Key Points

• Hyundai Mobis is developing eco-friendly materials by recycling plastics and bio-based materials to meet future environmental regulations.
• Creating materials that reduce dependency on expensive and scarce metals like nickel for electric vehicle components.
• Using digital technologies, including AI, to simulate and predict material characteristics to boost R&D in material development.

Hyundai Mobis, a global auto parts vendor focusing on smart mobility, connectivity, and electrification, is pushing ahead with innovation in materials for the future of mobility and is achieving many R&D milestones.

This will help the company prepare for global regulations in 2030 and be competitive in the market through advanced material technology. They are also tackling the challenges of trade tensions and changes in the raw materials market.

To strengthen its material business, they have focused on three areas:

• Sustainable Materials: Meets international standards.
• Innovative Materials: Drives mobility innovation.
• Digital Materials: Verified virtually.

Hyundai Mobis is following the trend of MCE (materials, components, equipment). The company has secured the supply chain and is delivering independent R&D outcomes in material innovation.

Sustainable Materials for 2030

They are making sustainable materials that meet global environmental standards by recycling resources or using bio-based materials. A key area is recycled materials used in plastic components, where recycled plastics are sourced from household waste or end-of-life vehicles, processed and added with additives.

The company has developed a cover for the lower arm of vehicle underbodies with 50% recycled plastic while maintaining the physical properties of traditional materials. Hyundai Mobis has already met the EU’s regulation, which requires 25% recycled content in new car plastics by 2030, six years ahead of schedule with double the material content.

In addition, Hyundai Mobis is developing over 30 new materials for plastic-heavy components such as cockpit modules, lamps and airbags. In bio-materials, the company is working on materials that use wood to reduce carbon emissions and improve heat and UV resistance.

Innovative Materials to reduce rare metal use and improve performance

They are moving towards high-value products for electrification and electronic components and are developing materials that minimise the use of rare metals like nickel. The company has developed a new inductor material that reduces nickel content from 50% to around 30% and reduces exposure to raw material price fluctuations while maintaining the necessary electromagnetic properties.

Also, Hyundai Mobis is testing a completely ‘nickel-free’ material, a world’s first and is developing materials for other electrification technologies such as high-speed charging battery cooling, electromagnetic shielding and coatings for autonomous driving sensors.

Digital Material Technologies

They are applying IT to material development, simulating material properties and component alignment through digital. They are also using AI to find new materials by analysing existing data to transform material development through a technology-driven information platform.

With over 100 R&D materials engineers, Hyundai Mobis is a material development-focused company. The company is hiring across various fields as it goes deeper into digital materials.

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Source: Hyundai Mobis