Hyundai Motor Group has developed “Plasma Care UVC,” the world’s first technology to sterilize various areas inside a vehicle.

On June 11, the group unveiled the new hygiene management technology along with a video demonstrating its applications.

UVC sterilization has previously been used in household appliances such as cup and toothbrush sterilizers, and in car armrests or crash pad compartments. While highly effective, conventional UVC light could be harmful if it came into direct contact with skin or eyes, limiting its use to enclosed spaces for small items.

In contrast, the newly developed Plasma Care UVC uses a plasma lamp to generate light that LEDs cannot produce. It delivers strong sterilization power with high energy, yet has low penetration, reaching only the keratin layer of the skin’s surface without penetrating deeper into the body.

The video highlighted the technology’s safety, durability, and sterilization performance, showcasing pilot applications in the Kia PV5, including vehicles for children’s transport, fruit delivery, and other mobility environments.

To verify performance and safety, Hyundai collaborated with accredited testing institutions and research centers. The Korea Testing Laboratory (KTL) evaluated sterilization in an 8m³ chamber simulating a car interior, confirming that airborne viruses were reduced by 96.8% within 30 minutes, demonstrating potential for whole‑space sterilization.

Joint research with Seoul National University’s Agricultural and Life Sciences Startup Support Center tested the lamp’s surface sterilization. Exposure of pneumonia bacteria to Far‑UVC light resulted in 99.9% elimination within 30 seconds, and complete eradication after 60 seconds, proving strong sterilization capability.

The Korea Automotive Technology Institute also tested the technology in real vehicle environments using the Kia PV5. Results showed that at a distance of 700 mm, E. coli was reduced by 99.9% within 40 minutes.

A Hyundai Motor Group official stated, “We will continue verifying the sterilization power and safety of Plasma Care UVC in diverse environments, while advancing the technology in line with international safety standards and regulatory changes.”

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Graphic illustrating the operation of Plasma Care UVC technology. / Hyundai Motor Group.

                                                                                                            Kim So-young