Hyundai Motor Group’s parts supplier Hyundai Wia unveiled an expanded range of industrial logistics robots as the company seeks to capitalize on a rapidly growing market projected to reach $22 billion by 2030.
The company demonstrated robots with payload capacities ranging from 300 kilograms to 1,500 kilograms at its Uiwang research facility, marking its most aggressive effort to court external customers beyond its traditional automotive group clients.
About 100 companies attended the two-day demonstration, while Hyundai Wia secured distribution agreements with five domestic partners. The South Korean manufacturer enters a crowded field where autonomous mobile robots are expected to grow at over 30% annually through 2030, outpacing traditional automated guided vehicles.
Hyundai Wia faces established competitors in a market where autonomous mobile robots commanded 58% of the mobile robotics segment in 2024. The company has been deploying similar robots internally since 2023, supplying its parent company’s U.S. electric vehicle plants and Hyundai Mobis facilities.
The robots combine simultaneous localization and mapping technology with traditional guided-vehicle navigation, allowing operation in diverse industrial environments. Growing e-commerce demand and warehouse automation drive market expansion, particularly as personnel costs for forklift operators can exceed $200,000 annually for round-the-clock operations.
Hyundai Wia’s market entry comes as the Asia-Pacific region experiences rapid adoption of logistics automation to handle increased volumes while controlling costs. The company must now prove it can compete against specialized robotics firms with established customer relationships and proven track records outside the automotive sector.
The expanded robot lineup represents Hyundai Wia’s broader strategy to diversify beyond traditional automotive parts manufacturing as the industry undergoes significant transformation.
