LG Electronics' German affiliate gets partner for vehicle front development

ZKW Group of Germany, an automotive lighting and headlight affiliate of LG Electronics Inc., on Thursday said it signed a memorandum of understanding with the German company Rehau Automotive to jointly develop vehicle front sections through integration of advanced lighting systems.

A specialist in automotive interior and exterior materials and bumpers, Rehau Automotive is part of the Rehau Group, which possesses world-class technology in polymer compounds.

ZKW and Rehau Automotive will develop a system integrating automotive electronics such as lighting, sensors and electronic devices and exterior materials such as bumpers. Their products will be applied to electric vehicles that require no radiator grill.

The plan is to minimize the seam of a vehicle's front section to allow a unique design with higher safety to protect passengers.

Acquired by LG Electronics in 2018, ZKW is considered to have differentiated technology in headlamps, a key lighting component for vehicles. Its clients include high-end brands such as BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Audi and Porsche.

"By integrating ZKW's world-class lighting solutions with Rehau Automotive's technology in automotive interior and exterior materials, we will offer a different level of customer experience," ZKW CEO Wilhelm Steger said.

Write to Jeong-Soo Hwang at hjs@hankyung.com