Hyundai Motor (005380) and Kia (000270) are strengthening their future mobility competitiveness through research and development cooperation with suppliers.
Hyundai Motor (005380) and Kia said they held the 2026 R&D Supplier Tech Day on the 14th at the Rolling Hills Hotel in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province. Attendees included Manfred Harrer, president and head of the R&D Division, along with supplier representatives including Moon Sung-joon, chairman of the Hyundai Motor and Kia Suppliers Association; Lee Taek-sung, chairman of the Korea Auto Industries Cooperative Association; and Ahn Jung-gu, chairman of the K-Mobility Bridge Foundation.
The R&D Supplier Tech Day recognizes suppliers that have delivered strong results in technology development and quality assurance, and strengthens cooperation through wide-ranging technical exchange. Hyundai Motor and Kia have held the R&D Tech Day annually since 2006, running it as their flagship program for shared growth with suppliers.
At the event, 42 technologies developed by 37 suppliers were exhibited, and the companies presented awards for five outstanding supplier technologies along with case presentations on new technologies. Hyundai Motor and Kia selected outstanding supplier technologies in four categories — chassis, body, electronics, and electrification and batteries — and gave the grand prize to the highest-rated technology among them.
The grand prize went to the soft opening latch developed by Daedong Door in the electronics category. The soft opening latch is an advanced technology developed for the first time in South Korea, applying a cinching gear inside the latch to reduce the noise generated when the lock is released. It also improved the closing stability of the tailgate, cutting rattling and noise during driving by about 18%.
Four technologies received excellence awards: Donghee Industrial's RVM camera ultrasonic cleaning module, Kyungchang Industrial's (024910) misoperation-detecting accelerator pedal and Hwashin's front lower arm using 1.8-gigapascal-class local heat treatment, all in the chassis category, and Clarios Delkor's hAGM next-generation battery technology with improved charge acceptance in the electrification and battery category.
From the 14th through Nov. 30, Hyundai Motor and Kia will post videos of the 42 new technologies online for employees of the automakers and their suppliers to view. Technologies that can be disclosed externally will also be made available to outside customers.
"The outstanding technology and innovation of our suppliers are the driving force behind the competitiveness of Hyundai Motor and Kia," Harrer said. "We will continue to expand technical exchange and cooperation to prepare together for the era of future mobility."