Seoul:<Text>
Hyundai Motor Co. and Kia Corp. have announced a strategic partnership with South Korea's top battery producers, LG Energy Solution Ltd., Samsung SDI Co., and SK On Co., aimed at enhancing electric vehicle (EV) safety technologies.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the collaboration was unveiled at Hyundai and Kia's Namyang research and development center in Hwaseong, where the companies showcased the outcomes of a yearlong joint effort on EV battery safety. The event also featured the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to further extend their cooperation. Key figures in attendance included Hyundai-Kia R and D chief Yang Hee-won, LG Energy Solution CEO Kim Dong-myung, Samsung SDI CEO Choi Yoon-ho, and SK On CEO Lee Seok-hee, along with representatives from the transport and industry ministries.
The joint initiative was sparked last August following a significant EV battery safety concern triggered by a large fire incident, leading Hyun dai-Kia to propose the formation of a task force dedicated to battery safety. The MOU signed on Friday commits the companies to ongoing collaborative research, patent sharing, and development of new safety technologies, with a focus on establishing industry-wide safety benchmarks.
The collaboration has pinpointed five key projects, which include safety-related patents, digital battery passports, design quality, manufacturing quality, and firefighting technology. Hyundai-Kia R and D chief Yang Hee-won emphasized the importance of leadership, research dedication, and government support in making this collaboration possible, expressing a commitment to continue working closely with battery makers to ensure safer EVs.
LG Energy Solution's CEO Kim Dong-myung highlighted the united effort of government and industry to secure Korea's future competitiveness, while Samsung SDI's Choi Yoon-ho described the initiative as a breakthrough in redefining industry safety standards. SK On's L ee Seok-hee stated the collaboration would elevate battery safety quality to new heights.