Hyundai Mobis unveils prototype of Ioniq 5 running sideways

The stress of narrow parallel parking and U-turns may become a thing of the past as technologies like Hyundai Mobis' e-Corner become mainstream.

First unveiled in 2018, the e-Corner is a unit that integrates suspension, steering, drive, and braking functions and is small enough to fit in the wheel hub of a conventional vehicle.

The e-Corner relies on in-wheel motors for drive power, allowing the wheels to rotate up to 90 degrees, as opposed to the drive axle, resulting in impressive maneuverability.

Hyundai Mobis, Hyundai's parts and accessories division, recently demonstrated this maneuverability with the Hyundai Ioniq 5. The video shows four different movements: club driving, zero turn, diagonal driving, and pivot turn.

In crab driving, the vehicle drives sideways, which facilitates parallel parking. In a zero turn, the vehicle turns 360 degrees in place, ideal for U-turns. In pivot turns, the front of the vehicle stays in place while the rear rotates in place. Diagonal Driving is similar to the crab walk on the GMC Hummer EV, where the vehicle moves diagonally.

Hyundai Mobis has not announced plans for a production version of the e-Corner, but it could be used in future robot cabs.

At last week's 2023 CES, Hyundai Mobis unveiled a concept robot cab called M.Vision To, which is equipped with e-Corner technology. Hyundai Mobis said vehicles like the M.Vision To could be used to provide rides and deliver cargo.

One of the first customers for a vehicle like M.Vision To could be Hyundai Motor Company. Hyundai has formed a joint venture with Aptive for self-driving technology and plans to launch a robotic cab service in Las Vegas later this year.