Key technologies and components in the automotive field affect the performance and quality of automobiles, and the automotive engine, transmission, and chassis are recognized as the three most important core components. The automotive engine is also known as the “heart of the car”, the vehicle’s power, and performance are realized through the engine.
From the scope of the global automobile industry, the foreign automobile industry started early, mature technology, mastering a large number of automobile core technologies. Because the engine’s design and development are essential, the engine development is also called critical components. The following are the key automotive components and technology of the strongest countries:
One of the key components——R&D and design of automobile engines
- Technology Leader I: Austria
AVL Austria: the world’s largest privately owned company engaged in the design and development of internal combustion engines, powertrain research and analysis, and the development and manufacture of related test systems and equipment. All the world’s engine manufacturers are on AVL’s customer list, especially in the field of internal combustion engines. It is a high-tech company with a very high visibility and good reputation.
AVL is one of the world’s three most authoritative R&D organizations for internal combustion engines. AVL Austria is a world-renowned R&D and design organization for internal combustion engines. It is now the world’s largest privately owned company engaged in the design and development of internal combustion engines, powertrain research, and analysis, as well as the development and manufacture of related test systems and equipment. It is worth mentioning that, AVL in the Chinese automobile market, Chery, Weichai, Xichai, and other automobile enterprises, and Austria AVL have very close cooperation. Among them, the ACTECO series engines, which Chery is most proud of, are jointly designed and developed with AVL.
The founder of the company, Prof. Lester Sr. taught in China for 6 years. AVL has always supported the independent and rapid development of China’s engine business, which has given us many business opportunities.
They donated technology and equipment to Tongji University, Jilin University of Technology (now Jilin University), and other scientific research and education units; for China’s automobile, train, marine, and industrial engine development and design, modification and optimization, the old Professor Lister and AVL’s dedication to the efforts of China’s engine industry has been praised. The Austrian company AVL once jointly designed and developed the Chery ACTECO series of engines. China’s engine industry has been an AVL company affectionately known as “Lister Institute”, which means that AVL company is an ideal base for scientific research and development, and personnel training.
- Technology Leader II: German
FEV: The world’s leading developer of internal combustion engines and independent engine engineering company, FEV supplies advanced test equipment and accessories to global automotive OEMs, including most of the world’s automotive and engine manufacturing companies as well as spare parts suppliers. The business scope includes engines for cars and heavy-duty vehicles, stationary, marine, locomotives, and other applications. The company is mainly engaged in the research and development of engine technology and the production of engine-related testing equipment. As early as the 1980s, German FEV began to sell engine technology to Guangxi Yuchai. FEV’s main customers in China include FAW, SAIC, Brilliance and Haima. Among them, the 1.6T direct-injection turbocharged engine of Haima 8S, which was listed on the market before Haima Automobile, was built jointly with Germany FEV and won the title of “China’s Heart” 2019 Top Ten Engines.
FEV is also one of the world’s top three research and development organizations for internal combustion engines. FEV also has extensive experience in the application of test equipment, starting with the design and planning of individual test benches, through to turnkey engine development and factory hot test benches. FEV is committed to establishing efficient workflows and modular systems for its customers to meet the requirements of engine testing over the long term.
- Technology Leadership III: UK
Ricardo UK: Ricardo UK is one of the world’s leading powertrain technology consultancies, with its main areas of business being the development and application of powertrain systems and testing of powertrain developments for its customers. It is also the world’s oldest engine and transmission design and manufacturing company.
Ricardo’s engineering expertise encompasses engine assembly control, electronics and software development, as well as the latest powertrain systems, with particular experience and global leadership in automotive and engine development technology.
Key Component No. 2——EFI System
- Technology Leadership I： German
Bosch is a world-renowned automotive parts manufacturer, and its most important customers are European (especially German) companies such as Volkswagen. It is a typical European company.
The Bosch Group in Stuttgart, Germany, is one of the world’s leading producers of automotive technology, industrial technology, consumer goods, and building technology, with 270 locations worldwide, 230 of which are outside Germany. Whether it is the invention of the spark plug with high-voltage electromagnetic ignition system in 1902, the birth of the first Bosch multifunctional power tools, or the introduction of a high-pressure diesel injection system and ESP electronic stability program, Bosch has created countless scientific and technological world records, from the people familiar with a variety of Bosch life products, to the lesser-known creation of cutting-edge science and technology, each of which is called the world-renowned German standard of quality Each and every one of them is recognized as a masterpiece of German quality standards.
- Technology Leadership II： USA
Delphi: Delphi is the world’s largest automotive parts supplier, supplying products to the world’s largest automobile manufacturers, including General Motors, Ford, Toyota, Nissan, Renault and Volkswagen. Delphi has 176 wholly-owned manufacturing plants, 42 joint venture plants, 53 customer service centers and sales representative offices, and 32 technical centers in 41 countries. The company supplies almost all major domestic OEMs, including FAW-Volkswagen, General Motors, Shanghai Volkswagen, Dongfeng Nissan and Chery. Delphi Corporation Formerly a parts subsidiary of General Motors Corporation.
