[단독] Hyundai Motors equipped with British Meridian Audio… ‘Erase Haman’ in earnest

Input 2021.01.22 06:00

Hyundai Motors applies British Meridian audio to new cars this year
‘Erase Haman’ after Samsung acquired Haman
“Samsung-conscious move to strengthen the electronics business”
LG also strengthens collaboration with Meridian instead of Haman

Meridian, a UK high-end audio company Hyundai Motor Company (005380)Join hands with the group. Hyundai Motor Group is working on applying Meridian Audio to new cars to be released this year. This is the first time Meridian Audio has entered a car within the Hyundai Motor Group. In the past, we have been collaborating with Harman, but after Samsung Electronics acquired Haman in 2016, it seems that we are continuing to “clear Haman”.

According to related industries on the 22nd, it was confirmed that the Hyundai Motor Group is working under the water through affiliates within the group to apply Meridian products to new cars to be released this year. Meridian is the UK’s leading high-end audio company and launched the world’s first active speaker with built-in amplifier. In addition to Jaguar Land Rover, a British luxury car brand, McLaren also applied Meridian Audio. He also designed a 3D surround system for the Land Rover Range Rover.

It is interpreted that Hyundai Motor Group’s decision to apply Meridian to a new car this year was conscious of the fact that Samsung Electronics is attempting to expand the electronics business market through Harman. This is because, after Samsung Electronics acquired Harman, it has continued to install audio from other brands instead of Harman.

In 2016, Kia Motors applied American Krell car audio to the new K7. Starting with this, the Krell sound system began to be widely applied in 2018. Previously, the selection option allowed Harman’s JBL sound system to be installed, but it was replaced with the Krell sound system. Krell is also developing audio through a strategic partnership with Hyundai Mobis, a parts subsidiary within the Hyundai Motor Group. In the 8th generation Sonata, the boss sound system was applied for the first time instead of Harman. Meridian Audio, which will be applied for the first time this time, is also said to be the Kia K7 full change (completely changed) model. Starting from this, there are also observations that it will be extended to other models.

LG Electronics, which is collaborating with Meridian in Korea, has followed similar steps as Hyundai Motor Company.
The collaboration between LG Electronics and Meridian began in earnest after 2016, when Samsung Electronics announced its intention to acquire Harman. Previously, LG Electronics released a TV as well as a Bluetooth headset developed jointly with Harman. Harman’s other brands, JBL and AKG, have also continued to collaborate.

Since the announcement of the collaboration plan in 2017, LG Electronics and Meridian have introduced new products to CES, MWC, and IFA, which are considered one of the world’s three major information technology (IT) and home appliance exhibitions. The collaboration field has also expanded to include speakers, TVs, wireless earphones, and smartphones. Last year, LG Electronics and Meridian also opened a premium listening space at the Gangnam headquarters of LG Best Shop in Gangnam, Seoul.

The electronics industry predicts that it will gradually reduce its collaboration with Harman, conscious of the view that LG Electronics may appear to be collaborating with competitors if it maintains cooperation with Harman. In fact, this observation has been realized since LG Electronics joined hands with Meridian. However, an official at LG Electronics said, “The company that best matched the concept the company was trying to implement was Meridian,” and said, “It has no relationship with a specific company.”