KYB, REE Automotive Partner On Modular EV Platform

REE Automotive, an electric vehicle startup, and KYB Corp. have entered into a strategic partnership to develop suspension systems for future electric vehicle (EV) platforms.

Automotive Tier 1 supplier KYB’s semi-active and active suspension systems will boost REE’s next-generation EV platform, which the company said delivers complete design freedom and cost-effective, scalable solutions in e-mobility.

“The combined expertise of REE, a pioneering technology company and leader in electric vehicle platforms, and KYB, a leading global hydraulics manufacturer,  reshape the movement of goods, people and services by revolutionizing electric vehicle design,” said KYB in a press release.

REE’s partnership with KYB further expands REE’s global manufacturing capabilities. It also forms the basis for new suspension technology within the REEcorner architecture solution, which integrates all drivetrain vehicle components (steering, braking, suspension, e-motor) into the wheel. The REEcorner combines with the REEboard, a flat platform, will permit freedom of design, improved performance and safety, and modular applications for any vehicle type, said REE, from last mile delivery to heavy-duty shipping.

The KYB and REE partnership reportedly marks the first time KYB has formally collaborated on EV platforms with a technology company. “KYB has vast experience in developing and manufacturing advanced suspension systems, and we are excited to partner with REE Automotive and share its revolutionary EV vision by engineering a suspension subsystem that supports the needs of tomorrow’s mobility ecosystem” said Kazunori Masumoto, general manager of Engineering Headquarters at KYB Automotive Component Business Div. KYB is a $3.7 billion global hydraulic equipment manufacturer with over 15,000 employees that supplies products all over the world.

“REE is delighted to welcome KYB to our unique network of global strategic automotive partners, bringing world-class expertise in advanced suspension systems,” said REE’s Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer Daniel Barel. “KYB’s technology will play a crucial role in the rapid development of our next-generation EV architecture, which reinvents the electric vehicle with a completely flat, scalable and fully modular platform, ready to carry the future of e-mobility.”