Samsung Electronics, Hyundai Motor Group Detail Physical AI Ambitions

By Daniel Okafor

On November 9, 2026, Samsung Electronics said it hosted Hyundai Motor Group executives at an HMG Appreciation Day attended by 177 people.

The event took place at Samsung Electronics’ Seocheon training center under the theme “One Harmony for the Future.” Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Jun Young-hyun hosted the gathering. Hyundai Motor Group Vice Chairman Jaehoon Chang joined senior executives from major affiliates and their spouses.

“Samsung and Hyundai Motor Group are expanding the possibilities for cooperation beyond vehicle electronics, audio and batteries into future industries such as robots and energy,” Chang said. Samsung presented the groups as strategic partners operating as one team and identified potential physical AI synergies.

What did Samsung and Hyundai Motor Group present?

At the event, Samsung showed how its component businesses could connect with Hyundai Motor Group’s robotics and future-mobility operations.

• Samsung’s Device Solutions division exhibited advanced automotive semiconductor technology.
• Samsung SDI displayed solid-state batteries alongside cells, packs and modules for next-generation mobility.
• Samsung Electro-Mechanics presented camera modules and automotive multilayer ceramic capacitors (MLCCs), components needed for autonomous-driving systems.
• Samsung Display and Samsung Harman showed next-generation displays, integrated control units and telematics control units for the transition to software-defined vehicles (SDVs).

Physical AI applies AI and robotics in industrial settings and daily life. Samsung expects the combination of those technologies with Hyundai Motor Group’s electric-vehicle, autonomous-driving, software-defined vehicle and robotics businesses to create physical AI synergies.

The sequence runs from components to software-defined vehicles and then toward physical AI, with Samsung expecting the groups to extend their cooperation into robots and energy.

What already connects Samsung and Hyundai Motor Group?

According to Samsung Electronics, Samsung Executive Chairman Jay Y. Lee and Hyundai Motor Group Executive Chair Euisun Chung met at Samsung SDI’s Cheonan plant in May 2020. They also met at Hyundai and Kia’s Namyang research center in July 2020. The discussions covered next-generation electric-vehicle batteries and future-mobility cooperation.

According to Samsung Electronics, Samsung SDI signed its first electric-vehicle battery supply contract with Hyundai Motor in 2023. The agreement gives the groups a supplier relationship built around a specific product.

A second bridge runs through software. Samsung, Hyundai and Kia launched Car-to-Home on March 23, 2026. Drivers can control supported SmartThings-connected air conditioners, air purifiers, robot vacuums and lights from a vehicle screen.

• Location-based routines can prepare lighting and air conditioning as a vehicle approaches home.
• The routines can switch off unnecessary devices and start a robot vacuum after departure.

Car-to-Home followed the September 2025 launch of Home-to-Car. The earlier service lets users check vehicle status and use the SmartThings app for climate control, remote starting, door locking and unlocking, and starting or stopping electric-vehicle charging.

At launch, Car-to-Home supported Hyundai and Kia vehicles produced after November 2022 with the connected car Navigation Cockpit (ccNC) infotainment platform. Samsung planned further software updates to expand availability.

What would turn physical AI into a deployment?

The battery contract and connected-car software are operational precedents; the physical AI proposal remains a set of component displays and stated possibilities.

Car-to-Home has a launch date, supported devices, a qualifying vehicle cohort and a planned update path, while the physical AI proposal rests on component displays and stated possibilities. No defined joint deployment is identified.

The next test is whether Samsung Electronics and Hyundai Motor Group can turn their combined component, vehicle and robotics portfolios into a defined joint deployment. Until that happens, the battery contract and connected-car services remain concrete precedents, while robots, energy and physical AI remain stated possibilities.