Hyundai enters the metaverse via its PnD technology

When Facebook announced last October that it was changing its name to Meta, most wondered whether people would want to spend as much time in a virtual world as they do on the platforms browsing pics, posts and political rants. At CES 2022, Hyundai Motor Group announced that it is jumping into the meta-verse for what it calls “Metamobility” purposes, which potentially could be much more beneficial for transportation, manufacturing and society at large than Facebook's digital playground.

Hyundai's Metamobility vision marries emerging trends such as robotics, virtual reality and “digital twin” technology with the company's traditional competencies in personal mobility and manufacturing, while revealing how it will leverage its acquisition last year of robot developer Boston Dynamics. The Korean automaker unveiled several new hardware solutions that will help it achieve its overarching goal of “Expanding Human Reach,” including a linchpin Plug & Drive (PnD) modular platform that can autonomously move people and goods.