Hyundai Innovation Challenge 2026
About the Program
The Hyundai Innovation Challenge 2026 is a 6-month innovation initiative designed to partner with high-potential startups developing cutting-edge solutions across electrification, new mobility, connectivity, ADAS, AI-driven tools and next-generation vehicle technologies.
Through this program, startups gain the opportunity to collaborate closely with Hyundai’s ecosystem (HMC, HMIL, HMIE), leveraging its market access, advanced R&D capabilities, technical infrastructure and deep domain expertise. Together, the startups will co-develop real-world proof-of-concepts (PoCs) that accelerate commercialization and unlock new business opportunities in the future of mobility.
Applicants must be a registered business entity to qualify.
Why work with Hyundai?
Co-development
PoC (Proof of concept) development with Hyundai Motor India Limited
Testing & Validation
Testing & Validation opportunities with Hyundai Motor India Engineering
Future Investment Potential
Potential follow-on investment opportunities
Market Exposure
Potential opportunity to access Hyundai's customer base
Expert Guidance
Advisory support from Hyundai subject matter experts on industry best practices, solution positioning & growth
PoC grants
Grant for Proof of Concept development
Are you building advanced technologies in these focus areas?
Smart interior materials
Smart interior materials
Develop car interior materials that reduce odor retention, improve smudge resistance and passively regulate heat absorption to enhance passenger comfort
ADAS Systems
ADAS Systems
Develop a predictive, intelligent autonomous driving system that can understand and automatically adapt to India’s unpredictable road and traffic conditions
Vehicle range optimisation
Vehicle range optimisation
Develop AI models that enhance driving range of both internal combustion and electric vehicles under India-specific driving conditions
In-vehicle experience
In-vehicle experience
Develop AI models that create personalized, intelligent in-vehicle experiences tailored to individual occupant behaviour
Sustainable interior materials
Sustainable interior materials
Develop biodegradable and organic materials for vehicle’s interior components that reduce environmental impact without compromising performance and safety
New revenue streams
New revenue streams
Develop features concepts derived from existing technologies that can unlock new revenue generation streams in a car
Vertical Shop Floor Optimization
Vertical Shop Floor Optimization
Optimize vertical storage utilization in shop floors for improved capacity, efficiency, and real-time inventory visibility (using ASRS, VLM etc. )
Remote monitoring of EV charging assets
Remote monitoring of EV charging assets
Enable real-time, remote monitoring of EV charging stations using AI/IoT/Vision analytics to optimize asset performance and reduce manual supervision
Cost-Effective industrial Edge Computing/AI
Cost-Effective industrial Edge Computing/AI
Deploy cost-effective edge computing solutions for shop floor digitalization without high IPC (Industrial Personal computers) infrastructure costs
Automation of material/parts feeding in assembly line
Automation of material/parts feeding in assembly line
Implement automated, system-driven material/parts feeding process to assembly line to minimize specification errors and improve traceability
Real-time asset tracking & management
Real-time asset tracking & management
Enable real-time asset tracking(movable and immovable) and verification across multiple locations for improved visibility, control, and audit compliance
Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS) platform
Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS) platform
Build a unified Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS) platform integrating multiple transport modes for end-to-end trip planning and payments
Integration of BESS & renewable energy in EV charging stations
Integration of BESS & renewable energy in EV charging stations
Enable EV charging stations to deliver high-speed charging by integrating BESS and renewable energy to reduce grid dependency
Optimise Invoice to Delivery of cars
Optimise Invoice to Delivery of cars
Reduce delays in invoice-to-delivery timelines (especially invoice to gate-out) impacted by car carrier destination, distance & freight through load consolidation and real-time coordination across stakeholders, enabling more reliable customer commitments & faster retail cycles.
Real Time Car Transit Tracking visibility
Real Time Car Transit Tracking visibility
Achieve unified, real-time visibility of vehicle transit across road, rail, and hybrid modes, including VIN-level tracking, so that consignment status is transparent, customer trust is improved, & retail cycles are faster.
