Hyundai Motor Group has formed a new company called Supernal to take its future mobility vision forward. An evolution of its UAM division and based in the US, Supernal is developing a family of electric air vehicles and convening public and private stakeholders to shape the emerging AAM industry. It plans to launch its first commercial flight in 2028 and scale up operations as the AAM market begins to grow in the 2030s.

“In adding a new dimension to mobility, we are on a mission to transform how people and society move, connect and live,” says Jaiwon Shin, CEO of Supernal and president of Hyundai Motor Group. “We have bold ambitions at Supernal but being first to market is not one of them. We are working to build the right product and the right integrated market, and we will leverage Hyundai Motor Group's scaled manufacturing expertise to ensure AAM reaches the right price point and is accessible to the masses.”

Supernal is one of more than 50 companies in the group's network collaborating to make mobility a service, working to integrate AAM into existing transit networks. The vision is for passengers to use a single app to plan their journey, which could include taking a car or rail from home to an AAM vertiport, an eVTOL across town and an e-scooter for the last mile.

The company continues to develop and enhance its S-A1 eVTOL vehicle, and plans to begin certification with US regulatory agencies in 2024. Supernal's first air vehicle will be electric-powered and autonomous-capable and should accommodate up to five passengers on initial urban and urban-adjacent routes.

“We're developing a commercially viable advanced air mobility product from the start, designing and manufacturing our vehicle to the highest safety, noise, efficiency and affordability standards,” says CTO Ben Diachun.

The company is leveraging artificial intelligence, autonomous control and electric powertrains and will harness the group's mass production capabilities to scale production. It is also working to co-create the AAM industry and supporting ecosystem by collaborating with a variety of stakeholders across public and private entities to address market entry challenges, cultivate public acceptance and ensure AAM is economically accessible and environmentally sustainable.

“As an industry disruptor, we have a responsibility to ensure AAM integrates with and augments existing transit options and effectively serves local community needs. Developing the market from the vehicle to critical infrastructure networks and public acceptance takes thoughtful and strategic coordination; everything needs to align at the same time for AAM to reach its full promise,” Shin adds.

To this end, Supernal is collaborating with stakeholders to explore concepts for physical and digital infrastructure. Last year, the company entered a partnership with Urban-Air Port, a participant in the UK government's Future Flight Challenge, to explore new, multifunctional and scalable AAM infrastructure and will showcase a full scale vertiport prototype in the UK next year. Supernal is also supporting the Canadian Advanced Air Mobility Consortium in developing a framework for the Canadian AAM National Master Plan, and it recently expanded its airspace management consortium, which is working to shape a concept of operations for the consideration of policymakers.