Hyundai Motor shares soar on expectations for robotics boom

Boston Dynamics' Atlas robots are displayed at the Hyundai Motor Group booth during CES 2026 in Las Vegas, Tuesday (local time). Reuters-Yonhap

Hyundai Motor shares jumped sharply on Tuesday, buoyed by investor optimism over the automaker’s entry into robotics as a physical artificial intelligence (AI) leader, market watchers said Wednesday.

Many say the development bolsters expectations that the automaker could emerge as a long-term beneficiary of the rapidly expanding robotics industry, increasingly viewed as a new growth driver for global manufacturers facing softening demand in traditional sectors.

According to the Korea Exchange, Hyundai Motor shares closed at 350,500 won ($241), up 13.8 percent from the previous session. Its intraday high peaked at 362,000 won.

This was the second straight surge where the auto giant set a 52-week high, following a similar rally a day earlier, when shares climbed to 330,000 won.

This coincided with the opening of CES 2026, where Hyundai Motor drew investor attention by showcasing its robotics vision.

CES is an annual trade show organized by the Consumer Technology Association. Held in January at the Las Vegas Convention Center, the event typically hosts presentations of new products and technologies in the consumer electronics industry.

In particular, the live demonstration of Atlas, a humanoid robot developed by Hyundai Motor subsidiary Boston Dynamics, showcased the company’s push into physical AI — technology that combines AI with robots capable of interacting in the real world.

Analysts are rushing to upgrade their outlooks following the demonstration.

NH Investment & Securities analyst Ha Neul said that growing market interest in Boston Dynamics’ humanoid robots, along with strengthened cooperation with U.S. chipmaker Nvidia, is expected to lift Hyundai Motor’s valuation.

He raised his target price to 400,000 won, up from the current 330,000 won, citing the company’s role in leading the physical AI era.

“The rally reflects a broader implication for Hyundai Motor’s investment profile. Rather than being valued primarily as an automaker, the firm is increasingly being assessed as a technology-driven mobility and robotics player, a shift that could support higher valuation if properly executed,” he said.

Still, full commercialization and subsequent profitability remain key challenges.

“Despite lingering concerns over when profitability would take shape, the recent strong market development suggests that investors see robotics as more than a distant concept. For Hyundai Motor, CES 2026 is where it has reoriented itself as a contender in the next stage of AI-driven industrial transformation,” the analyst said.