HL Mando Accelerates Transformation, Moving Beyond Parts to Become a Leader in SDV and Robotics

HL Mando is accelerating its business transformation, shifting from its traditional role as an automotive chassis parts manufacturer to a future mobility solutions provider encompassing Software Defined Vehicles (SDV) and robotics. The company aims to capture both the next-generation electrified parts and robot actuator markets by leveraging its 60 years of accumulated expertise in precision control technologies for braking, steering, and suspension, along with its mass production capabilities.

Recently, HL Mando established a dedicated robot actuator division, signaling its concrete entry into the humanoid robot parts market. Actuators, crucial for controlling robot joint movements and accounting for over 50% of humanoid robot manufacturing costs, will benefit from HL Mando's decades of experience in electronic control unit (ECU) design for automotive steering and braking systems, ultra-precision motor control algorithms, and global mass production know-how. The company intends to become a key partner for global robot manufacturers by supplying highly reliable joint modules, not just individual components.

As the global automotive industry transitions to SDVs, HL Mando's next-generation electronic chassis technologies, such as Steer-by-Wire (SbW) and Brake-by-Wire (BbW), are proving competitive. These "by-wire" technologies eliminate mechanical linkages, maximizing interior space and enabling precise, rapid responses to autonomous driving commands. They also facilitate redundant designs for fail-safe operation. While many global chassis parts manufacturers face restructuring and delays in technological transition, HL Mando has proactively invested in R&D, continuously increasing the proportion of electronic products to enhance profitability and build technological barriers.

Diversifying its global customer base by expanding supply to emerging North American EV makers, Chinese local brands, and the rapidly growing Indian automotive market is another key factor supporting stable growth. The increasing supply of high-performance electronic components for EVs and autonomous vehicles is qualitatively improving HL Mando's global order backlog. The company is recognized for building a portfolio that minimizes the impact of production fluctuations in specific regions or automakers and can absorb global electrification demand.

Synergies within the group are also yielding concrete results. HL Mando is strengthening cooperation with its affiliate HL Kleser, specializing in autonomous driving solutions, and HL Robotics, a company focused on logistics and parking robots. By combining HL Kleser's sensor and autonomous driving recognition/judgment algorithm technologies (radar, cameras) with HL Mando's braking and steering hardware control technologies, they offer integrated autonomous driving and robotaxi solutions to automakers. Furthermore, through HL Robotics, they are expanding their mobility ecosystem into industrial and service robots, such as autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) for logistics centers and automated parking robots.