2026

• Reducing rotational friction by approximately 66% compared with conventional products through the adoption of a newly developed seal
• Improving energy efficiency in BEVs by 0.76%, extending cruising distance by 2.2 km and contributing to energy savings in xEVs

NTN Corporation (hereafter NTN) has developed hub bearings that further enhance its world-class*¹ low friction performance, reducing rotational friction by approximately 66% compared with the conventional product*², thereby contributing to improved energy efficiency of xEVs (electrified vehicles) including battery electric vehicles (BEVs), hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs), and fuel cell vehicles (FCVs). As a result, in BEV applications, energy efficiency is improved by 0.76%, and an extension of cruising distance of approximately 2.2 km per charge is expected. NTN will propose this product globally to automotive manufacturers as a solution that combines world-class low friction performance with high resistance to muddy and wet conditions.

1. Based on NTN research
2. Conventional products not incorporating specifications of the “Low Friction Hub Bearing” series

NTN's approach to low friction hub bearings

Amid tightening emissions regulations worldwide, production volumes of xEVs are expected to increase further in the coming years. For these vehicles, extending driving range per charge has become a critical challenge, driving strong demand for further improvements in overall vehicle energy efficiency.

As a world leading hub bearing manufacturer, NTN launched its “Low Friction Hub Bearing” in 2009 and has since continuously advanced low friction technology. Through improvements to internal bearing grease, seal grease*³, and seal design optimization, NTN has consistently achieved world leading low friction performance and contributed to reduced vehicle energy consumption.

1. Rubber components that prevent the ingress of mud, water, dust, and other contaminants into the bearing

About the developed product

The newly developed hub bearing incorporates low friction technologies—such as advanced grease technologies—cultivated through the development of the “Low Friction Hub Bearing” series, together with a redesigned seal structure. This enables the product to achieve both world leading low friction performance and high resistance to muddy and wet conditions.

Seals play a critical role in preventing contaminants such as mud, water, and dust from entering the bearing. However, ensuring high resistance to muddy and wet conditions requires contact between the seal and the bearing, which has traditionally been a factor contributing to increased friction. In the newly developed seal, NTN has applied special surface treatments to the seal lips and sliding contact surfaces and optimized the labyrinth structure to reduce the number of seal lips, while also adopting dedicated low friction grease. In addition, a newly designed structure that suppresses reaction force generated by the seal lips has been introduced. These measures have enabled a significant reduction in contact resistance between the seal and the bearing, while maintaining high resistance to muddy and wet conditions.

As a leading company in hub bearing technology, NTN will continue to pursue further friction reduction to enhance vehicle energy efficiency and contribute to the realization of a sustainable society. In parallel with low friction performance, the company is advancing technologies in downsizing, lightweight design, and durability enhancement.

NTN is also accelerating proposal speed and improving quality through the application of AI technologies*⁴ in hub bearing design. Furthermore, by leveraging its globally competitive driveshaft technologies—adjacent to hub bearings in drivetrain systems—NTN aims to strengthen its position as a top manufacturer in the drivetrain domain, combining strong problem solving capability, proposal strength, and rapid responsiveness.

1. Press release on January 8, 2026:
   Industry First! NTN Enhances Automotive Hub Bearing Design Efficiency through AI Integration
   https://www.ntnglobal.com/en/news/new_products/news202500107.html

Features (compared with conventional products*²)

• Approximately 66% reduction in hub bearing rotational friction (world leading level), representing an improvement of approximately 3 points over “Low Friction Hub Bearing V”
• 0.76% improvement in energy consumption for BEVs, extending cruising distance by approximately 2.2 km per charge*⁵
• Approximately 0.86 g/km reduction in CO₂ emissions for internal combustion engine vehicles (ICEs)*⁶

1. Assumes WLTP driving mode for a BEV equipped with a 40 kWh battery
2. Assumes a vehicle weight of 1,500 kg and fuel economy of 17.6 km/L under WLTP conditions

Performance comparison of the “Low Friction Hub Bearing” series
and the developed product

Comparison of effects when the developed product is applied to
battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and internal combustion engine vehicles (ICEs)

Inquiries about this release

Inquiry Form