“In the internal combustion engine tire market, global companies such as Michelin have been leading the way in technology, but Hankook Tire is the most advanced brand in electric vehicle tires.”
Kim Hyeong-yoon, the Hungarian plant manager of Hankook Tire (Hankook Tire & Technology (161390)), whom we met locally on the 4th of last month (local time), said this while introducing the electric vehicle tire brand ‘Aion’. Aion, launched by Hankook Tire in 2022, is a premium product that took high-performance electric vehicles into consideration from the design stage.
Aion has the world’s first full lineup of electric vehicles, including sedans and sports utility vehicles (SUVs) for all seasons, winter, and summer.
Kim Hyeong-yoon, head of Hankook Tire’s Hungary plant, poses in front of the electric vehicle tire ‘Aion’ product displayed in the main building./Reporter Park Seong-woo
Aion also won four ‘Winners’ in the product design category at the ‘Red Dot Design Award 2023′ in Germany last April. Factory Manager Kim said, “Hankook Tire is the world’s first tire brand for electric vehicles,” and added, “We expect to see a full-scale Aion effect starting this year, the third year since its launch.”
The Hungarian factory is famous for supplying tires for Model Y produced at the Tesla Gigafactory in Germany. Plant Manager Kim said, “If the number of car models produced in Germany increases, not only Model Y but also Model 3 and Cybertruck, we will also have opportunities. This is our third year supplying Tesla, and starting this year, synergy is expected in the replacement (RE) tire market. “He said. Below is a Q&A with Plant Manager Kim.
─Status of the Hungarian factory and European market.
“We produce about 17 million tires for passenger cars annually and have about 2,800 employees. We supply new vehicle (OE) tires to most automobile brands in Europe, including Porsche, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Audi, Volkswagen, Tesla, Ford, and Renault. “The proportion of OE is about 40%.”
─What is the difference in technology between regular tires and tires for electric vehicles?
“Tires for internal combustion engine vehicles and electric vehicles have different technologies. Electric vehicles require high wear and braking performance because the power of the motor is transmitted to the wheels as soon as the accelerator pedal is pressed. Electric vehicles do not have engines, so even small noises can feel loud. This means that there are several technical differences. We use foam tires to reduce noise by attaching foam inside the tires. Foam plays a role in reducing noise in the 200~250Hz band. The research center continues to conduct research on vibration and noise (NVH). Also, electric vehicles have heavy batteries, so durability must be taken into consideration.”
Formula e competition sponsored by Hankook Tire./Provided by Hankook Tire
─Tesla Model Y performance.
“We are supplying OE tires to Model Y vehicles produced at Tesla’s German Gigafactory. This year marks the third year, and the volume is increasing rapidly. OE supplies are currently being input, and effects in the RE market are expected in the future. Starting this year, we expect to see synergies in the RE market. “Consumers have a strong tendency to want to maintain the same feel when it comes time to replace their tires, so they are likely to look for Hankook Tires.”
-What are the effects of Germany’s Gigafactory expansion and vehicle model expansion plans?
“I understand that Tesla is currently pursuing expansion of its German factory. If the capacity expansion becomes a reality, it could be a good opportunity for Hankook Tire. If Model S, Model There were also recent reports that German production volume was doubling. “With the Tesla line already operating at full capacity last year, additional production lines were expanded.”
─What is your goal or vision for electric vehicle tire production?
“Last year, the proportion of tires for electric vehicles was 4%, but I think it will exceed 10% this year. Until now, in the tire market, leading companies such as Michelin have mostly led the technology. However, tires for electric vehicles are different. “Hankook Tire has a vision to overwhelmingly lead the electric vehicle tire market and is investing heavily.”
─Aion, a brand dedicated to electric vehicles, was also introduced.
“I think Hankook Tire is the first brand dedicated to electric vehicles. Currently, there are 399 types of electric vehicle tire specifications supplied. We supply to 7 automakers. Porsche’s high-performance electric vehicle Taycan also uses Hankook tires. There are currently 19 types of electric vehicle tires being developed together with automakers. “I think the market’s response to Aion will begin in earnest starting this year.”
─What is the construction status of the commercial vehicle tire production plant?
“We plan to invest approximately 758.9 billion won to build a tire production facility for trucks and buses. Design will begin in March next year and mass production is planned for April 2026. Annual production volume is approximately 800,000 units. Until now, tires for trucks and buses have been produced domestically and exported, but due to increased demand in Europe, we decided to respond locally.
However, upgraded technology will be applied compared to tires produced domestically. For example, we plan to redesign the structure to withstand the heavy loads of trucks and buses. There are plans to hire approximately 450 additional people for expansion. “When construction begins next year, we plan to send training to domestic or Chinese factories for production training.”
2024-01-04 23:34:00
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