Hyundai MOBIS will supply chassis modules from next year for the new Jeep Grand Cherokee 2011 (top) and the new Dodge Durango (bottom, now-discontinued Durango MY2009 seen in Hybrid format).

Fiat has signed off on a huge US$2 billion components order that will see Hyundai MOBIS supplying front and rear chassis modules for the new Jeep Grand Cherokee and Dodge Durango which will both go into production next year. Hyundai MOBIS previously became the first company in Korea to supply modules to the Chrysler Group, one of the big three automotive companies in North America, in 2006, when it was then owned by Daimler. It has now reached an agreement with the Chrysler Group to supply modules that will be installed in two 2011 models, which will also be underpinned by Damiler's "ML" architecture.

Hyundai MOBIS, the largest company in Korea to specialise in automotive modules and core parts, announced that it received an order from the Chrysler Group to supply front chassis and rear chassis modules amounting to around 2 billion dollars (around 2.5 trillion won). In an open competition with other module suppliers, Hyundai MOBIS received the highest evaluation for module quality, cost, technology, and delivery, as well as partner company management.

Hyundai MOBIS will supply front chassis and rear chassis modules for the Jeep Grand Cherokee, which will be produced at a manufacturing plant of the Chrysler Group located in Detroit, Michigan (Jefferson North Assembly Plant; JNAP) starting from May 2010, as well as a derivative, which will form the new Dodge Durango, which is scheduled for production in November.

The front chassis module that Hyundai MOBIS will supply to the Chrysler Group is a module that combines 11 unit parts, including the steering shaft, a steering device on the sub frame, the caliper, a braking device, and a brake disc. The rear chassis module has 11 unit parts assembled, including the frame, control arm, and spring & shock module. These front and rear chassis modules of Hyundai MOBIS perform roles as the backbone, supporting the body of finished cars. They determine the level of comfortableness of passengers and substantially influence the "emotional quality" of a finished car. Similar types of modules have been employed in Korea for SUVs, such as the Sorento R.

Hyundai MOBIS plans to build a plant of around 150 thousand square feet and new production lines on a site spanning around 810 thousand square feet near the Chrysler Group's manufacturing plant, and commence pilot production in February 2010.

Managing Director and Head of Overseas Business Headquarters Lee Jun-hyeong took a leading role in the conclusion of the contract. He says, "This is a result of a thorough evaluation carried out by the Chrysler Group on the quality and technology of the complete chassis module that Hyundai MOBIS has been supplying for the Jeep Wrangler model since 2006. The company plans to exercise efforts to supply its modules to other finished car companies as well by spreading word about its cutting-edge modules."

In addition to modules, Hyundai MOBIS is focusing on the research, development, and export of core essential parts, from among parts that make up a module. Since receiving an order from the Chrysler Group in 2002 to supply a steering column, the company has been actively exporting core parts related to the steering column, brake systems, such as ABS and ESC, safety airbags, and lighting to finished car companies such as Volkswagen and China's Huatai Automobile and Nanjing Automobile.

ItaliaspeedTV: Jeep Grand Cherokee (2011) / Dodge Durango Hybrid (2009)