Hyundai Motor Group's Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) company, Supernal LLC, has opened its primary research and development (R&D) facility in Fremont, California. This marks the third facility the company has opened this year, after its engineering headquarters in Irvine, California, and policy and commercial hub in Washington, D.C., signaling a new era in the advancement of electric air travel, according to a press release issued by Supernal.
The 72,000-square-foot facility, located in the Scott Creek Business Park, hosts more than 100 employees, including the battery, intelligent systems, autonomy, and core operations teams. The choice of Fremont was a strategic move due to its proximity to Silicon Valley's renowned tech ecosystem, which offers a robust talent pool for the company's research and development goals.
The primary focus of the Fremont-based research facility is to address the unique challenges and opportunities presented by battery technology for electric air travel applications. As Jaiwon Shin, President of Hyundai Motor Group and CEO of Supernal, stated, "Batteries are the linchpin of Advanced Air Mobility and critical to powering the next generation of flight, which we see as everyday electric air travel." Supernal aims to develop advanced aviation-grade batteries that will power the electric vertical takeoff and landing vehicles (eVTOL) the company is currently developing.
The facility also highlights a shift in corporate workplace design, with areas such as a gym, rest pods, EV charging stations, and meditation rooms added to foster a sense of community and productivity among employees. Designed in collaboration with two San-Francisco-based design firms, RMW Architectures and Interiors and Studio O+A, the facility echoes the principles of kinship and sustainability, including the use of a microgrid to capture and recycle energy. The facility's design also incorporates greenery and plants, further reflecting the company's commitment to environmental responsibility. Photos of the space show the diverse workspaces and emphasis on collaborative spaces inside the facility.
Supernal's efforts in developing lightweight and powerful batteries suitable for electric air travel include an "open ecosystem approach," which centers on harnessing in-house talent and expanding the pool of aviation suppliers in this emerging field. The company is also looking to add more than 20 employees this year, focusing on engineers with experience in autonomy, battery development, and intelligent systems.
The opening of the R&D facility in Fremont, along with the development of advanced battery technologies, helps position Supernal at the forefront of the electric aviation industry. In addition to the development of eVTOL vehicles, the company supports the growth of the AAM industry as a whole, fostering the progress of sustainable and autonomous air travel systems.
