The Board of Directors has approved a proposal to build a new EUR 540 million commercial vehicle tyre production line at its Hungarian plant in Rácalmás by 2027.

The e-SMaRT AU56 City product is set to go into series production in Q2 2024. The first tyres to roll off the production line will be 275/70 R22.5 tyres, designed for the urban electric bus market.

The E-Way H2 will be produced at the Iveco Bus plants in Annonay, France, and Foggia, Italy. The 12-metre low-floor city bus is equipped with a Siemens ELFA 3, 310-kW e-motor and an advanced fuel cell system provided by Hyundai. With four hydrogen tanks located on the roof and one 69 kWh battery pack by FPT Industrial, the vehicle offers a driving range of 450 km (280 miles) and can accommodate 115 passengers.

The commercial vehicle market over 2 tons gvw in South Korea expanded by just over 3% in the second quarter of 2023 compared with the same period of last year.

The two companies have agreed to collaborate in the development of purpose-built vehicles (PBVs) optimised for delivery of goods.

Hariphil Asia Resources Inc (HARI), the Manila-based distributor of Hyundai commercial vehicles, launched the light-duty public bus after it was issued with a Certificate of Compliance (COC) in July by the Department of Transportation.

Sales of commercial vehicles over 2 tons gvw in East Asia’s seven main markets, excluding China, declined by almost 9% to 308,421 units in the second quarter of 2023 from 338,668 units.

Whilst South Korea’s biggest tyre manufacturer prepares for the launch of its new electric bus tyre range later this year, we decided to have a closer look at the rise of this tyre giant hailing from the East.

The company announced its South Korean distributor, NGVI, has secured a supply contract for a hydrogen electric bus project with a second municipality in the country, this time with the county of Ulju. Loop will supply its trademarked hydrogen fuel cell system (eFlow).

The eight-seater vehicle, which accommodates seven passengers and a safety officer, uses 42Dot’s in-house self-driving integrated platform ‘Tap’.

KG Mobility (known previously as Ssangyong Motor Company), has bought electric commercial vehicle manufacturer, Edison Motors Company, and will change the name to KGM Commercial.

The company also took the time to display the LF95 trailer tyre for regional haul applications from Laufenn, Hankook's second-line brand.