Geum Woo Youn is Senior Manager of Exterior Engineering Design at Hyundai-Kia America’s Technical Center in Ann Arbor, Michigan. He is responsible for engineering design of all exterior automotive items except body parts. He holds a Master of Science degree in automotive engineering from Cranfield University, has 25 years’ experience supporting Hyundai-Kia’s engineering design in various roles, and has worked for the past two years at the Korean automaker’s American R&D Center. DVN recently talked with Mr. Geum about his company and his forecasts for the evolution of automotive lighting.
DVN: Hyundai and Kia see lamps as a main component for differentiation of their vehicles. Do you think it will continue to be this way in the future?
WYG: Exterior design is one of the most important element for a customer’s purchase determination. Above all, lighting offers a significant impact on a vehicle’s front and rear visual image. Lighting will continue to play an important role for automotive identity in the future. Therefore I would like to emphasize that Hyundai-Kia will strive to give customers an appealing, differentiated lighting design on all vehicles. In addition to that, recently, safety is becoming a new expressive factor to customers. For that reason, a “flexible” lighting technology for pedestrian safety and ADB technology for drivers are being applied to current vehicles.
Moreover, there will be extensive changes in automotive components including the light source.
DVN: Hyundai Mobis and SL are your main suppliers, and they’re both Korean. In the worldwide market, do you expect to extend your supplier panel?
WYG: Currently, we are working on global sourcing for enhanced technology development. Up to now, we are focusing on keeping up with leading suppliers’ high end technology. We are collaborating on this technology with domestic suppliers. As the technology rapidly improves, the technology exchange among global suppliers will enable not only Hyundai-Kia to expand the view but also other suppliers. The fundamental purpose of lighting technology is for the safety and comfort of the driver and pedestrian. I believe that through global sourcing collaboration work, the lighting technology will be upgraded even further.