Hankook & Company group (chairman Cho Hyun-bum)'s global automotive thermal energy management solutions corporation Hanon Systems said in a 2026 new year address distributed to global employees by vice chairman and CEO Lee Su-il that it presented this year's management goals and mid-to-long-term growth strategy. The company said it plans to strengthen tangible growth momentum through discovering new businesses and expanding its global aftermarket business.
Hanon Systems said that after achieving annual sales of 10 trillion won for the first time in its history in 2025, it plans to continue its growth trend with a target of 11 trillion won in sales in 2026. At the same time, it presented restoring profitability and achieving an operating margin (EBIT) level of 5% as a core goal.
To this end, the company's strategy is to improve profitability and cash flow simultaneously through cost structure improvement and enhanced operational efficiency, and to establish an execution-focused management policy.
Once the ongoing paid-in capital increase is completed, the debt ratio, which was about 246% at the end of the third quarter, is expected to improve to about 164%, and through this it is expected to create a more stable environment in terms of financial soundness and cash flow.
It is also accelerating a strategic shift toward future growth. Over the past year, Hanon Systems created a dedicated software organization, reorganized its global R&D organization, and strengthened the efficiency of technology development and collaboration systems.
In particular, in a market environment where various powertrains such as battery electric vehicles (BEV), hybrid, plug-in hybrid (PHEV), and EREV coexist, it is positioning its technical and software capabilities that can respond to automakers' multi-powertrain strategies as a core axis of mid-to-long-term growth.
It is also actively seeking new business opportunities in the AI era. Noting the surging demand for power and thermal management driven by the spread of AI data centers, it is reviewing new business opportunities based on its thermal management technologies and long experience, such as liquid cooling systems for data centers and ESS thermal management solutions. The company expects these new businesses to contribute to sales growth and improved profitability in the mid to long term.
It will also pursue expansion of aftermarket sales. Through participation last November in AAPEX, the largest aftermarket exhibition in North America, and experience at major aftermarket exhibitions in the Middle East, it confirmed market potential, and centered on the global aftermarket dedicated organization newly established in January 2026, it plans to expand the business in earnest to make a tangible contribution to sales growth and improved profitability.
Hanon Systems vice chairman and CEO Lee Su-il said, "If 2025 was a year focused on improving management efficiency and strengthening fundamentals, 2026 will be a year to complete that work while executing the established mid-to-long-term strategy and turning it into results," and said, "Based on responsible management, we will strengthen our fundamentals and continue sustainable growth through expanding new businesses."
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