Hyundai Mobis, Korea’s leading auto parts manufacturer, announced Tuesday that it will establish a research base in Silicon Valley, California, to accelerate the development of its proprietary automotive semiconductors.
Set to open this year, the research center will focus on designing semiconductors tailored to the US market and driving environment. It will operate alongside the company's existing research center in Korea, which develops semiconductors for the Korean market.
With its presence in the world's most prominent tech hub, Hyundai Mobis expects to attract global talent and form partnerships with leading companies.
"The new research base in Silicon Valley will help us expand our automotive semiconductor ecosystem and strengthen research and development collaborations with major companies worldwide," said Park Chul-hong, head of Hyundai Mobis' semiconductor business.
"Building on this milestone, we will accelerate our efforts to develop core semiconductors for electric vehicles and EV components."
As part of its efforts to collaborate with overseas entities on advanced automotive semiconductor technology, the company invested $15 million in the North America-based system semiconductor startup Elevation Microsystems and partnered with a Swedish state-run research institute last year.
Hyundai Mobis has been working on its proprietary semiconductor since acquiring the semiconductor division from Hyundai Autron in 2020. The company plans to begin mass production of its homegrown chips for controlling power and ramp for vehicles this year.
Market watchers expect the automotive industry's reliance on semiconductors to grow rapidly as the industry continues focusing on software-defined vehicles and autonomous driving technology. While each electric vehicle currently contains around 1,000 semiconductors, the number is expected to quadruple by 2030.
In response to this trend, Hyundai Mobis aims to build a robust semiconductor supply network while continuing its efforts to internalize core semiconductor technologies, ensuring stable car parts production and enhancing price competitiveness.
forestjs@heraldcorp.com
