Based in Daegu, Korea, Hansae Mobility is one of the world’s leading halfshaft suppliers, delivering to a wide range of global automakers from mass market brands, including Stellantis and Volkswagen, to luxury brands such as Porsche and Maserati.

A halfshaft transmits rotational force from the engine or motor to the wheels, with flexibility that ensures its function remains unaffected by drivetrain twists.

Despite growing concerns over potential tariffs on car parts in the US, the destination of over half of its exports, Hansae Mobility remains confident in its competitive edge.

The company attributes this confidence to its strong technological expertise, which it believes strengthens its position in negotiations with automakers.

“As a critical safety component, our halfshafts take years for automakers to adapt from another supplier and integrate into their vehicles,” a Hansae Mobility official explained. “For this reason, we can currently manage (the trade tensions), as our clients are willing to support potential tariffs.”

On Wednesday, Hansae Mobility opened its Daegu plant to the media. The event aimed at demonstrating renewed commitment to growth under the new ownership of Hansae Yes24 Group, a Korean consumer-sector conglomerate that acquired the company in 2024.

The tour began at the company’s main technology center, which has played a central role in Hansae Mobility’s confidence. The Daegu campus houses two technology centers focused on research and development for drivetrain and steering components — including halfshafts, brake systems and steering parts.

Testing and development cover a wide range of environments encountered by different vehicle types, from everyday passenger cars to high-performance sports cars. Using cutting-edge equipment, the company subjects its parts to rigorous simulations, including twist and pressure tests, to ensure durability and performance.

One of the center’s key ongoing projects is the development of an advanced ball spline shaft — a halfshaft with balls inside its core to enhance damping capacity and significantly improve ride comfort. According to the company, only three companies worldwide possess this technology, and Hansae Mobility is aiming to leverage it to expand its client base in North America.

The media then toured the main plant, where drivetrain components, particularly halfshafts and ball spline shafts, are produced. These products account for roughly 60 percent of the company’s total sales.

While the Daegu plant handles the majority of the company’s halfshaft production, Hansae Mobility plans to expand its Michigan plant to help customers qualify for tariff exemptions in the region.

"Over the long term, we plan to expand our US plant to comply with the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement’s 75 percent component rule (for passenger cars),” said Hansae Mobility CEO Kim Ik-hwan.

Amid the loud hum of machines, the plant floor was a hive of activity. Various parts were being machined and heat-treated. Each production line is tagged with the name of a specific car model, as the company supplies tailored products to different automakers’ unique designs.

Some of the parts are assembled at the plant for Korean automakers, and others are exported to the company's US plant to be assembled there.

Robotic arms of various designs and conveyors moved seamlessly across the factory floor, transporting and processing parts with high precision.

With its high level of automation, 400 staff currently support production, enabling the facility to manufacture 1.2 million halfshafts a year.

“By 2027, our US facility will be ready to begin full-scale production, just like here,” said a Hansae official who led the plant tour. The expanded US plant is expected to feature even greater levels of automation and advanced technology, which the company says will help it to achieve high production yields.

In addition to the US plan, the halfshaft production lines in Daegu are also set to expand to other plants on the campus, as Hansae's exports reach 27 countries.

“While we are also working to improve other products, such as ADAS (advanced driver assistance systems) and brakes, our focus will remain on strengthening our core product to drive continued growth,” a company official said.