Hyundai continues to strengthen its presence in the European market, and has just inaugurated a testing center on the Old Continent. This infrastructure required an investment of around 150 million euros, is located in Germany, and, according to the South Koreans, was built with the aim of contributing to the faster development of a new generation of technologies.
The Hyundai Squares Campus is located in Rüsselsheim, the headquarters of Opel, very close to Frankfurt, and is part of the Hyundai Technical Center network in Europe (HMETC). For the manufacturer, this is the most important investment in Research & Development (R&D) infrastructure in the region since the “Round Campus,” inaugurated in 2003.
The new space supports the development of revolutionary technologies and will play a very important role in the design of all future Hyundai models for Europe. This center has 25,000 m² and is equipped with the largest semi-anechoic chamber in the consortium, a facility that allows for noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH) testing, as well as external noise measurements without interference from weather conditions.
In parallel, the power bank (dynamometer) facilities at Square Campus are fundamental in the technical development process, as they allow for comprehensive testing of vehicles and individual components, regardless of the type of propulsion (electric, hybrid, or thermal). This complex also has a laboratory for charging electric vehicles, a driving simulator, and areas dedicated to electronic systems, including Over-the-Air (OTA) remote updates, cybersecurity, and ADAS. Thus, Hyundai states that any vehicle is tested and validated under real conditions, ensuring the design of products tailored to the specific expectations of European customers.
“The investment in the ‘Square Campus’ is a clear demonstration of our commitment to the region and reflects the strategic importance of Europe in our growth plan. The new capabilities of the HMETC provide us with more flexibility and greater independence, and create collaboration opportunities that we did not have within the group. The Square Campus will support us in our goal to continue increasing market share in this region, with models and technologies that meet our customers’ needs”, said Tyrone Johnson from the Hyundai Group Technical Center in Germany.
Road testing with prototypes is important in the development of all new models, but this Square Campus mitigates all the challenges associated with these external tests. To confirm this, the brand recalls the investment of 13 million euros in the center that the company has in Nürburgring, also in Germany.
The Square Campus was designed according to sustainability goals, integrating recycled materials, photovoltaic panels, and heat pump systems. Hyundai aims to achieve zero direct emissions globally by 2045. The new center also involved an increase in the number of workers (over 500, which represents an increase of around 20% from 2024 to 2025).
