French auto parts supplier OPmobility has agreed to acquire Hyundai Mobis' automotive lighting business in a deal valued at 600 billion won ($443.8 million), as the South Korean supplier seeks to sharpen its focus on core operations and future growth.
Hyundai Mobis, an auto parts maker under Hyundai Motor Group, said Wednesday its board approved a plan to spin off its lighting division into a separate entity and sign a share purchase agreement with OPmobility for its sale.
Hyundai Mobis did not disclose the financial terms, but OPmobility said in a separate statement that it would acquire 100 percent of the business at an enterprise value of 600 billion won.
The spin-off is scheduled to take effect April 1, 2027, after which Hyundai Mobis plans to transfer ownership of the new entity to OPmobility. Employees covered by the spin-off, along with their employment-related rights and obligations, will be transferred to the new company.
Hyundai Mobis said the sale would strengthen the lighting division's expertise and global competitiveness, while allowing the company to focus resources on emerging growth areas and core businesses.
Hyundai Mobis’ lighting business generated revenue of 2.5 trillion won in 2025, with a positive operating margin, according to OPmobility. The division operates five manufacturing plants across South Korea, China, Mexico and Czech Republic.
OPmobility said the acquisition would expand its existing lighting operation, technology base, customer reach and global operational footprint. The deal is also expected to reinforce the French supplier’s presence in Asia, North America and Europe while strengthening its partnership with Hyundai Motor and Kia.
"The combination of Hyundai Mobis lighting business with our own lighting activity will enable us to reach a new scale and create a leading player in the automotive lighting market," said Felicie Burelle, CEO of OPmobility. "Above all, it will further deepen our partnership with Hyundai and Kia, one of the world's leading automotive groups."
The move follows a memorandum of understanding signed between Hyundai Mobis and OPmobility in January for the proposed sale of the lighting business. OPmobility expects to complete the acquisition in the second half of 2027, subject to regulatory approvals.
A Hyundai Mobis official said the company would proceed with the remaining steps required to complete the transaction, including shareholder approval and regulatory clearance.
"We will move forward with follow-up procedures to ensure a stable spin-off of the lighting business and establish a new operating structure," the official said.
sahn@heraldcorp.com
