Korean car maker Hyundai has extended for three years its memorandum of understanding with French multinational tyre manufacturing company Michelin to develop next-generation tyres optimised for premium electric vehicles.
The new MoU supersedes an agreement originally established in November 2017 and will lead to “a new journey towards developing next-generation tyres”.
The collaboration has already resulted in an exclusive tyre for Hyundai’s IONIQ 5 and the focus going forward will be on developing a real-time tyre monitoring system and increasing use of “eco-friendly” materials to 50% by weight, up from the current level of around 20%.
Next-generation tyres resulting from the collaboration will find their way onto Hyundai’s future premium EV models. New tyre technology is critical to meet the increased durability requirements resulting from the different performance characteristics and additional weight of electric vehicles particularly as the driving range of EVs increases.
The Group and Michelin also plan to conduct joint research to analyse tyre wear, load and road friction beyond the current standards of tyre temperature and air pressure. The new tyres are also expected to significantly improve ride comfort by reducing vibration and tyre noise generated at high speeds.
The signing ceremony took place at Hyundai’s Namyang Research Centre, attended by Bong-soo Kim, Vice President and Head of Chassis Development at Hyundai Motor Group, and Georges Levy, Executive Vice President of Automotive Original Equipment at Michelin.
Kim said, “This partnership will result in real innovations in tyre technology, solidifying Hyundai’s position as a leader in the smart mobility industry. By fully leveraging our mobility technology and Michelin’s tyre expertise, we are confident in our ability to achieve ground-breaking innovations in tyre performance.”
Levy added, “The association between Hyundai Motor Group and Michelin is founded on the same vision and on a shared passion for excellence, performance and innovation that have become increasingly essential factors as we rise to the mobility-related challenges we all face today.”
