What does it take to shape the next generation of electric mobility in Singapore? Today, the answer was on full display at the Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD), where Hyundai Motor Group Innovation Center Singapore (HMGICS) handed over a locally produced Hyundai IONIQ 5 electric vehicle to support student-led projects in sustainable mobility and innovation.
The IONIQ 5 EV is Singapore’s first fully electric vehicle, manufactured locally at HMGICS, and is internationally recognised for its design, performance, and innovation. By providing students with hands-on access to this production-level electric vehicle, HMGICS enables them to explore real-world electric mobility technology, bridging classroom learning with practical engineering experience.
The donation will directly support Project EVAM, SUTD’s student-led initiative to design and build a full-sized electric sports car. Unlike its predecessor, the next-generation EVAM vehicle is closer to a production EV in size and performance, giving students real-world experience with electric vehicle design. Beyond EVAM, the IONIQ 5 will also serve as a platform for SUTD’s automotive Capstone projects, where students will experiment with electrified powertrains, sustainable interior materials, smart cabin systems, and AI-driven vehicle optimisation.
According to Professor Chee Yeow Meng, SUTD Provost and Chief Academic and Innovation Officer, “Having the Hyundai IONIQ 5 on campus provides our students with the rare opportunity to interact directly with production-level EV technology. It enriches their hands-on experience and allows them to exercise creativity, engineering, and Design AI capabilities, preparing them for careers in electric mobility.”
Students are already benefiting from this initiative. Fourth-year engineering student Goh Qian Zhe said, “It’s not just learning from textbooks. We are rebuilding the donated IONIQ 5 and applying our own ideas for future electric vehicles.”
HMGICS’ donation is truly an investment in Singapore’s future engineers and designers, supporting student innovation in sustainable mobility and human-centric electric vehicle systems. This collaboration reinforces Singapore’s growing role as a hub for EV manufacturing and advanced electric mobility technology.
Watching the students participate in the event today was inspiring, as it showcased their commitment in action. Hands-on experience with production-level electric vehicle technology gives them a unique perspective on what the future of sustainable mobility could look like. Moments like these highlight how Singapore’s next generation of engineers and designers are being equipped to shape the country’s electric mobility ecosystem in meaningful and innovative ways.
