Parts Industry Accelerates Securing Business Opportunities in Autonomous Driving and Electric Vehicle Components

[Asia Economy Reporter Ki-min Lee] As finished car manufacturers actively pursue the development of future vehicles such as autonomous and electric vehicles, the domestic parts industry is also accelerating efforts to secure new business opportunities.

According to the parts industry on the 28th, domestic parts companies are expanding their electronic components business and are steadily entering the world's top 100 automotive parts companies. Among the top 100 parts companies by sales last year, Korean companies included Hyundai Mobis (7th), Hyundai Transys (34th), Hyundai Wia (38th), Hanon Systems (39th), Mando (50th), SL (77th), Yura (78th), Seoyon E-Hwa (85th), and Hyundai Kefico (89th), totaling nine companies, one more than eight in 2019.

The companies are achieving results not only in parts installed in internal combustion engine vehicles but also in the development and orders of parts and systems for electric and autonomous vehicles.

Hyundai Mobis recently developed the world's first 'next-generation parking control system' integrating lane driving, rear autonomous driving, and remote automatic parking functions. In addition, from the 25th of this month to the 5th of next month, Hyundai Mobis is participating in the 2021 Seoul Mobility Show held at KINTEX in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, showcasing various future mobility technologies such as urban mobility concepts, airbags for autonomous vehicles, and next-generation automobile wheels, attracting the attention of visitors.

Hanon Systems recently completed the country's first electric vehicle dedicated thermal management system factory in Gyeongju, Gyeongbuk. The Hanon Systems Gyeongju plant, with a site area of 33,000㎡ and a building area of 9,893㎡, produces heat pump systems and coolant valve assemblies. The heat pump system controls the vehicle's interior temperature by utilizing waste heat, reducing electric vehicle battery consumption and extending driving range.

The parts produced at the Gyeongju plant correspond to an annual volume for 100,000 vehicles, with plans to expand to 300,000 vehicles by 2024. These parts are supplied to Hyundai Motor's Ulsan plant and are used in the Ioniq 5, 6, 7, and Genesis brand electric vehicles.

In the case of Mando, it is reorganizing to transform into a future vehicle solutions company by spinning off its autonomous driving division next month. It is transitioning into an electric vehicle (EV) solutions specialized company, and the newly established corporation HL Clemoove will be responsible for autonomous driving businesses such as parts, autonomous driving robots, and mobility services.

Along with organizational restructuring, the company is also focusing on research and development for future mobility. Recently, it has entered into the development of autonomous driving robots for electric vehicle charging in collaboration with the Korea Electronics Technology Institute. The idea is that autonomous driving robots will move battery carts and help conveniently charge electric vehicles in everyday spaces such as parking lots.

Meanwhile, POSCO International, aiming to transform into a comprehensive business company, is also achieving consecutive successes in the electric vehicle parts supply competition. Recently, it signed a supply contract for 340,000 half-shafts, a key component serving as the drive axle for battery electric vehicles, with Rivian, a U.S. emerging electric vehicle company.