Seoul: South Korea is set to enter the mass production of humanoid robots by 2029 and self-driving cars by 2030, according to the industry ministry's announcement on Wednesday. This move positions the country as a frontrunner in the AI transformation (AX) of manufacturing sectors.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the strategy was revealed during the inauguration of the Manufacturing AX Alliance (M.AX). This alliance will link key players such as Hyundai Motor Group, LG Electronics Inc., Samsung Electronics Co., and Posco Group with AI firms. The collaboration aims to integrate AI technology into various manufacturing processes.
The M.AX will be organized into 10 divisions, each tasked with advancing AI-driven factories, manufacturing services, logistics facilities, self-driving cars, humanoid robots, autonomous ships, AI home appliances, defense products, biopharmaceutical facilities, and AI chips, as stated by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy.
The ministry highlighted that the alliance's initiatives could potentially generate over 100 trillion won (US$72 billion) in added value by 2030. A significant goal is to establish a foundational AI model for industrial humanoid robots by 2028, aiming for an annual production of 1,000 units starting 2029.
The alliance also plans to deliver platforms for software-defined vehicles by 2028 and commence the mass production of end-to-end (E2E) autonomous vehicles by 2030. These vehicles will utilize a single AI model to manage the entire driving process.
The government is allocating 1 trillion won to develop essential technologies for this venture, including automotive semiconductors and driving data generation simulators, as per the ministry's report.
Furthermore, the alliance intends to build 500 AI factories by 2030 and pioneer fully autonomous ship technologies. It also aims to introduce 10 globally leading home appliance products and 10 prototypes with domestically produced on-device AI semiconductors by 2030.
Industry Minister Kim Jung-kwan noted the significance of the alliance's formation, "The voluntary participation of over 1,000 companies in the alliance reflects the recognition that manufacturing AX will be crucial in corporate survival."
He added, "Building on our manufacturing competitiveness, the government will work to maximize collaboration with the private sector to make South Korea the world's leading manufacturing AX nation by 2030."