Hyundai Motor and Kia will work with global tire manufacturer Michelin to develop tires.
Hyundai Motor and Kia said on the 25th that they held a technology joint development agreement ceremony with Michelin at the Namyang R&D Center in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi, on the 24th. This agreement is the third, following two previous joint studies. The two sides pursued research to advance tire technology in 2017 and 2022, deriving specifications suitable for rear-wheel-drive electric vehicles and producing research results related to tire wear.
Under the agreement, Hyundai Motor, Kia and Michelin will carry out research to improve tire performance, develop virtual simulation technology, and exchange technical capabilities over the next three years starting next year. In the tire performance improvement segment, they will jointly study tire technologies that enhance drivability, such as ultra-low rolling resistance tires. The main goal is to strengthen limit handling and braking performance to secure vehicle stability at high speeds.
In the virtual simulation segment, the goal is to build a technology development process, including advancing virtual simulation to improve the off-road tire development environment. In addition, Hyundai Motor and Kia will run training courses on vehicles and chassis, while Michelin will provide training on tire design and evaluation.
Shin Yong-seok, executive director and head of the Genesis Design Center at Hyundai Motor and Kia, said, "Through this third round of technical cooperation, we expect tire technology innovations that lead the future mobility market," and added, "Each company's strengths specialized in mobility and tires will show up as vehicle driving performance."