Hyundai Motor Group Executive Vice Chairman Chung Ui-sun and Hankook Technology Group Vice Chairman Cho Hyun-shik shakes hands after signing a deal to build a driving center, named the HMG Driving Experience Center, at a ceremony at the group headquarters in Yangjae-dong, Seoul, on June 17. (Photo: HMG)

Hyundai Motor Group has teamed up with Hankook Technology Group to build the nation’s largest driving center by the first half of 2022.

The move may be construed as Hyundai Motor Group Executive Vice Chairman Chung Eui-sun’s willingness to become a mobility solution company offering experience services beyond an automaker.

Hyundai Motor Group Executive Vice Chairman Chung and Hankook Technology Group Vice Chairman Cho Hyun-shik attended a ceremony at the group headquarters in Yangjae-dong, Seoul, on June 17 to sign a deal to build a driving center, named the HMG Driving Experience Center, to provide customers with opportunities to experience brand and practice driving.

Hyundai Motor Group’s partnership with Hankook Technology Group is the reason an advanced driving testing ground being built by Hankoo Technology in “Taean Corporate City,” Chungcheongnam-do is suitable for the construction of the HMG Driving Experience Center.

The driving testing ground covers 1.26 million sq. meters, the combined size of 176 soccer fields, and stands 4.4 km in total length. The driving test ground will be outfitted with a main high-speed driving course and diverse slope driving test grounds.

Hyundai Motor Group Executive Vice Chairman Chung played a leading role in the deal to construct HMG Driving Experience Center. His father and Hyundai Motor Group Chairman Chung has stressed quality management, while Executive Vice Chairman Chung has focused on “customer Management.”

Executive Vice Chairman Chung hade a town meeting with executives and staff members last October in which he called for not only making cars well but also presenting services and futuristic solutions.

The reason is consumer demand for car ownership has declined as demand for car sharing services expanded. Executive Vice Chairman Chung told the 2019 Seoul Investor Conference held in May 2019 that younger people’s thoughts on car ownership have been changing.

Chances are high that millennials in their 20s and 30s, experiencing driving joy at the HMG Experience Center, could lead to car purchases.

Hankook Technology Group Vice Chairman Cho echoed Executive Vice Chairman Chung’s view that the development of the automobile/mobility industry would contributing to the developing of the Korean driving culture. The two people hailed from the same class of Seoul Gyeongbok Primary School.

The HMG Driving Experience Center, scheduled to be opened in the first half of 2022, will also accommodate Hankook Technology’s driving test ground and additional driving experience facilities and a customers’ building.

Additional driving experience facilities consist of eight courses – emergency braking and three other tracks as well as the multi-dynamic zone and three other experience zones.

Applus ADIDA, a worldwide leader in the testing, inspection and certification sector, will be responsible for the design of the driving center experiment track.

Hyundai Motor Group plans to educate driving according to stages ranging from basic course to advanced driving technics as well as threshold driving programs, accompanied by professional drivers.

The two-story customers’ building with 9,602 sq. meters in floor space will have a large-sized customer lounge capable accommodating 300 people, an exhibition space, and convenience facilities.