Hyundai Motor hits record value on physical AI

Jan 21, 2026, 07:49 am

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Atlas demonstrates moving automotive parts at the Hyundai Motor Group exhibition hall during CES 2026 on Jan. 5. / Hyundai Motor Group

Hyundai Motor has surpassed a market capitalization of 100 trillion won for the first time, marking a milestone 51 years after its listing on the Korea Exchange in 1974, as investors increasingly revalue the automaker as a “physical artificial intelligence” company.

According to the Korea Exchange on Jan. 20, Hyundai Motor shares climbed more than 3 percent shortly after the opening bell, reaching an intraday high of 496,500 won. Its market value briefly hit 101.7 trillion won, the first time the company has crossed the 100 trillion won threshold in its history.

Although gains narrowed later in the session, with shares closing slightly lower at 479,000 won, Hyundai Motor’s market capitalization stood at 98.1 trillion won by the end of trading. A day earlier, the stock had surged 16.2 percent, overtaking LG Energy Solution to reclaim third place by market value for the first time in nearly seven years.

The rally reflects growing optimism around Hyundai Motor Group’s strategy to reinvent itself around robotics and autonomous driving, the two pillars of what it calls “physical AI.” The group showcased this vision at CES 2026, where its humanoid robot Atlas demonstrated logistics tasks such as moving auto parts.

At a New Year address, Hyundai Motor Group Chairman Chung Euisun stressed the need for structural transformation through deep reflection, bold partnerships and shared growth to stay ahead as global manufacturing enters a period of rapid change driven by artificial intelligence.

“As competition intensifies and external conditions grow tougher, the strongest foundation we have is fundamental transformation,” Chung said, noting that AI-driven shifts are reshaping how global manufacturers compete.

Industry analysts say Hyundai Motor’s advantage lies in its ownership of “moving assets” such as vehicles and robots, as well as vast manufacturing process data—resources expected to become increasingly valuable as physical AI takes center stage. Since the start of the year, the company’s shares have jumped more than 60 percent after years of trading within a narrow range.

Looking ahead, experts predict that within three years Hyundai Motor Group and Tesla could be the only automakers capable of deploying humanoid robots at scale in vehicle production plants. The rollout of a new pace car and a clearer autonomous driving roadmap later this year are also expected to support further gains.

An industry source said the commercialization of Boston Dynamics technology could go beyond robot manufacturing, signaling a bid for leadership in U.S. manufacturing competitiveness.

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