[Featured Stock] Robot × All-Solid-State Revolution, Hidden Player MOT 'In the Spotlight'

Hyundai Motor, Kia, and Samsung SDI Form Alliance for Robot Battery Development
MOT, a Key Partner of Samsung SDI... Collaboration on All-Solid-State Battery Development

MOT is showing strong performance. The news that Hyundai Motor, Kia, and Samsung have decided to jointly develop batteries exclusively for robots appears to be influencing the stock price. MOT is known to have already developed three types of pilot lines for all-solid-state assembly equipment by applying high-pressure and ultra-precision control welding technology. Since its listing in November last year, the stock price is on the verge of recovering to the initial public offering price of 10,000 KRW. The company achieved record-high sales last year and there is growing anticipation for securing additional growth drivers.

As of 10:55 AM on the 26th, MOT is trading at 9,380 KRW, up 20.72% from the previous day.

This is the first case where Hyundai Motor and Kia collaborate externally to develop robot batteries. The two companies are already cooperating in the electric vehicle battery sector and will now join forces in the future growth market of robotics.

MOT is a secondary battery assembly equipment manufacturer that produces tab welding equipment, which bonds tabs to the anode and cathode to allow current flow, and packaging equipment that forms and seals the battery shape. Through a close partnership with Samsung SDI, MOT supplies generation-specific secondary battery assembly equipment and has established itself as the only domestic company providing Samsung SDI tab welding and packaging assembly process equipment. MOT was awarded Best Partner at the Samsung SDI Co-Growth DAY last year.

MOT has completed the development of a large-area LFP battery assembly equipment (pilot line) by enhancing its core competencies in high-speed taping and ultra-precision alignment technology. The self-developed large-area LFP battery assembly equipment has a volume scale 4 to 5 times larger than EV battery assembly equipment but secures the same production efficiency per unit equipment as EV battery assembly equipment. MOT holds a reference for developing and delivering large-area LFP battery assembly equipment to Samsung SDI as of last March.

Last year, MOT recorded consolidated sales of 84.9 billion KRW and an operating profit of 6.5 billion KRW, increasing by 15% and 51% respectively compared to the previous year. Recently, as customers have begun full-scale development of next-generation batteries such as all-solid-state batteries, LFP batteries, and 46-pi (46mm diameter) cylindrical batteries, MOT is accelerating the commercialization of related assembly equipment technologies. In the case of all-solid-state batteries, the company has delivered development lines and plans to directly participate in pilot line development this year.

Kim Chung-gyu, Vice President of MOT, said, "Despite the chasm situation in the secondary battery market last year, we were able to achieve record-high performance based on our unique technological competitiveness. We will continue to grow by supplying assembly equipment optimized for next-generation battery production."

MOT is the world’s first company to develop and supply assembly equipment applying ultrasonic and laser welding techniques. It has 2 to 3 generations of mass production application experience ahead of its latecomer competitors.

Humanoids are expected to grow to a market size of 66 billion USD (approximately 94.49 trillion KRW) by 2032. Robot companies and battery manufacturers are expected to release next-generation products such as 4680 (46mm diameter, 80mm height) batteries to capture the humanoid market. These batteries have about 30% higher energy density than existing batteries of the same size. LG Energy Solution and Samsung SDI will begin full-scale production of the 46 series this year.

The product that will change the "rules of the game" is the all-solid-state battery, which is expected to be commercialized in a few years. Using all-solid-state batteries can increase energy capacity to over 20,000 Wh. Samsung SDI is the leader in the all-solid-state battery field and has plans for mass production in 2027.

Researcher Park Jong-sun of Eugene Investment & Securities explained, "MOT has secured mid- to long-term growth drivers by completing preemptive technology and product development in line with global major companies’ all-solid-state battery mass production plans, developing the world’s first new beading method assembly equipment for 46-pi cylindrical batteries, and developing an LFP ultra-large-area battery assembly line."