Hyundai, Michelin jointly developing tires for EVs

The co-operative deal links the R&D work of the two companies and will enable Hyundai to strengthen its capabilities in tire performance technology, said the automotive company.

Hyundai representatives visited Michelin’s R&D centre in Clermont-Ferrand, France, to sign the agreement.

“Within the partnership, Hyundai Motor and Michelin will work together to develop a new all-season tire for electric vehicles,” added the release issued last November by Hyundai.

Michelin’s next-generation tire material and structural technology, it explained, will help Hyundai to optimise overall vehicle efficiency and performance.

Michelin will also collaborate in the development of a bespoke tire for a successor model to the 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 Nürburgring circuit.

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.”

For the French tire maker, Vincent Rousset-Rouviere, president of Michelin original equipment division, said: “This new partnership with Hyundai Motor will allow us to open a broad range of new opportunities.”