Hyundai is deepening its investment in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education through Hyundai Hope, the company’s corporate social responsibility initiative focused on preparing the next generation of innovators.
Building on years of successful pilot programming, Hyundai is expanding its partnerships with the STEP Foundation and the SAE Foundation in Alabama, California, Georgia, and Michigan. These regions play a vital role in Hyundai’s U.S. operations.
Supporting Communities Across Hyundai’s U.S. Operations
Supporting the communities where its employees live and work remains a core priority for Hyundai, driving investments that open doors for future innovators.
Across Montgomery Public Schools in Alabama, Hyundai and SAE are implementing the AWIM Gravity Cruiser Challenge for around 1,000 sixth-grade students, which involves designing and constructing a vehicle that is powered by gravity and explores concepts such as energy, inertia, and momentum.
By bringing high‑quality STEM programming to regions anchored by Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama (HMMA) in Alabama, Hyundai Motor North America’s headquarters in California, Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America (HMGMA) in Georgia, and Hyundai America Technical Center, Inc. (HATCI) in Michigan, Hyundai aims to strengthen local educational opportunities and provide students with the skills needed for future careers, including those within the automotive and mobility industries.
“At Hyundai, we believe education is one of the most powerful drivers of opportunity and long‑term success for every child,” said Brandon Ramirez, director, corporate social responsibility, Hyundai Motor North America. “That belief is central to our Progress for Humanity vision and guides our commitment to working alongside trusted partners to expand access to high‑quality STEM education. By supporting hands‑on, engaging learning experiences for students across the country, we aim to spark curiosity, build critical skills, and help prepare the next generation for the careers and challenges of tomorrow.”
STEP Foundation Partnership: Hydrogen‑Powered Innovation in the Classroom
Hyundai and the STEP Foundation, formerly the H2GP Foundation, hosted the second annual Georgia Hydrogen Grand Prix featuring the Hyundai RC Program. Through this initiative, middle and high school students learn engineering principles, renewable energy concepts, and automotive technologies by designing and racing hydrogen‑powered RC cars.
This year, 19 teams from four Bryan County, Georgia, schools competed in stock, modified, and hybrid categories. Winning teams advanced to the June 2026 World Championships in Bulle, Switzerland. The program reinforces career and technical education (CTE) readiness by teaching practical skills in project management, design, teamwork, and industry collaboration.
The Hyundai RC Program is also active in Alabama, California, and Michigan, with state finals races taking place later this spring.
SAE International® A World in Motion (AWIM®) Program
Hyundai has expanded its partnership through the SAE Foundation to bring the A World In Motion® (AWIM) PreK–12 STEM curriculum to Alabama, California, and Michigan, complementing its ongoing work in Georgia. AWIM offers hands‑on, inquiry‑based learning that nurtures problem‑solving abilities, teamwork, and real‑world engineering skills. A
WIM has been proven to increase student performance and attitudes toward STEM as well as teacher preparedness to deliver quality STEM education in a traditional setting. The curriculum also plays a key role in developing the future workforce, with students exhibiting an 80% increase in awareness of/interest in an engineering career after participation.