Kia and Hyundai Motor present smart manufacturing technologies and SDF Vision at E-FOREST TECH DAY 2026

• Kia and Hyundai Motor to present vision for transition to software-defined factories (SDFs) at E-FOREST TECH DAY 2026 from 19-21 October 
• Around 200 new manufacturing technologies will be on display, including SDF and automation solutions
• New manufacturing technology presentation conference and partner seminars to share new technology cases and future development strategies 
• Kia and Hyundai Motor aim to expand application of future manufacturing technologies across production sites while seeking new collaboration opportunities

Kia Corporation and Hyundai Motor Company will host E-FOREST TECH DAY 2026, an exhibition to share their smart factory manufacturing technologies and vision for the transition to software-defined factories (SDFs).

Now in its seventh year, E-FOREST TECH DAY is a leading platform for sharing smart factory technologies developed by Kia and Hyundai Motor’s Manufacturing Solution Division and their partner companies.

Running from 19-21 October at the Kia and Hyundai Motor Uiwang Research Institute, this year’s event will feature approximately 200 new manufacturing technologies across areas including foundational SDF technologies, automation, energy solutions and future mobility. 

Hyun Chul Cho, Vice President and Head of E-FOREST Strategy Group, Hyundai Motor Group, said: “This event is a meaningful opportunity to show the industry and our partners the excellence and practicality of the innovative manufacturing technologies Hyundai Motor Group has developed. We will keep working to expand the use of these new technologies in our production plants and put them into practice on the factory floor.”

What is the background of the event?
E-FOREST is the smart factory brand of Kia and Hyundai Motor, pursuing innovation in manufacturing systems by organically connecting every stage of production to realise value for customers. It applies automation technologies using artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics, along with human-friendly smart technologies, to upgrade the entire mobility industry.

E-FOREST TECH DAY showcases Kia and Hyundai Motor’s smart factory technologies and future vision. This year’s event will highlight the transition to SDFs, while showcasing innovative manufacturing technologies and encouraging technological exchange and collaboration with partners.

What technologies will be on display?
The exhibition will present around 200 new manufacturing technologies across areas including foundational SDF technologies, automation, energy solutions and future mobility.

Kia and Hyundai Motor are advancing SDF to realise smart factories. By building a unified data collection and management framework and a common development environment, they are laying the foundation for developing and rolling out solutions tailored to the needs of manufacturing sites.

In the foundational SDF technologies area, Kia and Hyundai Motor will present the progress of SDF technology development, including quality inspection systems, as well as an SDF rollout plan that can be rapidly applied to their plants in Korea and overseas based on standardised technologies

Exhibition highlights will include digital twin technology, which runs simulations based on actual factory equipment in a virtual space to tackle problems before they occur in the real world. Kia and Hyundai Motor will also introduce AI agents developed specifically for factory operations, such as data retrieval and interpretation, manufacturing know-how search and equipment manual creation.

In the automation area, the spotlight will be on assembly and inspection automation technologies that improve work efficiency and manufacturing quality. These include a tunnel-type exterior inspection vision technology which inspects a vehicle’s exterior through 3D simulation. Kia and Hyundai Motor developed it in place of third-party systems to improve finished-vehicle quality and plan to apply it to plants in Korea and overseas.

The exhibition will also feature smart energy solutions for eco-friendly factory operation, along with future mobility innovations including new forming technologies as well as additive manufacturing technologies that develop shapes from design data without the need for moulds.

How will the event foster technology sharing and collaboration?
The event will also feature a new manufacturing technology presentation conference and partner seminars. The conference will highlight new technology cases aimed at enhancing the competitiveness of global production plants.

The partner seminars will explore ways to create greater synergy through collaboration with partners, with discussions covering topics including physical AI, data-driven manufacturing innovation and manufacturing AI. These discussions aim to advance technological capabilities and strengthen competitiveness across the industry.

Ends

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