Hyundai Rotem, a defense affiliate of Hyundai Motor Group, says it will acquire Hyundai Wia’s defense business for 358.4 billion won (about $252 million). The deal covers Wia’s production of main gun barrels used in Korea’s K2 main battle tanks and K9 self-propelled howitzers. Hyundai Rotem and Hyundai Wia sign the contract and plan to close it by March 31, according to their regulatory filings.
Both outlets frame the move as part of Hyundai Motor Group’s effort to reorganize and consolidate defense operations. Hyundai Rotem, which also makes railway vehicles, seeks to bring more weapons production in-house so it can manufacture complete K2 tanks and their main guns, with benefits that include cost reduction and improved supply-chain management. Hyundai Wia’s sale supports its broader restructuring, including shifting toward future mobility technologies such as electrification and software-defined vehicles.
Yonhap and Korea Times also link the announcement to Hyundai Rotem’s existing defense export activity, citing recent agreements: a follow-up K2 supply contract with Poland and a comprehensive agreement with Peru for ground weapons systems that include K2 tanks.