Hyundai is preparing to put its wheels on the moon. In the near future, in 2027, if all goes well, we will see the crescent moon with the logo of the Korean firm on the star.

For its “mission”, Hyundai cooperates with several scientific institutes, and the first prototypes are formed in the laboratories of the brand. This is what they will look like.

To conquer the moon

The rover will “borrow” several components already used on the group’s vehicles, such as electric motors, wheels, batteries, certain suspension parts, sensors, cameras, and more. Many other parts will be developed separately because the vehicle will have to withstand certain extreme conditions due to the lunar environment, while it will have to be equipped with special equipment designed for scientific research.

The upper part of the rover will be used to house some equipment and dig. It will be equipped with a temperature control system and an anti-radiation shield to protect sensitive parts from the sun’s rays, and will be powered entirely by photovoltaic panels.

In general, it should weigh about 70 kg and be able to cover long distances completely independently. The model should be ready in the second half of 2024, and the final “ready to fly” version is planned for 2027.

Ambitions beyond the car

As noted, Hyundai enjoys the support of a number of organizations such as the Korea Astronomy and Space Research Institute, the Korea Aerospace Research Institute and the Asian country’s Atomic Energy Research Institute.

But the company is not only interested in the Moon. As we saw at CES in Las Vegas, Hyundai also wants to expand its presence in everyday life by launching many robots that will one day be able to help people in their daily lives.