Leading the premium home appliance market by strengthening inverter motors
Maximizing synergy through vertical integration from core components to finished products.

LG Electronics continues to lead the premium home appliance market by expanding its product lineup using inverter motors. This year, LG Electronics plans to increase production of inverter motors used in premium home appliances by up to 20% compared to last year.

Inverter motors can freely adjust their rotation speed, producing the necessary amount of movement even when powerful force or delicate movements are required. Compared to conventional fixed-speed motors, they consume less energy and produce less noise, making them primarily used in premium home appliances.
LG Electronics is applying differentiated inverter motor technology to its major premium home appliances. In 1993, LG Electronics developed Korea's first inverter-based washing machine motor, and in 1998, it launched the world's first washing machine with an inverter-based Direct Drive (DD) motor. Since 2002, LG Electronics has equipped all its drum washing machines in the Korean market with inverter DD motors.

LG Electronics currently equips all its domestically sold models with inverter motors, including drum washing machines, stand-alone air conditioners, refrigerators (195 liters or larger), air purifiers, and humidifiers. This year, the company plans to significantly increase the use of inverter motors in its vacuum cleaners by incorporating a second-generation smart inverter motor, a key component, into its cordless vacuum cleaner, the "Cord Zero."

The proportion of inverter motors among the motors produced by LG Electronics is also increasing. Last year, inverter motors accounted for approximately half of the motors produced by LG Electronics at its global operations, including Changwon, South Gyeongsang Province, Nanjing, China, and Noida, India. LG Electronics plans to increase this proportion to 70% by next year.

LG Electronics is maximizing synergy by establishing vertical integration within its H&A (Home Appliance & Air Solution) division, which oversees home appliances, from core components like motors to finished products. In particular, the company plans to extend the success of its washing machine, which maintains its global leadership with inverter-based direct drive motors, to other products.

Motor R&D personnel increased by more than 20%, and development costs doubled compared to last year.

LG Electronics plans to increase its motor research and development workforce by more than 20% this year and double its development costs compared to last year.

LG Electronics C&M (Compressor & Motor) Business Division Director Kim Gwang-ho emphasized, “We will continue to expand the development of inverter motors that excel in energy efficiency, high performance, and low noise to lead the premium home appliance market.”