Hyundai Motor Co. has entered into a technical partnership with Michelin to develop tires for electric and luxury vehicles.
The co-operative deal links the companies’ research and development work and will enable Hyundai to strengthen its capabilities in tire performance technology, the South Korea car maker said.
Hyundai representatives visited Michelin’s R&D center in Clermont-Ferrand to sign the agreement.
“Within the partnership, Hyundai Motor and Michelin will work together to develop a new all-season tire for electric vehicles,” Hyundai said.
Michelin’s next-generation tire material and structural technology, it explained, will help Hyundai to optimize overall vehicle efficiency and performance.
Michelin also will collaborate in the development of a bespoke tire for a successor model to Hyundai’s Genesis G80 luxury sedan. Co-operative testing and analysis will help determine tire vibration characteristics at high speeds, both in the lab and using evaluation conditions that match the Nuerburgring race/test circuit in Germany.
The collaboration with Michelin will allow Hyundai to accelerate the development and deployment of new tire technologies, according to Woong-chul Yang, vice chairman of Hyundai Motor.
“With this enriched knowledge,” he added, “the next generation of Hyundai Motor electric cars will offer improved performance and efficiency, bringing a direct benefit to the consumer.
“Working with Michelin will also strengthen Hyundai Motor’s tire technology on a broader scale, as we also focus on developing luxury Genesis cars and high-performance vehicles.”
Vincent Rousset-Rouviere, head of Michelin’s original equipment business, said, “This new partnership with Hyundai Motor will allow us to open a broad range of new opportunities.”
