Hyundai Taps Former Nvidia VP Park Min-woo for Autonomous Driving Lead

Hyundai Motor Group is doubling down on its software ambitions by poaching a heavyweight from Silicon Valley. On January 13, 2026, the South Korean automotive giant announced the appointment of Park Min-woo, former Vice President at Nvidia Corp., to lead its autonomous driving program.

A New Era for Hyundai Nvidia Park Min-woo Autonomous Driving

Park will serve as the head of the Advanced Vehicle Platform (AVP) division, a role that places him at the center of the group's Software-Defined Vehicle (SDV) strategy. Simultaneously, he'll take the helm as CEO of 42dot, Hyundai's dedicated software research arm. Park is widely recognized for his expertise in computer vision-based autonomy, having played a foundational role in Nvidia's perception technology and previously serving at Tesla.

Shaking Up Leadership Amid Fierce Competition

This leadership shake-up follows the abrupt resignation of Park's predecessor, Song Chang-hyeon, last month. Industry analysts suggest Song's departure was tied to Hyundai's perceived lack of progress in next-gen vehicle technologies compared to global rivals. Despite massive investments in the AVP division, the group has struggled to meet market expectations for fully autonomous commercialization. Park's entry marks a strategic pivot to leverage established Silicon Valley frameworks to accelerate their timeline.