José Muñoz

President of Hyundai Motor Group

Claims

As speaker

Mentioned in

Key positions and views

Advocates for a flexible, multi-powertrain vehicle portfolio that includes EVs, hybrids, plug-in hybrids, and ICE vehicles to meet diverse consumer demands.

Believes the future of ground transport will be segmented, with battery EVs dominating daily commutes and hydrogen-powered vehicles serving long-haul commercial routes.

Committed to integrating advanced robotics and AI, such as the Boston Dynamics Atlas robot, into manufacturing processes to enhance productivity, quality, and cost-efficiency.

Pursues a dual-path strategy in autonomous driving by developing proprietary technology through its subsidiary Motional while also engaging in large-scale manufacturing partnerships with industry leaders like Waymo.

Views the Savannah, Georgia plant as a critical and adaptable manufacturing hub for North America, capable of producing a range of vehicles from consumer EVs and hybrids to specialized robotaxis.

Podcast consensus on Muñoz

Points of consensus

▶The HMGMA plant in Savannah, Georgia, is a cornerstone of Hyundai's North American strategy, representing a major investment for flexible production of EVs, hybrids, and specialized robotaxis, with a significant hiring commitment.May 2026

▶Hyundai is actively pursuing a diversified powertrain strategy that includes EVs, hybrids, plug-in hybrids, and ICE vehicles, responding to strong market signals like a 61% quarterly growth in hybrid sales.May 2026

▶The company is committed to commercializing hydrogen technology, particularly for heavy-duty trucking, as evidenced by its fleet of Exxion trucks which have accumulated 20 million kilometers and are used in its own logistics.May 2026

▶Hyundai is leveraging its subsidiaries like Boston Dynamics and Motional to integrate advanced technologies, such as humanoid robots and autonomous driving systems, directly into its core manufacturing and product offerings.May 2026

Points of debate

▶Muñoz champions a massive EV production capacity (500,000 units annually at the Savannah plant) while simultaneously highlighting surging hybrid sales and increased investment in hybrid production, indicating a strategic hedge against a pure-EV future.May 2026

▶There is a tension between Hyundai's long-term vision for hydrogen in long-haul transport and the immediate, large-scale investments and production plans which are overwhelmingly focused on battery-electric and hybrid consumer vehicles.May 2026

▶The company is developing its own autonomous driving technology via its subsidiary Motional, yet its most significant near-term deployment is a partnership to build tens of thousands of vehicles for a competitor, Waymo, suggesting a dual strategy that could create internal friction.May 2026

▶Muñoz cites rising oil prices as a driver for a 40% monthly jump in EV sales, while also noting a 61% quarterly growth in hybrid sales, presenting a complex picture of consumer motivation that doesn't point exclusively to a single powertrain solution.May 2026

Key themes

▶Flexible Powertrain StrategyMay 2026

José Muñoz outlines a pragmatic and diversified vehicle portfolio strategy that includes EVs, hybrids, plug-in hybrids, and ICE vehicles. This is underscored by the company's response to a 61% quarterly growth in hybrid sales by increasing investment to add hybrid production capabilities to its new, originally EV-focused, Savannah plant.

This diversified strategy positions Hyundai to flexibly adapt to varying consumer adoption rates and regulatory environments, mitigating the risks associated with a singular bet on full electrification.

▶The Savannah Mega-Plant as a Strategic HubMay 2026

The HMGMA plant in Georgia is consistently presented as the central pillar of Hyundai's U.S. manufacturing strategy. Muñoz details its evolution from an EV-only facility to a flexible hub capable of producing EVs, hybrids, and highly specialized autonomous vehicles for partners like Waymo, backed by a commitment to hire 8,700 workers.

This plant represents a major investment in localized, adaptable manufacturing, allowing Hyundai to quickly pivot based on market demand and potentially capitalize on U.S. policy incentives.

▶Commercializing Advanced TechnologyMay 2026

Muñoz emphasizes the practical, real-world application of technologies often seen as futuristic. He provides concrete examples such as deploying the Boston Dynamics' Atlas humanoid robot for sequencing tasks on production lines and operating a commercial robotaxi service in Las Vegas with Motional's IONIQ 5 vehicles.

Hyundai is focused on moving its high-tech acquisitions and R&D from conceptual showcases to tangible industrial and commercial applications that can increase productivity, lower costs, and generate revenue.

▶Pragmatic Application of HydrogenMay 2026

While acknowledging the growth of EVs for personal transport, Muñoz carves out a specific, viable role for hydrogen in long-haul commercial trucking. He supports this by citing expert opinion on market segmentation and highlighting the 20 million kilometers already accumulated by Hyundai's own fleet of hydrogen-powered Exxion trucks.

Hyundai is pursuing a dual-track energy future, viewing hydrogen not as a competitor to BEVs but as a complementary solution for heavy industry, where battery technology faces significant limitations.

Source episodes

Sentiment over time

Not enough data for timeline

Changes over time

Last Quarter

Muñoz reported that Hyundai Motor Group's hybrid vehicle sales grew by 61%.

February to March (Current Year)

Muñoz observed a 40% growth in the company's EV sales, a trend he attributed to rising oil prices.

This Year

According to Muñoz, Hyundai is scheduled to begin producing its first hybrid vehicles at the HMGMA plant in Savannah, Georgia.

Q4 This Year

Muñoz announced that Hyundai will begin delivering tens of thousands of co-engineered Waymo IONIQ 5 robotaxis from its Savannah plant.

Next Year

Muñoz stated that Hyundai Motor Group plans to introduce Extended Range Electric Vehicles (EREVs).

Suggested prompts

How does Muñoz's emphasis on hybrid growth and flexible manufacturing at the Savannah plant reflect a potential hedge against the uncertain pace of full EV adoption in the US market? &nearr;What are the potential conflicts and synergies in Hyundai's dual autonomous vehicle strategy of developing in-house tech with Motional while simultaneously mass-producing vehicles for a competitor, Waymo? &nearr;Given the 20 million kilometers logged by Hyundai's hydrogen trucks, what specific economic or logistical advantages does Muñoz believe this technology offers over battery-electric solutions for commercial hauling? &nearr;How does the deployment of the Atlas humanoid robot in production lines represent a tangible return on the Boston Dynamics acquisition, and what does it signal about Hyundai's vision for the 'factory of the future'? &nearr;

Key concepts

HMGMA Savannah Plant 6 ep Electric Vehicles (EVs) 5 ep Hybrid Vehicles 4 ep Hydrogen Technology 4 ep Autonomous Driving & Robotaxis 3 ep Robotics & AI in Manufacturing 2 ep Sales Growth 2 ep Vehicle Portfolio Strategy 2 ep

Notable quotes

“starting Q4 this year, we're going to start delivering tens of thousands of Waymo IONIQ 5 robotaxis assembled, co-engineered in our plant in Savannah, Georgia.”

José Muñoz · Hyundai Motor Group President José Muñoz at Semafor World Economy

“...as the owners of Boston Dynamics we decided that one of the best applications we could have is the utilization of Atlas robots, humanoid, which is a kind of superhuman in our production lines for sequencing.”

José Muñoz · Hyundai Motor Group President José Muñoz at Semafor World Economy

“...we have seen how the sales of EV cars have grown from February to March by 40%, simply because of the price of oil going up.”

José Muñoz · Hyundai Motor Group President José Muñoz at Semafor World Economy

“...hybrids, which are growing 61% last quarter.”

José Muñoz · Hyundai Motor Group President José Muñoz at Semafor World Economy

Report last updated: May 21, 2026

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