Hyundai Motor is expanding its environmental initiatives with the launch of the IONIQ 9 Seed Ball Drone Station, a mobile reforestation hub designed to accelerate the recovery of wildfire-damaged forests. Built on Hyundai’s flagship electric SUV, the system combines drone technology with zero-emission mobility to disperse clay seed balls into areas that are otherwise difficult to access. The project will begin in Uljin, one of Korea’s East Coast regions hardest hit by wildfires, where the drones will help restore tree cover while minimizing disruption to fragile ecosystems.
The Seed Ball Drone Station builds on Hyundai’s Smart Forest Restoration Program and global IONIQ Forest project, which has already taken root in 13 countries. By pairing the IONIQ 9’s drone station with the IONIQ 5 Monitoring Drone Station introduced in 2023, Hyundai aims to create a comprehensive system for both planting and tracking forest regrowth. Working in partnership with the Korea National Arboreta and Gardens Institute and social venture Tree Planet, the company is extending its corporate social responsibility into tangible climate action, using innovation to promote large-scale reforestation and long-term ecological resilience.