Delphi is one of the largest auto parts suppliers in the world. In addition to engines, gearboxes, shells, seats, tires, Delphi can provide almost all other automotive parts and accessories, the full range of all auto parts companies side-eye. Delphi products in the global auto parts market share was once as high as 15% to 20%. Delphi has such a comprehensive product line of parts.
- Technology Leadership III： Japan
Nippon Denso: The world’s top supplier of automotive system components. Nippon Denso as a global provider of cutting-edge automotive technology, especially Denso in the field of environmental protection, engine management, body electronics, driving control and safety, information and communication, and other areas, to become the world’s major vehicle manufacturers trusted partner.
To summarize, in the global EFI system technology, Germany Bosch, the United States Delphi, and Japan Denso (belonging to Toyota Group) almost monopolized most of the EFI market share, of which Germany Bosch’s market share is dominant, even more than 60%.
Key Component No. 3—— Turbocharger
A turbocharger is actually an air compressor that increases air intake by compressing air. It is the use of engine exhaust inertia impulse to push the turbine chamber turbine, turbine and drive the coaxial impeller, impeller pressure from the air filter pipeline to send the air so that it is pressurized into the cylinder. When the engine speed increases, the exhaust gas discharge rate, and the turbine speed are also synchronized to increase, the impeller will compress more air into the cylinder, the air pressure and density increases can burn more fuel, accordingly increasing the amount of fuel and adjust the speed of the engine, you can increase the output power of the engine.
Turbochargers have four outstanding benefits:
1, improve engine power. In the case of the engine, displacement remains unchanged by increasing the intake density, so that the engine has more fuel injection, improves the engine power, and adds the supercharger after the engine power and torque to increase 20% to 30%. Conversely, the same power output requirements can reduce the engine bore, and reduce the size and weight of the engine.
2, improve engine emissions. Turbocharger engine by improving the combustion efficiency of the engine, reduces the engine exhaust particles nitrogen oxides, and other harmful components of the emissions. It is an indispensable configuration for diesel engines to reach Euro II or above emission standards.
3, Provide the function of plateau compensation. Part of high-altitude areas, the higher the altitude, the thinner the air, the engine with a turbocharger can overcome the engine’s power loss due to the thin plateau air.
4, improve fuel economy, and reduce fuel consumption. Due to the better combustion performance of the engine with a turbocharger, it can save fuel by 3%~5%.
- Technology Leadership I： USA
Honeywell USA: Honeywell International Inc. is a leader in diversified manufacturing technologies serving customers around the world, including aerospace products and services, industrial and home building control technologies, automotive products, turbochargers, and specialty materials. Honeywell’s turbocharging technology dramatically improves fuel efficiency and reduces exhaust emissions while increasing vehicle performance and ease of maneuverability. Honeywell’s turbochargers can achieve an average of 20 to 40 percent improvement in fuel efficiency while reducing emissions by approximately 30 percent. Honeywell remains a global high-tech company that is a leader in a number of areas, and Honeywell is particularly noted for its expertise in automation and aerospace technology. Honeywell is responsible for 30 percent of every Boeing airplane.
BorgWarner USA: Providing advanced powertrain solutions to the world’s major automotive manufacturers. BorgWarner is committed to designing and manufacturing high-technology products that improve the performance of automotive engine systems, drivelines, and four-wheel drive systems.
- Technology Leadership II： German
KKK: A subsidiary of Mercedes-Benz, the world’s leading manufacturer of turbines and turbochargers, KKK has a unique advantage in the global ancillary market, which is related to the linear and smooth boost response, good durability, and stable operating characteristics of its turbochargers, which have been favored by the designers of Volkswagen-Audi Group.
It is worth noting that the center housing of the KKK turbocharger has the advantage of superior strength due to the use of a special material with a special coefficient of expansion.
- Technology Leadership III： Japan
Japan MHI turbocharger: As a world-renowned manufacturer of heavy industrial products, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Group set up under the technology umbrella headquarters for high-tech development. Has strong technical development capabilities and a perfect R & D system, known for high performance, and cost-effective.
Japan IHI Turbocharger: IHI’s products, which were jointly introduced in 1936 in cooperation with Hitachi, range from large-engine models to small-engine automobiles for ships and land-based generators. The world’s smallest turbocharger was developed by Ishikawajima. In fact, he is now one of the top 5 turbocharger manufacturers in the world today.
More and more cars in today’s automobile industry are equipped with turbocharged engines, the most central component of which is the turbocharger. From the global market, the turbocharger market has formed a competitive pattern, the annual output of the top five turbocharger manufacturers tend to be Honeywell, BorgWarner, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ishikawajima Harima, Bosch Mahle are from Germany and Japan, and occupy more than 90% of the global market share, the competitive advantage is very obvious.
