The Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA) has deepened its cooperation with leading Japanese auto parts manufacturer Aisin to position Korean suppliers more firmly within the global mobility supply chain as the industry accelerates toward electrification.
KOTRA, led by President Kang Kyung-sung, hosted the ‘2025 Aisin Global Production Base Expansion Support Consultation and Briefing Session’ at its Seoul headquarters on November 24.
The initiative is designed to help Korean auto parts companies enter Aisin’s global procurement network at a time when supply chains are being reorganized, and demand for electric vehicle components is rising.
Aisin brought procurement leaders from its Japan headquarters, its India subsidiaries, and Aisin Korea for the event, marking an unusual coordinated effort to speed up sourcing decisions.
Nine Korean suppliers selected by Aisin participated in one-on-one export consultations and received a briefing on the company’s global sourcing priorities. A follow-up visit to Korean manufacturing sites is scheduled for November 25 to advance discussions on potential component adoption.
Founded in 1949 in Aichi Prefecture, Aisin is one of Japan’s two largest auto parts manufacturers, alongside Denso, and supplies core powertrain systems such as engine modules and transmissions to global automakers, including Toyota.
The company posted sales of 4.9 trillion yen in 2024 and operates major production bases in North and South America, India, and Thailand.
An Aisin representative said the company is reorganizing its global supply chain in response to electrification trends and shifting U.S. tariff policies, adding that Korean firms’ EV-related technologies are gaining strong interest across the organization.
KOTRA has worked closely with Aisin throughout 2024, beginning with the Korea-Japan K-Tech Partnering Exhibition at Aisin’s Advanced Development Center in May.
The two sides signed an MOU in July to support the expansion of Korean suppliers into Aisin’s overseas plants, followed by consultations with Aisin’s U.S. subsidiary in October.
The latest engagement extends cooperation to Aisin India, with further expansion planned across the United States, Europe, and Southeast Asia.
“This joint consultation, which includes purchasing managers from overseas production bases, is significant because procurement decisions are typically driven by Japan headquarters,” said Choi Jeong-rak, head of KOTRA’s Nagoya Trade Center.
“KOTRA will continue to secure broader global opportunities for Korean companies at Japanese manufacturers’ facilities worldwide,” he added.
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