Crash course in excellence: Hyundai Transys makes car seats safer with eye on the future

Hyundai Transys conducts car seat tests for safety as well as durability as it strives for market dominance in a changing auto landscape.

A crash test dummy is being used in a simulation of a car crash at 80 kilometers per hour (50 miles per hour) at Hyundai Transys Seat R&D Center in Dongtan, Gyeonggi. [HYUNDAI TRANSYS]

HWASEONG, Gyeonggi — In a freezing cold room with a temperature of around minus 30 degrees Celsius (minus 22 Fahrenheit), a car seat vibrates with a web of cables connected to a computer.

Going to the opposite extreme, the temperature then rises up to 80 degrees Celsius and data is transmitted to the computer in real time.

“We measure any vibrations and noises that affect car seat quality in extreme weather conditions,” said Choi Jin-tae, a senior manager of the Seat Test team at Hyundai Transys, during a media tour of its Seat Research and Development (R&D) Center in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi.

Hyundai Transys has a total of 12 dummies, each costing 120 million won ($88,000), with all different heights and weights, including three child-sized dummies with their own car seats. [HYUNDAI TRANSYS]

In the adjacent room, a crash test dummy was being used in a simulation of a car crash at 80 kilometers per hour (50 miles per hour). The dummy’s head hit the headrest as its back slammed into the backrest before lurching forward due to the strong rebound pressure.

Dozens of cameras and lighting equipment were placed near the vehicle to capture the dummy at the moment of impact.

“Based on the experiments with dummies, we adjust and upgrade our car seats to reduce the injury to drivers in car accidents,” Choi said.

"On top of convenience, car seats must play a key role in protecting passengers — this is why seats are the second most expensive auto part after the engine in a car.”

Hyundai Transys engineers inspect human dummies after a simulation of a car crash at the company's R&D Center in Dongtan, Gyeonggi. [HYUNDAI TRANSYS]

Transys has a total of 12 dummies, each costing 120 million won ($88,000), with all different heights and weights, including three child-sized dummies with their own car seats.

First opened in 2007, Transys’ Seat R&D Center conducts over 180 different tests on factors such as durability and noise to develop the optimal car seat for maximum safety and comfort. Sitting on a 45,705-square-meter (492,000-square-foot) site, the center has around 500 engineers, making it the largest seat-dedicated research center in Korea.

Transys supplies car seats to many global auto brands including Hyundai Motor, its luxury brand Genesis and Kia as well as the U.S. EV companies Rivian and Lucid, both of which are supplied exclusively by the seat maker.

Hyundai Transys engineers test car seats making vibrations in extreme weather conditions at minus 30 degrees Celsius (minus 22 Fahrenheit) at the company's R&D Center in Dongtan, Gyeonggi. [HYUNDAI TRANSYS]

In another test, tens of robotic arms repeatedly push human-sized cushions into car seats. Each cushion, weighing around 70 kilograms, is pushed around 500,000 times.

“Assuming that a person sits in a seat around 500,000 times after they buy a car, the test is to inspect the durability of the seats,” Choi said.

If a particular part is damaged, Transys upgrades that component to make durable seats that do not reduce in quality despite years of wear and tear.

Platform Beyond Vehicle concept car where seats can be moved in all directions. [HYUNDAI TRANSYS]

Similar quality tests are conducted for other parts of the seats as well, including the headrest and armrests.

“Transys’ latest focus is on future cars, from purpose-built vehicles [PBV] to flying cars,” said Seo Seung-woo, head of the seat business division of Hyundai Transys during the media tour.

“Cars can drive themselves, and car seats are no longer just seats but small beds where people eat, play and work,” said Seo.

Six mockups of futuristic-looking vehicles are located on the first floor of the center, with interiors totally different from today’s vehicles, containing foldable tables that can be used by passengers to play games, eat or use laptops.

A mockup of a flying car that has seats that people can face each other. [HYUNDAI TRANSYS]

Transys has developed reversible seats for the PV5, a "Platform Beyond Vehicle" (PBV) concept unveiled by Kia at CES 2024, that can be moved in all directions so that parents can sit facing their children in the back row. The seats can also be folded down completely for traveling business people with luggage or large bags.

A PBV is designed for specific applications such as shuttle services, last-mile delivery and ride-hailing. The PV5, Kia’s first PBV, is slated for release in 2025.

Seats even analyze the passenger's pulse, breathing and blood pressure to keep track of health conditions.

“Transys is the global No. 1 auto parts maker in terms of competitiveness,” said Hyundai Transys CEO Steve Yeo. “Transys will lead the car seat market in future mobility.”

The company currently has plants in 11 countries including Korea, the United States and India, with research centers in Korea and India.

BY SARAH CHEA [chea.sarah@joongang.co.kr]