Hyundai Rotem Co., the railway system manufacturing unit of Hyundai Motor Group, is expanding its global presence with a series of contracts signed to manufacture high-speed rail vehicles and automated light rail vehicles.

On Thursday, Maeil Business Newspaper visited Hyundai Rotem’s plant in Changwon, South Gyeongsang Province, where various trains, including those for export and domestic use, are being manufactured.

“Hyundai Rotem is a company that possesses both loco-hauled and multiple unit high-speed train technologies,” said Lee Do-kyung, an official from the company’s railway production management team.

In July 2024, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy newly designated the Changwon plant’s high-speed rail vehicle manufacturing technology as a national core technology, leading to enhanced security and surveillance measures at the production facilities.

In 2004, Korea became the fourth country in the world to operate high-speed rail in 2004, following Japan (1964), France (1981), and Germany (1991).

Initially developed using the French TGV, Korea‘s high-speed railway system has since secured its own technology.

In June 2024, Hyundai Rotem signed a contract worth 270 billion won ($188 million) to supply high-speed rail vehicles to Uzbekistan for the first time.

The deal includes 42 units of the UTY EMU-250, an upgraded version of the KTX-Eum tailored to travel Uzbekistan’s operating conditions.

Uzbekistan’s high-speed rail network covers longer distances and often operates in extreme conditions.

“We tailor the trains’ exterior coatings and interior features to suit the local environment,” Lee said.

Hyundai Rotem’s railway division reported sales of 1.5 trillion won in 2024. The company secured orders worth 4.78 trillion won. Its order backlog stands at 14.06 trillion won.

The Changwon plant is producing automated light rail vehicles for export to Taiwan and electric trains for Singapore under a supply contract.

Taiwan is set to receive 80 automated light rail cars by 2029 while the 186 electric train cars ordered by Singapore have been produced sequentially since last year and are being delivered.

[ⓒ 매일경제 & mk.co.kr, 무단 전재, 재배포 및 AI학습 이용 금지]