Sixth consecutive win since 2020, 12th overall; only top 0.5% of GM's 20,000 suppliers receive the award; recognized in brake control for quality, supply stability and local responsiveness; Alabama factory equipped to produce 7.4 million Motor on Caliper units annually

HL Mando officials pose for a photo at GM's "2025 Supplier of the Year" awards ceremony held last month in Austin, Texas. From left: Kang Jong-gu, HL Mando sales director; Eric Slosson, production team leader; Jeff Pontius, R&D director; Kim Jae-hyuk, HL Mando executive vice president; and Kimberly Hout, GM global chassis purchasing director. [HL Mando]
HL Mando officials pose for a photo at GM's "2025 Supplier of the Year" awards ceremony held last month in Austin, Texas. From left: Kang Jong-gu, HL Mando sales director; Eric Slosson, production team leader; Jeff Pontius, R&D director; Kim Jae-hyuk, HL Mando executive vice president; and Kimberly Hout, GM global chassis purchasing director. [HL Mando]

HL Mando, the HL Group's global software-defined vehicle (SDV) flagship, has been named a GM Supplier of the Year for the sixth consecutive year.

The company announced Tuesday it had received GM's "2025 Supplier of the Year" award — its sixth straight recognition since 2020 and its 12th overall.

HL Mando Executive Vice President Kim Jae-hyuk, who heads the company's Americas operations, attended the ceremony held last month in Austin, Texas, along with Sales Director Kang Jong-gu, R&D Director Jeff Pontius and Production Team Leader Eric Slosson.

GM selects its top suppliers each year through a comprehensive evaluation covering quality, technology, supply stability and execution. This year, 103 companies across 14 countries made the list out of roughly 20,000 suppliers worldwide — representing only the top 0.5 percent.

HL Mando received the award in the brake control category. GM recognized the company for its swift communication, consistent quality management, responsiveness to North American market needs and supply competitiveness.

The company's flagship product in this category is the Motor on Caliper (MoC), an electrified brake system that integrates parking brake functionality. HL Mando's Alabama factory has the capacity to produce 7.4 million MoC units annually. As electrification and the shift to SDVs accelerate, precision control technology for braking systems is emerging as a key competitive differentiator.

"This award is a testament to our North American hub strategy," Kim said. "We will deepen our partnership with GM by building on the rapid execution, resilience, innovation and agility that GM has identified as core supplier capabilities."

HL Mando views the recognition as further validation of its North American production base and local supply chain management. With global automakers placing growing emphasis on supply chain stability and local responsiveness, the company expects its North American operations to take on an even greater role going forward.


kwater@heraldcorp.com