Hyundai's next-gen EVs will use eM, eS dedicated platforms

Yesterday, Hyundai officially announced that starting in 2025, all of its vehicles will have to rely on over-the-air (OTA) software updates.

With that, the Korean automaker is transforming its cars into Software Defined Vehicles (SDV), allowing customers to remotely upgrade and choose the upgrades they want for their vehicles. This essentially means that future cars from Hyundai will work like smartphones which allow the SDVs to receive updates via OTA, removing the need to go to a dealership to conduct upgrades.

But in order to actually make OTA updates a reality across a wide range of vehicles, Hyundai has announced that they are working on a next-generation EV platform to accelerate SDV transformation. The company plans to significantly reduce the time required for all mass-production processes, including planning, design, and manufacturing by developing a shared hardware and software platform for vehicles.

This will allow vehicle components to be shared across different segments which will lead to more efficient vehicle development and greater cost reductions. At the same time, reducing vehicle complexity will further enhance the effectiveness of SDV technology.

In addition, the company will launch vehicles in 2025 based on two new EV platforms; eM and eS. Both EV platforms will be produced under the Group’s Integrated Modular Architecture (IMA) system.

The eM platform is being developed explicitly for EVs across all segments and will provide a 50% improvement in driving range on a single charge compared to current EVs. Moreover, the platform is being developed to support Level 3 or higher autonomous driving technology and OTA software update features.

On the other hand, the group’s eS platform will be developed as an EV ‘skateboard’ exclusively for Purpose Built Vehicles (PBVs), with a fully flexible structure to meet B2B demands, and provide tailor-made solutions for companies operating in the delivery, logistics, and car-hailing sectors.

“In 2025, Hyundai Motor Group will present vehicles with two platform types: eM, a passenger EV- dedicated platform; and eS, an exclusive platform for Purpose Built Vehicles. These new platforms are evolving under Hyundai Motor Group’s Integrated Modular Architecture’; which will lead to further standardization and modularization of core components of electric vehicles, such as batteries and motors, while offering advantages in sectors additional to electric vehicles,” said Paul Choo, Executive Vice President of Head of Electronics & Information Development Center of Hyundai Motor Group.