Hyundai Motor Group has announced the separation of three in-house startups in future business areas: Difon, AutoL, and DATAMOND.
Difon has developed a ‘Transmittance Variable Window Film’ that allows users to adjust the amount of sunlight penetrating the window as desired. This film, produced with Hyundai’s proprietary technology, can be applied not only to vehicles but also to buildings. It features benefits such as blocking harmful ultraviolet rays and saving energy in heating and cooling compared to conventional shading methods.
AutoL is developing a high-resolution LiDAR sensor for autonomous driving. Unlike market products that are expensive and protrude externally on vehicles, AutoL’s LiDAR is compact, offers precise environmental perception, is cost-competitive, and facilitates easy installation on vehicles, according to Hyundai Motor Group.
“Hyundai Motor Group / Chosun Ilbo DB”
DATAMOND provides a convenient and easy-to-use point usage and accumulation service through its customer-participatory point platform, ‘Point Monster.’ It features a ‘Use First, Join Later’ method that significantly shortens the registration process for affiliated stores. Even if not registered, customers can form partnerships within one minute through customer proposals.
These three companies, including DATAMOND, are set to enter not only the automotive business but also innovative and marketable new business areas. Hyundai Motor Group has been operating the in-house startup nurturing program ‘Venture Plaza’ since 2000. Starting this year, it has changed the name to ‘ZeroOne Company Builder,’ integrating it with the existing open innovation platform ‘ZeroOne’ and expanding the selection scope to various fields beyond automobiles. After selection, the group supports up to KRW 300 million in development costs for one year and decides on spin-offs or in-house commercialization afterward. It also provides re-entry opportunities for three years after the spin-off.
The group has selected and nurtured 58 teams so far, spinning off a total of 25 companies by this year. Last year, 10 in-house startups became independent companies, and the plan is to nurture and spin off around 10 in-house ventures annually in the future. A Hyundai Motor Group official stated, “To become a ‘smart mobility solution company’ that provides customers with uninterrupted freedom of movement and a differentiated, customized service experience, we will continue our active open innovation activities and efforts to discover and commercialize innovative and creative ideas from employees.”
Reporter Sohn Ki-young, rckye@chosunbiz.com
