Lee Min-hyung joined The Korea Times in 2014 and has worked as a journalist mainly in Korea’s finance, tech and automotive industry. He specializes in content creation, breaking news and in-depth analysis currently on transportation and mobility. You can reach him via mhlee@koreatimes.co.kr.
CES 2026 Hyundai, Nvidia executives meet at CES 2026 to broaden self-driving alliance
Hyundai Motor Group Executive Chair Chung Euisun, right, talks with the group's Vice Chair Chang Jae-hoon while touring the booths of the automaker and other major tech firms on the sidelines of this year's CES at the Las Vegas Convention Center, Tuesday (local time). Yonhap
By Lee Min-hyung
Chung proposes collaboration with Samsung
LAS VEGAS — Hyundai Motor Group Executive Chair Chung Euisun held a closed-door meeting with Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang during CES 2026, potentially exploring an expansion of the automaker’s alliance with the chipmaker into autonomous driving.
The high-profile meeting between the two tech moguls Tuesday (local time) came shortly after Nvidia unveiled its Alpamayo open AI platform for self-driving cars at the world’s largest tech fair.
With Hyundai Motor Group at an apparent disadvantage in the global race for self-driving vehicles, Chung’s meeting with Huang raises expectations for the automaker to equip its vehicles with Nvidia’s latest autonomous driving platform. Alpamayo allows cars to perceive and reason like human beings.
Nvidia plans to apply the technology to Mercedes-Benz vehicles first and then make it available to cars from other brands. When asked about the potential partnership with Nvidia’s autonomous driving business, Hyundai Motor Group Vice Chair Chang Jae-hoon recently said it is possible.
Chung also visited the group’s booth at the Las Vegas Convention Center, where he reviewed Hyundai Motor Group’s updated AI strategy integrated with robotics. The automaker set up the largest booth in the West Hall at CES.
Hyundai Motor Group Executive Chair Chung Euisun takes a look at the automaker's Mobile Eccentric Droid self-driving robot platform, demonstrated at its booth at the Las Vegas Convention Center, Tuesday (local time). Yonhap
Chung was also seen visiting the exhibition booths of other major tech firms, including Samsung Electronics, LG Electronics, and Qualcomm, to stay updated on the latest tech trends and explore potential partnerships with global tech firms.
He visited Samsung Electronics’ exhibition booth at the Wynn Las Vegas, and met Samsung Electronics co-CEO Roh Tae-moon. Chung also checked out some of Samsung’s latest products, such as the 130-inch Micro RGB TV, AI refrigerator, robot vacuum cleaner and Galaxy Z TriFold smartphone.
In particular, Chung suggested that Samsung’s robot vacuum cleaner could be combined with Hyundai’s Mobile Eccentric Droid self-driving platform to enhance stability and mobility, telling Roh “Why don’t we try a collaboration?” Roh nodded and laughed in response.
Chung was briefed on AI-powered vehicle solutions during his visit to an LG Electronics booth. The solutions included an AI cockpit and advanced in-cabin sensing for driver safety.
He also visited Doosan Group’s booth to seek further partnerships with the company. Both Hyundai Motor and Doosan are forging partnerships in hydrogen energy and robotics.
Chung’s CES visit made headlines, as he joined the tech fair shortly after ending his trip to China on the sidelines of a summit between President Lee Jae Myung and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping. Samsung Electronics Executive Chairman Lee Jae-yong and LG Group Chairman Koo Kwang-mo, both of whom also joined Korea’s business delegation to China, did not make the trip to the United States for CES.
“The Hyundai Motor Group chief’s CES visit displays the automaker’s strong willingness to expand partnerships with global tech giants at a time when the auto industry is entering a major paradigm shift for autonomous driving and AI,” an industry official said.