Hyundai Motor Shares Rally as Auto Giant Steps Up Robotics, AI Push

By Kwanwoo Jun

Hyundai Motor shares rallied Wednesday, as the South Korean auto giant disclosed plans to step up its robotics and artificial-intelligence push.

The stock rose 14% to close at 350,500 won, equivalent to $242.17, the sharpest daily percentage gain in five years, outperforming the benchmark Kospi's 0.6% increase.

Shares extended gains for a sixth consecutive session after the South Korean automaker showcased its shift toward AI and robotics at the Consumer Electronics Show currently underway in Las Vegas.

"Central to this shift is the formal product launch of the electric Atlas humanoid, supported by a robust manufacturing roadmap and a strategic deep-tech partnership with Google DeepMind," Nomura analysts Angela Hong and Won Kang said in a research note.

The carmaker said at CES that it plans to deploy Atlas humanoid robots, developed by unit Boston Dynamics, at its factories by 2028 for simple sequencing tasks and by 2030 for complex assembly work.

Hyundai Motor's robotics business is moving beyond research and demonstrations into commercialization, Daiwa Capital analysts Henny Jung and Yoonki Bae said in a note.

They cited Hyundai Motor Group's planned annual production of 30,000 Atlas units globally, and stayed positive on the carmaker's partnership with Google DeepMind on AI.

"Given HMG's continued demonstration of leadership in physical AI, we expect its valuation gap with global peers to narrow," the Daiwa analysts said.

Hyundai Motor Group, which raised its stake in Boston Dynamics to 93% in 2025, is entering the early stages of its equity value accelerating as the robotics unit moves toward commercialization, DAOL Investment & Securities analyst J.W. Yoo said.

"Hyundai Motor Group is pursuing a strategy of accelerating its AI transformation through external collaboration," Eugene Investment & Securities analyst Lee Jae-il said. "The narrowing of the technological gap with leading companies like Tesla will serve as the basis for a valuation rerating."

Write to Kwanwoo Jun at [e-mail]

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

01-07-26 0234ET