yang’s lead foot, the new R&D Division is partnering with the freshly minted Advanced Vehicle Platform (AVP) Division. This dynamic duo is set to put the pedal to the metal on Hyundai and Kia’s software-defined vehicle (SDV) strategy, accelerating towards a future of competitive mobility solutions.
The AVP Division, born from the fusion of the former SDV Division, the Mobility Engineering and Technology Acceleration (META) Tech Unit, and the Vehicle SW Tech Unit, is all about turbocharging product innovations and revving up the development of both software and hardware. This team is designed to consolidate Hyundai and Kia’s R&D efforts, shifting gears from the old CTO organization to a more streamlined, high-performance engine of innovation.
These two divisions – AVP and R&D – are the twin turbochargers in Hyundai and Kia’s quest to lead the global race in future mobility, from the nuts and bolts of hardware to the sleek lines of software, and from the drawing board of innovation to the global highways of deployment.
Chang Song, the former president of the SDV Division, is now in the driver’s seat of the AVP Division, while also continuing his role as CEO of 42dot, where he’s known for fueling the fire of future mobility solutions for Hyundai and Kia. With President Heui Won Yang at the wheel of the restructured R&D Division, Hyundai and Kia are racing full speed ahead into an electrifying future. Buckle up, because it’s going to be an exciting ride!
