Hyundai Motor Company and Kia Corporation have signed a multi-year agreement with Infineon Technologies AG. Under this supply agreement, Infineon will supply silicon carbide (SiC) and silicon (Si) power semiconductors.
As per the agreement, Infineon will build-up and reserve manufacturing capacity for both SiC and Si power modules and chips. These will be supplied to Kia and Hyundai till 2030. In turn, both Kia and Hyundai will contribute monetarily towards capacity build-up and reservation.
The partnership will help the Korean carmakers to secure and stabilise supply for the crucial semiconductor parts. Already, there has been a supply-gap since the COVID-19 pandemic. With future models expected to be electric along with more technological upgrades than today, the demand for semiconductors is only going to increase.
Infineon will be supplying power semiconductors. These are crucial towards the movement of electric mobility for the future. Specifically, the wide band-gap materials like SiC will prove to be an essential material for the future automobiles.
Infineon plans to expand the Kulim fab facility. Post expansion, it will be the world’s largest 200 mm SiC power fab. This will not only strengthen its position in the power semiconductor market, but also position Infineon as one of the high-quality and high-volume suppliers for the automotive market.
The Kulim expansion will further be complemented by its manufacturing units in Villach, Austria and Dresden, Germany as part of its multi-site strategy.
Kia has revealed the new K3 sedan. This is the successor to the Kia Rio and is sold in overseas markets like Latin America, South-East Asia and the Middle East. In terms of size the Kia K3 measures 4,545 mm long, 1,765 mm wide and 1,475 mm high. The wheelbase is 2,670 mm. Thus it is slightly larger than Rio. The boot space is 544 litres. If launched in India, it could rival the likes of the Honda City, Hyundai Verna, and Skoda-VW twins Slava and Virtus.
Coming to the design, the K3 gets a fast-back design. The exterior is comprised of multiple colours, textures and shapes. The front gets sharp LED DRLs while the grille is a welcome departure from the conventional Tiger nose design. It is now a sleeker and cleaner unit.
Other exterior details include all-around cladding, chrome window lining, and round wheel arches. Meanwhile, the GT line comes with bigger air intakes, dual exhaust tips and 17-inch alloys.
On the inside, there is a large 10.25-inch infotainment screen. It gets wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, Bluetooth connectivity. Other features include USB-C ports, dual-zone automatic climate control, ambient lighting and rear AC vents.
Also Read – Check out the Kia K3 sedan, Hyundai Verna rival.