• The IONIQ 9 Seed Ball Drone Station, equipped with advanced mobility and control systems, to support reforestation and monitoring in wildfire-damaged areas
• The station features a built-in drone takeoff and landing platform and utilizes vehicle-to-load (V2L) technology to supply power for drone operations
• A large seed ball drone enables efficient tree planting in hard-to-access areas by dispersing clay seed balls from the air, enhancing large-scale reforestation efforts
• Paired with the IONIQ 5 Monitoring Drone Station, it advances Hyundai Motor’s Smart Forest Restoration Program and global IONIQ Forest project
SEOUL, July 17, 2025 – Hyundai Motor Company has completed the development of the IONIQ 9-based Seed Ball Drone Station to support forest restoration projects in Korea, following the launch of the IONIQ 5 Monitoring Drone Station in 2023. The new project will begin in Uljin, a region on Korea’s East Coast that was severely affected by widespread wildfires in 2022.
In June of last year, Hyundai Motor signed a five-year partnership agreement with the Korea National Arboreta and Gardens Institute, a subsidiary of the Korea Forest Service, and Tree Planet, a social venture specializing in tree planting. Through this collaboration, the company has conducted forest monitoring and data collection activities using the IONIQ 5 Monitoring Drone Station to assist in restoring areas affected by wildfires along Korea’s East Coast.
The newly developed IONIQ 9 Seed Ball Drone Station is a specially designed vehicle based on Hyundai Motor’s flagship electric SUV, IONIQ 9, in collaboration with Guru E&T, a startup specializing in reforestation solutions and technologies. It is equipped to facilitate tree planting, monitoring and restoration of damaged forest areas.
The station incorporates advanced features, such as a drone takeoff and landing platform built into the trunk, providing excellent operational flexibility. The vehicle-to-load (V2L) charging system enables the vehicle to autonomously supply power required for drone operations directly onboard.
The system is designed for zero tailpipe emissions and low-noise, low-vibration operation, ensuring minimal impact on the surrounding ecosystem. With its off-road driving capabilities, the IONIQ 9 drone station can also reliably access remote forest areas and conduct restoration efforts with stability.
The station’s large seed ball drone enables efficient tree planting in areas that are difficult for people to access. The drone disperses seed balls — clay spheres containing a mixture of soil, organic matter and seeds — from the air, making large-scale reforestation both practical and effective.
IONIQ 9’s spacious rear cabin has been equipped with a swivel seat, dual monitors and a dedicated drone operation PC, creating a high-precision integrated control system. This transforms the SUV into a fully functional mobile office, significantly enhancing its utility for field operations.
By adding the IONIQ 9 Seed Ball Drone Station to its ongoing Smart Forest Restoration Program, alongside the IONIQ 5 Monitoring Drone Station, Hyundai Motor aims to accelerate reforestation across the wildfire-affected regions near Uljin and the East Coast.
The forest being created in Uljin is part of Hyundai Motor’s IONIQ Forest project, a global CSR project launched in 2016 that engages customers and local communities in forest-building. The project addresses social and environmental challenges through themed forest projects, and has expanded to 13 countries, including the United States, Brazil, Vietnam, India and the Czech Republic. The company aims to expand the IONIQ lineup-based drone stations to global IONIQ Forest projects in the future.
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About Hyundai Motor Group
Established in 1967, Hyundai Motor Company is present in over 200 countries with more than 120,000 employees dedicated to tackling real-world mobility challenges around the globe. Based on the brand vision ‘Progress for Humanity,’ Hyundai Motor is accelerating its transformation into a Smart Mobility Solution Provider. The company invests in advanced technologies such as robotics and Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) to bring about revolutionary mobility solutions while pursuing open innovation to introduce future mobility services. In pursuit of a sustainable future for the world, Hyundai will continue its efforts to introduce zero-emission vehicles with industry-leading hydrogen fuel cell and EV technologies.
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Contact:
Daehyun Shin
Global PR Team / Hyundai Motor Company
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