From Asan to India, scaling predictive robotics AI across global production sites
Eight years of partnership position MakinaRocks as a core AI partner in Hyundai Motor’s SDF
SEOUL, South Korea, April 23, 2026 — MakinaRocks, a leading physical AI company, today announced the expansion of its global AI deployment in partnership with Hyundai Motor Company, supporting the automaker’s transition to a Software-Defined Factory (SDF). Following its initial deployment at the Asan plant, MakinaRocks is rolling out its industrial robotics predictive maintenance solution across Hyundai’s key production hubs worldwide.
This milestone marks a large-scale, real-world application of AI in physical production environments. By combining Hyundai’s advanced automotive production capabilities with MakinaRocks’ domain-specialized AI, the companies have successfully implemented a prognostics and health management (PHM) system that predicts equipment failures up to five days in advance with over 90% accuracy—significantly reducing unplanned downtime.
The partnership between MakinaRocks and Hyundai Motor Company began in 2018 through the group’s open innovation platform, ZER01NE. Recognizing MakinaRocks’ technical expertise early on, Hyundai made a strategic equity investment and has since maintained a close collaboration as a key strategic partner. Over the past eight years, this relationship has evolved into multiple joint initiatives, culminating in the large-scale deployment of AI solutions for industrial robotics.
The jointly developed Robot Prognostics and Maintenance System (RPMS) provides actuator condition diagnostics, setup anomaly detection, and real-time alerts for subtle changes in robot status. As the scope of diagnosable parameters continues to expand, the system is expected to further reduce unexpected downtime and improve maintenance efficiency. Following its initial deployment at the Asan plant, the solution is rapidly expanding to major production hubs including Ulsan, India, and Jeonju. It has also been introduced to EV production lines such as Hyundai’s Ulsan EV plant and Kia’s Hwaseong EV plant. By the end of 2026, the system is expected to be implemented across approximately 1,400 robots globally. Both companies plan to further expand deployment and reinforce both talent and organizational capabilities to support stable operations and ongoing advancement of the solution.
A Hyundai Motor Company representative commented, “As we accelerate our transition to a Software-Defined Factory, we are securing a decisive competitive edge in the global automotive market. By standardizing AI-based predictive maintenance technologies—proven through long-term collaboration with MakinaRocks—across global production sites, we aim to enhance manufacturing flexibility, achieving zero-defect quality, and realize hyperproductivity.”
Andre S. Yoon, CEO of MakinaRocks, added, “Hyundai Motor Company has been a pivotal strategic investor since our early days, and today it stands as a key partner with whom we are realizing manufacturing intelligence at scale. We will continue to strengthen this collaboration as a trusted partner, overcoming the complexities of industrial environments to bring Hyundai’s SDF vision to life.”
