Hyundai’s supplier unit, Hyundai Mobis, has unveiled a new generation of electric powertrain. It’s a modular system that integrates a motor, inverter, and reduction gearbox into a single compact unit. The driveline is specifically designed to cut costs and boost time-to-market, and will also be made available for brands outside the Hyundai Group.
The PE System (for Power Electric) delivers up to 160 kW (217 hp) and uses a shared-component architecture to reduce both cost and speed of EV development. Whereas many electric car platforms are developed in-house, this new driveline aims to enhance the sharing strategy to boost efficiency.
According to Hyundai Mobis, the modular layout is intended to serve platforms ranging from mainstream compact cars through to higher-performance electric vehicles.
Interchangeable building blocks
The modular architecture standardizes two core elements, the motor stator and the power electronics module, across multiple output variants. Rather than engineering bespoke drivetrain systems for each vehicle platform, Hyundai Mobis positions these building blocks as interchangeable across power grades. The practical implication is a meaningful reduction in both upfront engineering expenditure and ongoing production complexity.
The unit traps the electric motor, inverter, and single-speed reduction gearbox into a single housing. That design is explicitly scalable: two units can be installed in a single vehicle to deliver a combined all-wheel-drive configuration, doubling the available system output to 435 hp.
Central to the development brief was an uplift in power density. Hyundai Mobis states that the new system’s power-to-weight ratio is approximately 16% higher than that of comparable predecessor products, while the unit’s overall physical volume has been reduced by around 20%. Both gains are attributed to a different thermal management structure, among others.
Also for Mercedes?
Aside from technical advancements, Hyundai Mobis has developed PE specifically for third-party OEMs. Those customers represent a growing turnover for the supplier, which aims to outgrow its dependence on the Ioniq, Genesis, Kia, and Hyundai brands. Mercedes, for example, has Hyundai Mobis under contract, and the aim is to grow the outside customer base to 40% of total revenue within seven years.
North America and Europe are cited as the primary regions for commercial traction, and Hyundai Mobis has been running product validation programs under operational conditions, including winter testing in Sweden.
As both new entrants and incumbents seek to shorten the development cycles for their EVs, a proven, scalable PE unit from a supplier with volume-manufacturing credentials can shine as a credible alternative to in-house development.
