Marelli, a global automotive supplier, has recently received the NRW Global Business Award 2021 for the investment in its recently established production facility for electric vehicle motors in Cologne, Germany. With this award, the Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia recognizes foreign direct investments which significantly advance the region’s long-term global competitiveness as well as international investments of local companies.
“We are proud to be honored with the NRW Global Business Award,” said Beda Bolzenius, president and CEO of Marelli. “Our new plant in Cologne plays an important role in our growth strategy for vehicle electrification. We have chosen the city for its location in the heart of Europe, as we find highly skilled employees with experience in the auto industry here and as the region is developing into a center for e-mobility.”
Marelli seeks greater involvement in the technology network for e-mobility in North Rhine-Westphalia. Just recently, the company and RWTH Aachen University, one of Germany’s leading technical universities, have formed a partnership for vehicle electrification technologies and related production technologies.
“With this new cooperation, two pioneers of vehicle electrification are joining forces,” said Joachim Fetzer, chief technology officer of Marelli. “While RWTH’s PEM chair is known for its profound expertise in this field, Marelli has a unique offering as a full system provider for electric powertrains which is complemented by our thermal and battery management solutions.”
Through combined expertise in both electric powertrains and thermal energy management systems, Marelli offers a unique technology portfolio enabling the design of highly efficient electric vehicle platforms. This includes active and passive systems for the 800 Volt high performance and fast charging technology, battery management systems, cooling plates, electric compressors and other solutions helping carmakers to improve the overall efficiency of their electric and hybrid vehicles.
“It takes strong networks and a pioneering spirit to drive great innovation,” said Professor Achim Kampker, founder of PEM and head of institute. “We are pleased to have gained an excellent partner to push the electric drive forward.”
“With the new production facility, we are expanding our manufacturing footprint and capacities for this important growth market,” said Joachim Fetzer, CEO of Marelli’s electric powertrain business. “We have chosen Cologne for its location in the heart of Europe, as we find highly skilled employees with experience in the auto industry here and as the region is developing into a center for e-mobility.”
In the new facility in Cologne, a production line for electric drivetrains will be installed on 18,000 sqm, while there is space for a potential future expansion. At start of production in the first half year of 2021, the facility will employ around 160 employees. Marelli plans to hire up to 60 additional employees throughout 2021.
“Electric powertrain is a core element of Marelli’s growth strategy. We already have a great deal of experience in the market, having been one of the early suppliers of the KERS (Kinetic Energy Recovery System), the first hybrid solution in Formula 1, as well as being a pioneer of electric powertrain for Formula E. In the past years, we have been very successful in bringing our technologies for electric mobility to the mass market and with the new facility in Cologne we are in a strong position to continue on that path,” said Fetzer. “We have the ambition to further expand our position as a leading supplier for electric mobility as this market grows dynamically.”
Headquartered in Saitama, Japan, Marelli is the new company formed two years ago when automotive supplier Calsonic Kansei acquired Magneti Marelli of Italy and rebranded to the new identity. For more info, visit: www.marelli.com
