South Korea’s top auto parts maker Hyundai Mobis Co. has invested 1.4 billion won ($1.3 million) to set up a software training center that will reinforce its researchers’ competence in sensors and logic controls, key autonomous driving and connectivity technologies.

The auto parts unit of Hyundai Motor Group said Sunday that it has established Mobis Software Academy at its research center in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province.

The training center will allow about 400 researchers to simultaneously learn comprehensive software technology for autonomous driving including image recognition, big data, sensor control and telecommunications technology. They will also be able to receive education in coding, algorithm design, and mechanics.

On top of this, the company aims to increase its software researchers by five times from current 800 to more than 4,000 by 2025. Last month it hired Carsten Weiss, former executive of German auto component maker Continental who led software platform development and security center, in an effort to strengthen its capability in future car technology.

The auto parts company’s bold investment in software R&D comes close to that of IT companies, which is unusual for an auto part company. Hyundai Mobis emphasized that the latest action is part of its preemptive efforts to get ahead of others in the upcoming self-driving era.

Shares of Hyundai Mobis ended Monday 1.74 percent lower at 226,000 won.

By Kang Young-woon and Choi Mira

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