Mahle makes strong impact at Tokyo Motor Show

At the recently held Tokyo Motor Show 2015, Mahle showcased innovations geared specifically to the needs and development trends of the Asian market, which remains one of its core markets.

By Autocar Professional Bureau

06 Nov 2015

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Mahle air intake module with integrated cascaded charge air cooling for passenger car petrol engines.

At the recently held Tokyo Motor Show 2015, Mahle showcased innovations geared specifically to the needs and development trends of the Asian market, which remains one of its core markets.

It unveiled – for the very first time – highly advanced drive motors for electrically powered motorcycles, for which there is a particularly high demand in the Asian region. The electronically controlled motors are brushless DC (BLDC) motors that are characterized by exceptionally low wear and high efficiency. Such electric motors from Mahle are already being used by European motorcycle manufacturers and stem from the company’s new business unit ‘Electric Drives and Applications’, a division that the Group has strengthened substantially with its new subsidiary, Mahle Letrika, as well as a majority holding acquired in the Japanese company, Kokusan Denki, in 2015.

Mahle also used the Tokyo expo to reveal insights into new filter technologies for vehicle cabins. While current air filters already capture some 60 percent of respirable particulate matter, the company is developing a solution that keeps over 95 percent of PM2.5 particles, that are considered particularly harmful, from reaching occupants. PM2.5 is the term used to describe ultrafine dust particles that are small enough to penetrate the pulmonary alveoli.

Mahle says the Japanese market is not just the historical origin of its Asian business: Back in 1968, by concluding a license agreement with the former Izumi Corporation, Mahle created the foundation for its activities in Japan, and thus in Asia. Izumi evolved into Mahle Engine Components Japan Corporation which is now Asia’s largest manufacturer of diesel pistons for commercial vehicles. Today, Mahle is represented in Japan by 12 sites, including three major R&D centres, where it currently employees some 2,500 staff in all business divisions. “Almost a quarter of Mahle’s sales in Asia are generated in Japan. This reflects the importance of Japan for our company’s development in Asia”, said Wolf-Henning Scheider, chairman of the Management Board and CEO of the Mahle Group during the Tokyo Motor Show.

Mahle is represented in China, India, Indonesia, South Korea, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand, and thus in the most important markets in Asia. Despite the weak Chinese market, the sales forcast for Asia remains stable with no significant effects expected by Mahle. In 2014, the Group generated around 20 percent of its sales in Asia.

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