Hyundai presents eVTOL vehicle cabin concept at Farnborough Int'l Airshow

MANILA: Hyundai Motor Group is integrating automotive technologies to expand the Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) industry, and its US-based Supernal unit gave the first glimpse at how the integration is happening by unveiling its prototype eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing) vehicle cabin concept at the Farnborough International Airshow in England.

The cabin concept was developed by Supernal in collaboration with the design studios of the Hyundai Motor Group as the company works to certify its eVTOL vehicle for commercial use in the US beginning in 2028 and in the EU and UK shortly after.  Beyond the vehicle, Supernal is working with external partners and the Hyundai Motor Group's more than 50 affiliates to sustainably co-create the extensive AAM value chain, which includes the construction, robotics, and autonomous driving.

In a statement, Hyundai Motor Group President and Supernal Chief Executive Officer Jaiwon Shin said, “In order for Advanced Air Mobility to become a wide-spread mode of transportation, every detail — from the passenger experience to regulations and infrastructure — needs to be addressed from the start and work in lockstep with one another. Leveraging Hyundai Motor Group’s mobility capabilities, Supernal is investing time and resources upfront to ensure the industry can scale to the masses in the coming decades and reach its exciting potential.”

Supernal's five-seat cabin concept gives hints as to how the company is utilizing automotive design methodologies and materials while adhering to the highest safety standards applicable to commercial aviation in order to enhance the AAM passenger experience and price point. The design is an example of biomimicry, and it upholds the company's core values of safety, human-centered design, and environmental stewardship.

“Supernal is partnering with Hyundai Motor Group’s top automotive designers to develop our eVTOL vehicle for manufacturability and wide-spread public acceptance. We are taking the time to create a safe, light-weight commercial eVTOL that provides our future passengers with the security and comfort they find in their own cars,” Shin added.

The lightweight interior cabin, made of forged carbon fiber, was created by the team of engineers and designers using the reductive design methodology in the automotive industry. Passengers benefit from a cocoon-like environment provided by ergonomically molded seats. A charging station and storage space for personal items are provided by deployable seat consoles, which resemble car center consoles. Seatbacks and cabin doors both include grab handles to help passengers enter and exit the vehicle. In order to create the illusion of "light therapy," a variety of lighting is used, including overhead lights modeled after vehicle sunroofs. The layout of the interior, which minimizes the bulkhead to provide ample headroom and package functionality, is inspired by automotive space innovation.

The cabin concept prioritizes sustainability and uses eco-friendly materials such as recyclable carbon fiber reinforced thermoplastic, robust plant-based leather, recycled plastic fabric, and sustainably sourced wood. Additionally, the seat frame makes use of excess raw materials from constructing the airframe.

“The Supernal eVTOL vehicle draws on the competence of the Hyundai Motor Group and the skillset of experienced automotive designers, which allowed us to develop a new air mobility concept that is not only safe and rational but also highly emotional,” Hyundai Motor Group Chief Creative Officer Luc Donckerwolke stated.

Hyundai Motor Group is using its broad mobility and mobility-enabling capabilities to create a family of electric aircraft and develop the value chain that supports it.

A hydrogen-powered mid-sized vehicle for city-to-city cargo and passenger flights is being developed by the Hyundai Motor Group's Korea-based division to complement Supernal and its battery-powered eVTOL vehicle intended for intra-city passenger journeys.  The division aims to make their hydrogen vehicle available for use in the 2030s.

“Hyundai Motor Group is working to leverage synergies between automotive’s high-rate manufacturing capabilities and aerospace’s high certification standards to build the foundation for everyday use of passenger and cargo air vehicles,” Shin said.

Photos from Hyundai Motor Group

Also read: Hyundai, Rolls-Royce to bring all-electric propulsion, hydrogen fuel cell technology to advanced air mobility