Hankook Tire expands iON ST AS supply to Baidu Apollo Go robotaxis to 10 cities
In short
Hankook Tire said on 22 October that it is expanding supply of its iON ST AS electric-vehicle tyre to Baidu's Apollo Go robotaxi platform from four Chinese cities to ten. The cities are Shanghai, Shenzhen, Beijing, Chengdu, Chongqing, Suzhou, Wuhan, Dongguan, Nanchang and Sanya. The two companies are also working to link tyre driving data with Apollo Go's pressure-monitoring and wear-warning system.
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Hankook Tire (한국타이어) said on 22 October that it is expanding the supply of its electric-vehicle tyre iON ST AS to Apollo Go, the driverless robotaxi platform of China's Baidu, from four cities to ten. Maeil Business and Seoul Economic Daily reported the announcement as made on the 22nd; Chosun Ilbo published its report the same morning. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
The tyres will go to autonomous vehicles operating in Shanghai, Shenzhen, Beijing, Chengdu, Chongqing, Suzhou, Wuhan, Dongguan, Nanchang and Sanya, the outlets reported. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Hankook Tire signed a strategic partnership with Baidu in March last year and began supplying the iON ST AS for Level 4 autonomous vehicles in Wuhan and Shenzhen. Chosun Ilbo reported that the company then accumulated real driving data in varied road conditions and widened cooperation to cities including Beijing and Chongqing. Seoul Economic Daily reported that supply was expanded gradually to other regions after the tyre's performance was recognised. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
According to the outlets, the iON ST AS is an EV-specific tyre suited to autonomous vehicles that stop and start frequently and run for long periods. It uses a compound called 'Produrable Compound' (프로듀러블 컴파운드) for wear resistance. Maeil Business and Seoul Economic Daily reported that the company said the tyre balances low rolling resistance, grip and tyre life, and Seoul Economic Daily added that optimised tread pattern and structure reduce noise and vibration. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
The tyre is designed for local road and climate conditions, the outlets reported. Chosun Ilbo cited heavy traffic and long-distance driving in Beijing and Shanghai, slopes, tunnels and curves in Chongqing, and heavy rainfall in Dongguan and Suzhou. Maeil Business reported that Hankook Tire said the tyre provides grip and handling stability on the slopes and curves of Chongqing and in the rain of Dongguan and Suzhou. [ 1 , 2 ]
The two companies are also developing tyre management beyond supply. They plan to connect vehicle, tyre, road and cloud, and to combine tyre driving data with Apollo Go's real-time pressure monitoring and wear-warning system, creating a system that manages tyres from use to replacement. The stated aim is to raise the operating efficiency and safety of autonomous vehicles. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Hankook Tire is extending the iON brand from ordinary electric passenger cars to commercial and autonomous vehicles. Seoul Economic Daily quoted a company official as saying the firm will upgrade iON product performance based on its global research and development capabilities, and will strengthen its technological competitiveness in the global autonomous-driving industry and the future smart-mobility market. [ 1 , 3 ]
Why it matters
The documents present the expansion as a widening of an existing supply relationship that began with a strategic partnership signed in March last year. The performance claims come from Hankook Tire, and the documents give no figures on the number of vehicles or tyres involved.
Key facts
- Hankook Tire is expanding supply of the iON ST AS tyre to Baidu's Apollo Go robotaxi platform from four cities to ten. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The ten cities are Shanghai, Shenzhen, Beijing, Chengdu, Chongqing, Suzhou, Wuhan, Dongguan, Nanchang and Sanya. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Hankook Tire signed a strategic partnership with Baidu in March last year and began supplying the tyre for Level 4 autonomous vehicles in Wuhan and Shenzhen. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The iON ST AS is an EV-specific tyre that uses a compound called 'Produrable Compound' (프로듀러블 컴파운드), which the company says improves wear resistance. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The two companies plan to combine tyre driving data with Apollo Go's real-time pressure monitoring and wear-warning system to manage tyres from use to replacement. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Hankook Tire announced the expansion of iON ST AS supply to Apollo Go from four cities to ten, on 22 October. [ 2 , 3 ]
- The partnership began with a strategic agreement with Baidu in March last year and initial supply to Level 4 vehicles in Wuhan and Shenzhen. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Hankook Tire and Baidu plan to link tyre driving data to Apollo Go's real-time pressure monitoring and wear-warning system. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Still unclear
- How many vehicles or tyres are covered by the expanded supply. None of the documents gives quantities or contract terms.
- How well the tyre performs in each city's road and climate conditions. The performance descriptions are Hankook Tire's own claims as relayed by the outlets; no independent assessment is given.
- When the data-linked tyre management system will be in operation. The documents say the companies plan to build it, without a date.