We’ve been in & out of Singapore almost every month since 2024 for a mix of health, work and some R&R (plus really good food!) We thought we had seen most of the noteworthy stuff in Singapore. We couldn’t have been more wrong. And thankfully so.
While scheduling for test drive units, I told Samantha Tabada of Hyundai Motor Philippines that I was flying out to Singapore on one of the option dates she had offered a test drive to me. Samantha suggested why not visit the Hyundai Motor Group Innovation Center Singapore, or HMGICS for short? I said sure, since my wife and I are all for new unique experiences!
A private tour was organized for Erica and I, to be followed by dinner at Na Oh, HMGICS’ award-winning Korean fine-dining restaurant also located on-site.
The HMGICS facility, opened in late 2023 is a 86,900 square meter 7-story smart urban mobility hub in the Jurong Innovation District, serving as a global open innovation hub, R&D, EV assembly, and AI-driven, human-centric manufacturing.
It acts as a testbed for advanced manufacturing using robotics, AI, and digital twin technology, with a capacity to produce up to 30,000 EVs annually while offering immersive, next-generation customer experiences.
From the moment you enter, the welcome lobby is bright, white, minimalist and expansive. Something definitely futuristic. Our warm hosts were Mr. Peter Kim, Head of Public Relations at HMGCIS along with his associate, Ms. Minyoung Kang.
There are three cars that greet you immediately: the Hyundai Pony, the brand’s first ever mass-produced car and beside it the Ioniq 5 which pays homage to the Pony through its four square LED DRL’s and headlamps. Then there is an Ioniq 6 which features a unique livery designed by students from the La Salle College of Arts who won an art competition sponsored by HMGCIS. Its theme, The Dragon of the East, features warm vibrant colors that exemplify a very much Asian feel and resonates with Singapore.
At the far end, across the tall escalators, a lone KIA EV5, another vehicle assembled at the HMGICS’ Jurong Facility is displayed.
The facility is primarily utilized (in terms of space) by Hyundai’s assembly plant for their electric vehicles which include the Ioniq 5, Ioniq 6 and the KIA EV5, all of which arrive as complete knock-down kits from South Korea.
Currently, the AI powered automated assembly is 67% fully automated, with Hyundai working closer to full 100% automation.
There is also the Sky Track, Hyundai’s banked oval test track situated in HMGICS’ fifth floor, about 28 meters above ground. It measures 618 to 620 meters in length (depending on which lane you drive on or take around the track) with a maximum banking of up to 37 degrees.
At the maximum allowed track speed of 82kmh, passengers can experience as much as 3g’s. I video’d our three laps and the constant g-force got me dizzy and got my stomach churning quite a bit.
The Sky Track is built in small sections, underneath which are supported by numerous dampers which absorb the vibration of cars running at speed on the Sky Track so as not to disrupt the rest of the operations in the building, particularly the EV vehicle assembly plant.
The fifth floor also houses campus-like offices and a cafeteria. There is also a lush outdoor park-style lounging areas and solar panels to offset energy consumption from renewable sources.
Then there’s also Hyundai’s Smart Farm. It’s a fully automated, state-of-the-art hydroponics farm that grows organic greens. It is a 2-storey, fully automated, high-tech indoor vertical farm that utilizes robotics and artificial intelligence to grow up to nine types of leafy greens (such as mustard greens and romaine) without pesticides.
The farm produces 250–350+ plants daily for Na Oh, and for visitor, with a focus on sustainable, urban food production. There are five robot arms and a “Mega Robot” (nearly 30 feet tall) that handle seeding, transferring, and harvesting, covering 568 growing towers.
As the penultimate stop in our tour, HMGICS offers an immersive 3D technology-driven experience that blends virtual reality, advanced robotics, and personalized, high-tech customer engagement. Donning specialized virtual reality 3D goggles, you sync your hands with it to enjoy virtual simple tasks.
This allowed us to “build” our own virtual IONIQ vehicle and understand the smart manufacturing process by demonstrating key steps in the assembly.
The Grand Finale was supposed to be the unveiling of the actual assembly line behind the projector / curtains were we were stationed at and see the assembly line, its various machines and robotic arms in symphony. But since it was a Saturday, the assembly line was not running.
Mr. Kim humorously said that even robots and machines need work-life balance. Afterwards, we were led to a unique handover zone for new vehicle owners beside the lobby where they can drive their cars home.
Being Catholic, it was rather special to see the Hyundai Ioniq 5 Pope Mobile displayed beside the elevators. HMGICS built a specially modified Ioniq 5 for the Papal Visit of Pope Francis in September of 2024 to Singapore. Following Catholic and Vatican State tradition, anything previously used by the Pope will be sent to the Vatican as a treasure for safe-keeping. Glad to have seen it in its home before it flies away.
Our last item on the agenda was an early Valentine’s dinner. Na Oh is a fine dining Korean restaurant, a collaboration with Hyundai and Korean-American Chef Corey Lee who is a Three Star Michelin Chef, the first Korean to be awarded with such distinction. We’ll have a separate short feature of Na Oh so watch this space!
If you would like to experience the tour we did, log onto their website. Tour admission is free but there are pre-booked schedules for the tour; you cannot just walk in. If you are a large group, you can ask HMGICS Team to organize a private your for your group, with a maximum of 18 persons. You will be required to pay a Singapore Dollar $150 fee which HMGICS donates to the Singapore Government for their environmental endeavors.
Same with Na Oh, best check out their website to make a reservation. Na Oh serves set menus which changes each season (winter, spring, summer and fall) so come back every three or so months to experience Chef Corey Lee’s latest amazing creations!
Overall, worth the effort to take the ~40 minute drive from Orchard to Jurong. Currently the MRT is not operating there yet so you’ll have to take the bus, taxi or Grab.
Schedule a tour, be entertained by a truly unique experience and see what Hyundai has in mind for the future of smart and sustainable mobility!
