Hyundai and Michelin sign agreement to develop tyres

Hyundai Motor Group has signed a memorandum of understanding with Michelin to develop next-generation tyres optimised for electric vehicles.

The signing of the agreement, set to last three years, took place at Hyundai's Namyang Research Center (sic) on Friday, and follows the two parties' first partnership formed in November 2017 to jointly develop an exclusive tyre for the Ioniq 5.

“This partnership with Michelin will result in real innovations in tyre technology, solidifying Hyundai Motor Group’s position as a leader in the smart mobility industry,” the Group's Vice President, Bong-soo Kim, said.

“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 enhancement and create synergies in this organic collaboration.”

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The next-generation tyres resulting from the collaboration will find their way onto future Hyundai Group EVs.

The Group and Michelin also plan to conduct joint research to analyse tyre wear, load and road friction beyond the current standards of temperature and air pressure. The new tyres are also expected to significantly improve drivers’ ride comfort by reducing vibration and noise generated by EVs at high speeds.

It's said the venture will also explore ways to raise the use of eco-friendly materials in tyres to about 50 per cent of their total weight, up from 20 per cent currently.

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"The collaboration between Hyundai Motor Group and Michelin over the past five years contributed to the successful launch of the Hyundai Ioniq 5,” said Georges Levy, Executive Vice President of Automotive Original Equipment at Michelin.

“We are pleased to announce that the relationship has been extended for three more years to continue our work together on new technologies in favour of safer, cleaner mobility.

"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.”