Hyundai Motor Co. Vice Chairman Chung Euisun recently visited Israel to discuss driverless car technology with officials at Mobileye NV, global No. 1 producer of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) sensors under U.S. chipmaker Intel Corp., in an attempt to step up drive for autonomous cars.

According to Hyundai Motor Co. Thursday, Chung left for Turkey Sunday where he checked the automaker’s plant and performance in the country and directly flew to Israel to meet executives at Mobileye in Jerusalem. He was reported to have discussed next-generation chip development that is crucial in the development of self-driving vehicles. Chung briefly said he met with Mobileye executives when he was asked about his trip to Israel by reporters at Gimpo Airport Thursday, but did not elaborate details on the meeting.

Mobileye, founded in 1999, has become the global leader in the development of computer vision and machine learning, data analysis, localization and mapping for ADAS and autonomous driving. Its products are or will be integrated into car models from 27 global automakers including Hyundai Motor, BMW, Ford, General Motors, Nissan, Volvo and Audi. It joined the U.S. Nasdaq in 2014 and was acquired by U.S. chipmaker Intel Corp. at $15.3 billion March last year.

Chung’s visit to Mobileye followed after he has recently shown an avid interest in self-driving car technology. Chung delivered a key note address on Hyundai Motor’s roadmap in the development of autonomous car technology at CES held early this year in Las Vegas. He himself rode on the Korean automaker’s self-driving IONIQ running on the neon-and sunlit boulevards of Las Vegas.

During his stay in Israel, Chung purportedly met with executives from other IT tech firms and its local dealers. Hyundai Motor and its smaller sibling Kia Motors Corp. make up the largest and second largest share in Israel’s car market.

Hyundai Motor Group that is seeking to win competition in future car technology by enhancing partnership with automotive suppliers and IT firms such as Mobileye is expected to unveil its 10-year roadmap for driverless car technology soon.

By Woo Je-yoon

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