Hyundai Mobis starts developing 13 car chips with Korean firms, targets 2029 vehicles
In short
Hyundai Mobis said on 21 October that it has started developing 13 automotive system semiconductors with domestic chip companies, and has chosen target vehicle models for nine of them. President Lee Gyu-seok said the earliest chips could go into vehicles launched in 2029.
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Hyundai Mobis said on 21 October that it has started developing 13 system semiconductors for cars with domestic chip companies. Nine of the 13 have target vehicle models selected, Yonhap reported, after consultation with Hyundai Motor and Kia. The company announced the results at the second Auto Semicon Korea (ASK) forum, held at the DoubleTree by Hilton Seoul Pangyo hotel in Seongnam, Gyeonggi. The 13 chips come from 19 collaboration projects identified since ASK launched last year. [ 2 , 4 , 5 , 8 , 12 ]
President Lee Gyu-seok (이규석) told reporters that the earliest chips could be fitted to vehicles launched in 2029, and that control units carrying the chips would enter early vehicle testing from next year, according to Yonhap. Electronic Times quoted him as saying chip development takes 2 to 3 years and application and reliability validation 1.5 to 2.5 years. Yonhap quoted Hyundai Mobis executive Lee Hee-hyun (이희현) as saying a car chip typically takes 3 to 4 years to reach mass production. [ 5 , 6 , 7 ]
More than 90 people attended, including Lee and Kim Jung-kwan (김정관), the minister at the industry ministry. Participating companies and institutions rose from 27 last year to 53. Samsung Electronics, SK Key Foundry (SK키파운드리) and LX Semicon (LX세미콘) were named among the participants, and firms in software, design assets (IP), packaging, testing and evaluation, and functional safety have joined. [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 8 , 18 ]
A 'One Team' task force on car semiconductors, led by the industry ministry, Hyundai Motor, Hyundai Mobis and LG Electronics, was also launched at the event. Yonhap said 24 companies and institutions take part, and that fabless firms are to develop to specifications set by carmakers. The Chosun Ilbo said it aims to localise microcontrollers and communication and power chips and to raise capability in silicon carbide and IGBT power semiconductors. [ 1 , 5 ]
Yonhap reported that Hyundai Mobis signed a memorandum with SK Key Foundry, four small fabless firms and four support bodies on a car power-semiconductor process and evaluation ecosystem. Seoul Economic Daily described a memorandum among the government, Hyundai Mobis and SK Key Foundry to build a dedicated R&D facility. Four outlets said the Cheonan car-semiconductor support centre aims for completion in 2027, while Seoul Economic Daily said it aims to start full operation in June next year. [ 1 , 4 , 5 , 7 , 12 ]
Lee said localisation of car chips in Korea is under 5%, Electronic Times reported. He said domestic foundries would be used first and overseas fabs only for shortfalls, and described localisation as a long-term investment with low short-term financial contribution. Hyundai Mobis acquired Hyundai Autron's semiconductor business in 2020 and now makes 16 types of system chips, about 20 million units a year, through external foundries. [ 1 , 4 , 6 , 8 ]
Why it matters
Outlets present the effort as an attempt to raise the share of car chips made in Korea, which Lee Gyu-seok put at under 5%. Whether the 2029 target is met depends on testing and validation that the documents say take several years.
Key facts
- Hyundai Mobis held the second Auto Semicon Korea (ASK) forum on 21 October at the DoubleTree by Hilton Seoul Pangyo hotel in Seongnam, Gyeonggi. [ 2 , 4 , 5 , 8 ]
- Of 19 collaboration projects identified since ASK launched last year, development of 13 system semiconductors has started, and nine of the 13 have target vehicle models. [ 2 , 4 , 5 , 8 , 12 ]
- Participating companies and institutions rose from 27 to 53. [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 5 , 8 , 12 , 18 ]
- Lee Gyu-seok said the chips could be fitted to vehicles launched in 2029 at the earliest. [ 5 , 6 , 7 ]
- A government-and-industry 'One Team' task force on car chips was launched at the event. [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 5 , 8 ]
- Hyundai Mobis currently makes 16 types of its own system semiconductors, about 20 million units a year, through external foundries. [ 1 , 4 , 8 , 12 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Hyundai Mobis has started developing 13 system semiconductors with domestic companies, and nine have target vehicle models selected. [ 2 , 4 , 5 , 8 , 12 , 18 ]
- ASK participation grew from 27 to 53 companies and institutions, with more than 90 people attending the forum. [ 2 , 4 , 8 , 18 ]
- The 'One Team' task force led by the industry ministry, Hyundai Motor, Hyundai Mobis and LG Electronics was launched on the same day. [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 5 , 8 ]
- The first domestically developed chips could be fitted to vehicles launched in 2029 at the earliest. [ 5 , 6 , 7 ]
- Hyundai Mobis makes 16 types of its own system semiconductors at about 20 million units a year through external foundries. [ 1 , 4 , 8 , 12 ]
Still unclear
- What the memorandum signed at the event covers. Yonhap says Hyundai Mobis signed it with SK Key Foundry (SK키파운드리), four small fabless firms and four support bodies on a car power-semiconductor process and evaluation ecosystem, while Seoul Economic Daily says the government, Hyundai Mobis and SK Key Foundry signed it to build a dedicated R&D facility.
- The status of the Cheonan car-semiconductor support centre. Four outlets say it aims to be completed in 2027, while Seoul Economic Daily says the Korea Automotive Technology Institute is building it and aims to start full operation in June next year.
- How long each chip takes to reach mass production. Electronic Times quotes Lee Gyu-seok as saying 4 to 5 years in total, while Yonhap quotes Hyundai Mobis executive Lee Hee-hyun (이희현) as saying 3 to 4 years per product.
- A localisation target of 10%. It appears only in the headline of one Dong-A Ilbo article whose text is not available, so the figure and its timeframe cannot be checked.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Yonhap, Chosun Ilbo, Newsis, Electronic Times, Seoul Economic Daily and Asia Economy publish reports on the forum held on 21 October. [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 ]
- Korea Economic Daily publishes its report. [ 8 ]
- Chosun Ilbo reports Lee Gyu-seok's plan for mass production for vehicles launched from 2029. [ 14 ]
- Dong-A Ilbo publishes a report on the task force launch and the 5% localisation rate. [ 19 ]
- Kukmin Ilbo publishes its report on 22 October. [ 23 ]