‘expertise’ diversification at Michelin, why it is embarking on ‘joint development of future tires’ with Hyundai Motor Group - 스포츠경향

To develop future tires, Michelin and Hyundai Motor Group are joining hands to embark on ‘joint technology development’. The aim is to pursue high-performance tires that enhance driving performance.

Hyundai Motor∙Kia announced that on the 24th at the Namyang Research Center (located in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi-do), with attendees including Shin Yong-seok, Executive Director and Head of the Genesis Design Center at Hyundai Motor∙Kia, and Georges Levy (Georges Levy) of Michelin, Executive Vice President overseeing Asia-Pacific OE, they held a signing ceremony for a joint technology development agreement and would seek to secure tire technology leadership for next-generation mobility.

This agreement is the third, following the successful completion of the first and second joint studies.

The two sides carried out joint research in 2017 and 2022 to advance tire technology.

Under the third agreement, starting next year for three years, they will intensively continue research to improve tire performance, develop virtual simulation technologies, and exchange technical capabilities.

The most notable point is that, in the area of improving tire performance, they will jointly research advanced tire technologies that enhance vehicle driving performance, such as ‘ultra-low rolling resistance tires’ and vehicle control using smart grip technology.

In particular, research is expected to focus intensively on limit handling and strengthened braking performance to secure high-speed driving stability.

In the virtual simulation technology area, the goal is to advance virtual simulation to qualitatively improve the off-road tire development environment and to establish a virtual technology development process.

Lastly, the two companies will also seek to enhance their technical capabilities through mutual exchanges. Hyundai Motor∙Kia will run training courses on vehicles and chassis, and Michelin will provide specialized training on tire design and evaluation to strengthen mutual technical capabilities.

In particular, ultra-low rolling resistance tires are drawing attention as a technology that minimizes the energy consumed during rotation to improve vehicle efficiency. In general, reducing rolling resistance by 10% is known to improve fuel economy by about 1.5% or more, and in electric vehicles, it directly affects driving range and battery efficiency.

A Hyundai Motor Group official emphasized, “We will leverage synergies between capabilities specialized in mobility and tires to enhance vehicle driving performance.”

This collaboration, alongside securing competitiveness in next-generation mobility, is an intensive technical partnership between the tire technology of Michelin and Hyundai Motor Group in the global market, and the synergy between the two companies is expected to draw attention.

Meanwhile, Michelin Korea announced a new head in October, naming Michelle Zhu (Michelle Zhu) as the new President.

Assuming office as of October 1, the new President Michelle Zhu (Michelle Zhu) is leading Michelin Korea, succeeding former head Jerome Vincon (Jerome Vincon), who will take a new leadership position at Michelin Japan.

Michelle Zhu is drawing attention as the first female head since Michelin Korea was established in 1991. She is also an executive at the Michelin Group and a member of the East Asia and Australia (E2A) regional leadership team. In particular, she is focusing on collaboration in technology development, diversification of sales channels, and strengthening brand leadership in the ‘premium tire market’.

Previously, she stated, “Korea is a key market that leads innovation in the global automotive and mobility industries.”

Before taking the E2A regional leadership role, the new head Michelle Zhu served as Chief Transformation Officer of Michelin Europe. She also held several major business leadership roles within the Asia-Pacific region. Before joining Michelin in March 2020, she was Marketing Director for Thailand and Managing Director for Malaysia at Saint-Gobain. A French national from Shanghai, China, she majored in international economics at Fudan University, then earned a Master in European Management from ESCP Paris and an MBA from INSEAD.