Hyundai Mobis has developed a 160-kilowatt Power Electric (PE) system designed as a universal drive unit for mainstream electric vehicles. The Korean automotive supplier announced on May 7 that the in-house design follows its earlier 250-kW high-performance PE system, with a smaller 120-kW variant for compact EVs targeted for completion in the first half of 2026. Full release details are available via Hyundai Mobis on PR Newswire. The three-tier lineup is intended to cover the full EV size spectrum, from small mobility solutions to high-performance vehicles.
Highlights
- 160-kW output equivalent to 215 horsepower in internal combustion terms, suitable for most mass-production EVs; output doubles when paired on front and rear axles
- 16% gain in specific power and roughly 20% reduction in overall volume versus prior generations, achieved through modular design and standardized components
- Three-model lineup — 250 kW, 160 kW, and 120 kW — targeted for completion by mid-2026
- Expands Hyundai Mobis’s electrification portfolio beyond battery systems into proprietary drive units offered to global automakers
A Platform Approach to EV Powertrains
The PE system serves as the electric equivalent of an internal combustion powertrain, integrating a motor, inverter, and reduction gear into a single drive unit. Hyundai Mobis previously produced PE systems built to customer specifications. The new universal model represents a shift toward in-house design, with the company controlling component-level engineering rather than assembling parts sourced from multiple suppliers.
During development, Hyundai Mobis focused on standardizing core components — the drive motor stator, the inverter, and the power module that bundles power semiconductors. The supplier said this system-level standard model can be applied across multiple vehicle programs through a platform-style approach, rather than developing a bespoke powertrain for each new launch.
This methodology departs from the conventional model in which global automakers collaborate with individual suppliers to engineer component technologies and assemble PE systems vehicle by vehicle. As the number of EV nameplates grows, a standardized drive system is positioned to scale more efficiently in mass production.
Performance Gains Through Modular Design
Despite its universal positioning, the 160-kW unit delivers measurable performance improvements over prior Hyundai Mobis drive systems. Specific power — the output produced per unit of weight — increased by approximately 16 percent, while overall system volume shrank by close to 20 percent. The company attributed these gains to extensive use of modular design and standardized components.
Engineering refinements also include a revised motor structure with new cooling technology and a redesigned power module built around power semiconductors selected for energy efficiency. Hyundai Mobis completed development of the 250-kW high-output PE system last year, focusing that program on maximum output, motor torque, and cooling structure.
The planned 120-kW model is being engineered for compact EVs and emerging markets, with reduced size and weight prioritized alongside cost competitiveness. Once complete, the three-system lineup will give Hyundai Mobis a drive system option for every major segment of the global electric vehicle market.
Supplier-Side Standardization Meets OEM-Side Specialization
Hyundai Mobis’s universal-platform strategy contrasts with the trajectory at parent affiliate Hyundai Motor Group, which last year deployed its own 2-Stage Motor System with dual-inverter architecture across high-performance models including the IONIQ 5 N, IONIQ 9, EV6 GT, and EV9 GT. That OEM-developed system uses a 12-switch silicon carbide and silicon configuration to lift motor voltage by up to 70 percent for performance applications.
The two approaches reflect a broader division of labor emerging across the EV powertrain market: vehicle manufacturers developing differentiated, performance-tuned drive units in-house, while Tier-1 suppliers like Hyundai Mobis pursue scalable, standardized PE systems aimed at the volume mainstream. Both Hyundai Motor Group’s high-output deployment and Hyundai Mobis’s universal-platform approach support the parent group’s broader electrification roadmap, but they target different segments of the market.
Commercial Implications
Hyundai Mobis said it intends to market the new PE system to global automakers and reported that several overseas customers have already expressed interest. The company previously secured battery system orders from international clients and now seeks to extend that supplier relationship into the powertrain sector. Internal capability covering both design and mass production is expected to support improved profitability on each program.
The 160-kW announcement builds on Hyundai Mobis’s broader electrification investment. The supplier secured $940 million in green-loan funding for North American battery system and PE system factories in 2023 as part of a $1.3 billion electrification production plan running through 2030.
For more information, visit Hyundai Mobis at www.mobis.com.
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