

By Nam Hyun-woo







Hyundai Motor said Wednesday it has built a partnership with Chinese artificial intelligence (AI) technology firm DeepGlint during the 2018 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) Asia, as part of its pursuit of autonomous driving.







Also at the show, the automaker's de-facto chief Vice Chairman Chung Eui-sun stressed the firm will use the Chinese market as its starting point in providing AI experiences.







DeepGlint is a Chinese startup specializing in deep learning technologies and embedded hardware, highlighted by technology in detecting, tracking and recognizing humans and vehicles.







Hyundai Motor said the strategic partnership will allow it to deploy AI technology in its business domains of manufacturing, robotics and retail, and improve customer experience by creating a safer driving environment.







"In order to make our vision a reality and further our innovation, we aim to work with the most creative and brightest businesses across multiple industries," Chung said during a press conference at the Shanghai New International Expo Center.







"Starting with the China market, we are aiming at innovating core elements that will have a profound impact on customer satisfaction … Using AI-backed technology, our brand spaces will provide inspirational experiences to customers by learning their needs and interests in detail," he said.







The move is the latest extent of Hyundai Motor's pursuit of autonomous mobility. In this year's CES in Las Vegas in January, Hyundai teamed up with U.S. self-driving startup Aurora. At the Shanghai show, Hyundai Motor also announced its cooperation with Baidu for the Apollo autonomous driving project.







"Hyundai is open to any collaboration and partnership across regions, and China is where we see opportunities that will lead to better cars that will shape our future," Chung said.







In addition to its AI efforts, Hyundai showcased its NEXO fuel cell electric vehicle. The NEXO features the zero-emission powertrain, driver-assistance technologies and eco-friendly features such as an air purification system.

