Hyundai Taps Former Nvidia VP Park Min-woo for Autonomous Driving Lead
Hyundai Motor Group has appointed former Nvidia VP Park Min-woo as head of its AVP division and CEO of 42dot. Park brings expertise from Tesla and Nvidia to lead the group's SDV strategy.
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.
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