Realize the vision of an 18-minute city in the Sim Eternal City, we have selected the specialized Purpose-Built Vehicle (PBV) division at Hyundai Motor.
This team doesn't just build cars; they design mobile infrastructure. While most of the automotive world focuses on personal travel, this department focuses on how vehicles can serve businesses, cities, and communities.
They are the architects of "mobility as a service," creating the physical platforms that allow essential urban functions to move freely throughout the city fabric.
They also have very ambitious plan about the future mobility
Hyundai Motor to accelerate transition into Smart Mobility Solution Provider with three innovative mobility solutions① Urban Air Mobility (UAM)⋯ New form of mobility utilizing air space to drastically reduce transit time⋯ Four principles of UAM announced: safe, quiet, affordable and passenger-centered⋯ PAV (Personal Air Vehicle) showcased in collaboration with Uber② Purpose Built Vehicle (PBV)⋯ Eco-friendly urban mobility allowing personalization to cater to diverse lifestyles⋯ PBV to serve various functions in transit, such as restaurant and clinic⋯ PBV to utilize AI to find optimal route and travel in platoon③ Hub⋯ New mobility space connecting air-based UAM and ground-based PBV⋯ Hub to connect people to people and create new innovative communities⋯ Hub to transform into infinite new spaces depending on how PBV is connected
“UAM, PBV, and Hub will revitalize cities by removing urban boundaries, giving people time to pursue their goals, and creating a diverse community,” Euisun Chung, Executive Vice Chairman of Hyundai Motor Group
Human-Centered City Advisory Group established to study new values for future cities
Hyundai to showcase PAV, PBV and Hub at CES 2020, alongside VR experience for PAV
The Solution: What is a PBV?
In the context of Hyundai Motors, a PBV stands for Purpose Built Vehicle. Unlike traditional vans that are simply passenger cars with the seats removed, a PBV is designed from the ground up for a specific job.
Hyundai’s flagship model, the ST1 (Service Type 1), represents the cutting edge of this technology. It is a fully electric work platform that combines a futuristic, aerodynamic front with a completely modular rear chassis.
The ST1 is built for the realities of urban life. It features a low-floor design that makes loading effortless and allows the vehicle to fit into standard underground parking structures. Because it is a "Chassis Cab," the rear can be swapped or customized into almost anything—from a standard delivery box to a specialized refrigerated unit. With ultra-fast charging and a dedicated software interface, it is a vehicle that acts more like a mobile room than a traditional truck.
Hyundai PBV ST1 (Service Type 1)
Why Sim Eternal City Project Chose the PBV of Hyundai Motors
The Sim Eternal City project is built on the idea that life’s most important moments—memory, connection, and history—should be accessible within 18 minutes.
To make this happen, we cannot rely on static buildings alone; we need the city to come to the people. We chose Hyundai’s PBV solution and its ambitious future plan to integrate the mobility and UAM on the mobility hub
because it provides the flexible "bones" we need to deliver public services directly into the heart of the community.
By utilizing the PBV platform, our team can deploy Mobile Clinics to provide healthcare where it’s needed most, and Mobile Funeral Ceremony units that allow families to hold intimate, dignified services within their own neighborhoods. These vehicles bridge the gap between the living and the dead, turning the street into a space for care and remembrance. Hyundai’s commitment to modular, electric, and human-centered design makes them the perfect partner to help us build a city that truly flows with the lifecycle of its residents.