(LEAD) Hyundai Mobis Q3 net fall 35.7 pct on lower FX gains

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By Kim Eun-jung

SEOUL, Oct. 30 (Yonhap) -- Hyundai Mobis Co., the auto parts affiliate of Hyundai Motor Group, said Friday its third-quarter net profit fell 35.7 percent from a year earlier due to lower foreign exchange and equity-method gains, despite stronger operating earnings.

Net profit for the July-September period came to 598.4 billion won (US$446.8 million), compared with 929.45 billion won a year earlier, the company said in a regulatory filing.

Operating profit rose 17.2 percent on-year to 914.1 billion won, while sales increased 4.6 percent to 15.72 trillion won.

Hyundai Mobis attributed the improved operating performance to stronger demand for electric vehicle (EV) components in Europe and a more favorable product mix, particularly in automotive electronics.

As part of its efforts to diversify its business portfolio beyond automotive parts, the company outlined plans to expand into the humanoid robot components market.

Hyundai Mobis said it plans to begin producing prototype actuators for Atlas, a humanoid robot developed by Hyundai Motor Group's U.S. affiliate Boston Dynamics, at its Uiwang research center, south of Seoul, next month. Commercial supplies are expected to begin in 2028.

Hyundai Mobis also plans to develop other key robotic components, including hand grippers, perception modules and controllers, to strengthen its position in the emerging humanoid robotics market.

"We plan to establish a dedicated robotics team and double the workforce in robotics," a company official said. "We will strengthen coordination across customer relations, product planning, research and development, and manufacturing operations."

Looking ahead, Hyundai Mobis expects its annual research and development (R&D) spending to exceed 2 trillion won for the first time as it seeks to secure more overseas orders by advancing its electrification and automotive electronics technologies.

ejkim@yna.co.kr
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