Hyundai Motor and Intelligent Mobility Accelerator: first results

• Hyundai Motor announces results of its first partnership with the Intelligent Mobility (IM) Accelerator programme
• The third cohort of IM Accelerator partner companies officially started on July 3rd 
• Through its partnership with IM Accelerator, Hyundai demonstrates its commitment to scouting and supporting disruptive mobility technologies in the UK 

Meanwhile, the IM Accelerator officially launched the next cohort on July 3rd. 

Hyundai Motor, together with Kia Motors, joined the IM Accelerator in Milton Keyes last year. This world-leading programme focuses on developing data-driven future mobility solutions. With this partnership, Hyundai works with the IM Accelerator’s founding partners Connected Places Catapult (CPC) and Wayra UK to nurture and develop start-up businesses with promising solutions to critical transport issues.

Hyundai focuses in particular on businesses working in automation and autonomy, cleantech, smart infrastructure, user experience, and transport data and analysis. The IM Accelerator programme’s goal is to develop these small businesses to deliver future mobility solutions for the UK transport industry, helping them grow into world-leading companies.

Applications for the new IM Accelerator’s cohort has been closed and starting from July 3rd the selected start-ups will receive a six-month support programme, providing office space, mentoring and networking. They will also get access to Wayra UK’s and the CPC’s networks of investors, government agencies, customers, large corporates and universities. In addition, they will have opportunities to work with the CPC’s world-leading Data, Visualisation, Customer Experience and Connected and Autonomous Transport capability teams.

Hyundai Motor strategically invests in AppyParking

Founded in 2013, AppyParking is a kerbside management and mobility technology firm. Through its award-winning smart parking app, the company is transforming parking experiences for motorists and empowering local authorities and car park operators to better manage their assets.

Hyundai Motor discovered AppyParking through the IM Accelerator programme, and decided to provide strategic investment, alongside Sumitomo Corporation as part of the startup’s total £7.6 million Series A funding round. The round was led by West Hill Capital LLP with participation from existing investors Aviva Ventures and Breed Reply. It brings the firm’s total funding to over £11 million since its launch. 

The funding will enable the company to deepen its talent pool, accelerate product development to support domestic and international growth, as well as expand its marketing and sales efforts. Through this investment, Hyundai continues to demonstrate its commitment to scouting and supporting disruptive mobility technologies in the UK.

Hyundai Motor partner Spark EV completes extensive trials of electric vehicle range prediction technology

Hyundai is open to supporting companies with proof of contents who undertake feasibility tests to validate new technology and help accelerate their growth. Hyundai discovered one such company, Spark EV Technology, through the IM Accelerator programme. Spark EV’s software uses live data from the vehicle, driver and atmospherics to deliver more accurate, personalised journey predictions for EVs, adapted to every driver.

Developed in Cambridge, UK, Spark EV combines the company’s own research and work from the University of Essex. Its technology is aimed at automotive companies, mobility providers and tier 1 electronics OEMs.

Spark EV recently completed an extensive one-month trial of its EV range prediction technology using Hyundai electric vehicles. The company conducted this by applying proprietary machine learning algorithms to help it continually learn and improve prediction accuracy after each journey. In these real-world tests, Spark EV’s technology has proved to be an elegant solution with highly accurate prediction system.