Hyundai Will Build Moon Explorer Vehicles In 2027

Image of Hyundai's lunar rover (Hyundai source)

JAKARTA - Automotive manufacturers are currently developing some of the latest innovations in their products. In fact, they dare to create innovations that are beyond human common sense, such as creating vehicles to explore the moon.

Some time ago, an automotive company from Germany, Opel announced that it would work on a program providing cars for tourism in the month with the Opel Corsa Moon II which is expected to launch in the middle of the decade.

Other manufacturers don't want to lose in creating vehicles that can run on the moon. Hyundai Motor Group (HMG) announced that they are preparing a lunar rover.

They plan to complete the initial model in the second half of 2024. HMG expects the lunar rover to launch in 2027.

Yong Wha Kim, as Executive Vice President and Head of R&D Planning & Coordination Center of Hyundai and Kia, said that his party would contribute to expanding the reach and scope of human mobility by creating a rover on the moon.

"Hyundai Motor Group has consistently stated that its goal is to contribute to expanding the reach of humans and the scope of human mobility experience," Yong Wha Kim said in his official statement, Wednesday, April 19.

"The creation of models for the development of lunar exploration mobility not only reflects this goal, but also shows our ambition to achieve tangible results in the face of significant challenges. With the development of the rover, we are moving beyond land, sea and air mobility to develop into space mobility," he said.

Later the components of the lunar rover or Rover will come from Hyundai and Kia. Of course, the car will feature some of the latest technology tailored for lunar travel.

The car will be equipped with components from HMG at the bottom. Then, the top is equipped with a payload that can carry out excavations and trips on the moon.

The rover will have the ability of thermal management and radiation protection to survive in the space environment. The manufacturer also hopes to land its car near the south polar area of the moon.

This vehicle will later be embedded with solar energy and has an autonomous driving system. Before launching on the moon, HGM will conduct tests in areas that resemble the lunar environment and surface.