Mahle has inaugurated its new research and development center for vehicle electronics at its base in Valencia, Spain. As capabilities at the facility are built up, employees will gradually move in and eventually there will be around 250 people based there.
Electronic systems are becoming increasingly important in modern vehicles. The powertrain of the future is a system consisting of interconnected hardware and software that communicates and interacts intelligently within the vehicle. Mahle is therefore continuously expanding its activities in the electronics field.
“As a creator of new and climate-friendly mobility solutions, we believe that the ongoing development of e-mobility is crucial. With our new research and development center we’re strengthening our competence in the area of power electronics and consistently working toward our goal of becoming a holistic systems supplier in this field,” explained Dr Jörg Stratmann, chairman of the management board and CEO of the Mahle Group.
Work at the center will focus on power electronics and software solutions for products such as electric drive systems and auxiliary components, charge management systems, or heating and cooling systems.
Recently Mahle combined its activities in the area of electric drives, actuators and auxiliaries, and control and power electronics, into one mechatronics division.
“With its excellent universities, Valencia is an ideal hub for research and development. I’m convinced that our new R&D center will be an asset to the city and become a magnet for electronics development, attracting the next generation of engineers,” said Wilhelm Emperhoff who is responsible for the filtration and engine peripherals business unit as well as the mechatronics division, and a member of the board of management at Mahle Group.