Daimler has announced its plans to become one of Europe’s leading supplier of turbochargers. Daimler currently sources about 50% of its turbochargers from IHI Charging Systems International of Japan — a joint venture between Daimler and Ishikawajima-Harima Heavy Industries.
“Not long from now, we will be Europe’s third-largest turbocharger supplier,” Leopold Mikulic, head of passenger-car engines and powertrains at Daimler subsidiary Mercedes-Benz Cars, told Automotive News Europe. Mikulic continued by saying the automkaer hoped to achieve the goal within the next three to five years.
“Our dependence on the turbocharger suppliers was huge. We decided to invest in our own operation to have competition in the marketplace,” said Thomas Weber, Daimler board member for r&d.
The new operation — which is based in Cernusco Lombardone, Italy — has set a target of 600,000 units this year, up from 500,000 last year.
Mercedes-Benz sold 1.26 million units globally in 2006, with 40% of those vehicles equipped with diesel engines. All of Mercedes’ diesels engines are turbocharged as well as three of its gasoline engines. But that percentage is about to increase as Mercedes looks to forced induction on smaller engines to decrease its overall emissions.
“Downsizing and turbocharging in combination with direct-injection and stratified-charge combustion systems is the way to the future for the gasoline engine,” Mikulic said.
According to Automotive News, the turbo market — which is dominated by Garrett and BorgWarner — is expected to grow to 17.8 million worldwide by 2012, up from 14.6 million last year.
