Hyundai Motor (005380.KS) and Hyundai Mobis (012330.KS) rose together in early trading on the 29th.
According to the Korea Exchange, Hyundai Motor was trading at 378,500 won as of 9:55 a.m., up 3.98% from the previous session. At the same time, Hyundai Mobis was up 5.11% at 462,500 won. The share gains are seen as reflecting expectations for Hyundai Motor Group's physical artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics businesses.
The announcement by the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump on the 28th of import bans on foreign-made advanced humanoid robots also appears to be working favorably for Hyundai Motor Group's share prices. Hyundai Motor Group is reported to be conducting on-site inspections in August this year to select a plant site for Robotics America, a newly established local U.S. corporation that will handle mass production of "Atlas," the humanoid robot from robotics affiliate Boston Dynamics.
The brokerage community also points to robotics as a driver of Hyundai Motor Group's share gains. Kim Jin-seok, a researcher at Mirae Asset Securities, said, "We judge that the third quarter of this year is the time to focus on robot momentum," adding, "Attention should be paid to the operation of the U.S. robot training center (RMAC), Hyundai Motor's CEO Investor Day on the 26th of next month, the U.S. production plant (RA) corporation and groundbreaking, and the U.S. National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) policy."
For Hyundai Mobis, expectations for robotics are being highlighted even more alongside solid earnings in the second quarter of this year. Kim Jun-seong, a researcher at Meritz Securities, analyzed, "Despite the impact of the fire in India, the company posted its highest-ever quarterly operating profit in the second quarter of this year," adding, "Amid favorable earnings developments, the key driver for leveling up corporate value is the materialization of the robot business, with actuator prototype delivery set to begin in November this year."
