Hankook Tire expands robotaxi tire supply to 10 Chinese cities

Hankook Tire & Technology is expanding its supply of electric vehicle-specific tires to Baidu’s unmanned robotaxi service, Apollo Go. The supply area in China will increase from four cities to ten, including Shanghai, Shenzhen, Beijing, Chengdu, Chongqing, Suzhou, Wuhan, Dongguan, Nanchang, and Sanya.

The company is providing its ‘iON ST AS’ tires, which are specifically designed for the demands of autonomous vehicles. These tires feature a ‘producible compound’ to enhance wear resistance and are engineered to reduce rolling resistance, thereby lowering vehicle energy consumption. The design also focuses on maintaining grip and stability during the frequent acceleration and braking cycles typical of robotaxi operations.

Beyond hardware supply, Hankook Tire and Baidu are collaborating on a data-driven maintenance system. By linking vehicle, tire, road, and cloud data, the companies aim to integrate iON ST AS driving information with Apollo Go’s real-time tire pressure monitoring and wear warning systems. This initiative seeks to establish an efficient management system for the entire tire lifecycle, enhancing the operational safety and efficiency of autonomous fleets.