Key Component No. 4——Engine Management System EMS
- Leading countries: USA, Germany, France, Japan
The so-called EMS: various sensors are used to convert engine air intake, cooling water temperature, engine speed, acceleration, and deceleration into electrical signals, which are sent to the controller. The controller compares this information with the stored information and outputs control signals after precise calculations.EMS can not only accurately control the amount of fuel supplied to replace the traditional carburetor, but also control the ignition advance angle and idling airflow, etc., which greatly improves engine performance.
Pollutant emissions can be reduced by 50% through precise control of fuel injection and ignition; if oxygen sensors and three-way catalytic converters are used, toxic emissions can be reduced by more than 90% within a narrow range of λ=1. In the range of idling speed regulation, the idling speed is reduced by about 100~150rpm due to the idling speed regulator, and the fuel consumption gets further reduced by 3%~4%. If burst control is adopted, engine power can be increased by 3%~5% in the full load range and can be adapted to different quality of fuel. With the increasingly stringent emission regulations worldwide, the adoption of EMS systems has become an unstoppable trend.
To summarize, although the engine is equipped with a number of advanced technologies, how to run this pile of steel reasonably, and precise control of fuel injection, ignition, and emissions, are to be controlled by the engine management system (Engine Management System). It contains a variety of sensors, ECUs, actuators, etc., and even many engine-specific dual injection, multi-point injection, and hybrid injection are EMS functions.
From the perspective of global market suppliers, Germany Bosch, the United States Delphi, France Valeo, Japan Denso, and other companies monopolize more than 90% of the global market share.
Valeo: Valeo is an industrial group specializing in the design, development, production, and sales of automotive parts, systems, and modules, with unique experience and technological advantages in automotive powertrains, energy saving and emission reduction, and electronic new energy.
Key Component No. 5——Engine Piston
The automobile piston is like the centerpiece of the automobile engine and plays an extremely important role in starting the engine. Automobile pistons are used to withstand gas pressure and allow the connecting rod to drive the crankshaft to rotate through the piston pin, and the top of the piston is also an integral part of the combustion chamber. The general automotive pistons are divided into three categories: diesel pistons, gasoline pistons, and general-purpose pistons.
Piston is an automobile engine cylinder for reciprocating movement of the parts, its basic structure can be divided into the top, head, and skirt, the top of the piston is the main part of the combustion chamber. In the work of the piston’s main role is to withstand the combustion pressure in the cylinder, and will be this force through the piston pin and connecting rod to the crankshaft. Such a key component of the engine is also a key technology held by the giants of foreign developed countries. Among them, Germany Mahle, the United States Phaemon, Germany Kolbenschmidt, Japan Aisin, Hitachi, and other companies occupy the vast majority of the global market share.
- Leading countries I: German
MAHLE, Germany: The MAHLE Group is one of the world’s largest manufacturers of filters.MAHLE Filter Company is well known in the European and American manufacturing industries for its superb craftsmanship and wide range of applications. The MAHLE Group is ranked among the top 30 automotive parts suppliers and is one of the world’s three leading suppliers in the fields of piston systems, cylinder components, valve systems, air management systems, and fluid management systems. The other is Kolbenschmidt of Germany.
- Leading countries II: USA
Phaeton USA: Located in Southfield, Michigan, USA, Phaeton is a global supplier of automotive parts and components. Pfizer supplies the majority of the world’s leading automobile manufacturers.
The company’s Philadelphia friction products have always been the designated products of the world’s formula car racing, with the world’s largest production and sales volume, and is called the “father of brake pads”. Its champion spark plugs, wiper blades, and other products are designated for use by 500 car manufacturers around the world, including “Chrysler”, “Ferrari”, “Daewoo” and other world-class car manufacturers. Chrysler, Ferrari, Daewoo, and other premium car manufacturers around the world. The company is the world’s No. 1 in sales.
As a leading global supplier of automotive components, Phaidon supplies most of the world’s leading OEMs of automobiles, light commercial vehicles, heavy-duty trucks, agricultural vehicles, marine, locomotives, off-highway vehicles, and industrial vehicles.
- Leading countries III: Japan
Aisin Japan is a global leader specializing in the production of automatic transmissions, in which the Toyota Group owns a 22.2% stake in Aisin Seiki. Aisin has a wide range of automatic transmissions, including 4-, 5-, 6-, and 8-speed. Because Toyota has a stake in Aisin, almost all of Toyota’s models also use Aisin’s automatic transmissions.
Key Component No. 6——Engine Crankshaft
- Leading countries: Germany, Japan
The crankshaft is the most important part of the engine, which bears the force from the connecting rods and converts it into torque to be output through the crankshaft and drive other accessories on the engine. The crankshaft is subjected to the centrifugal force of the rotating mass, the periodically varying gas inertia force, and the reciprocating inertia force, so that the crankshaft is subjected to bending and torsion loads. Therefore, the crankshaft is required to have sufficient strength and rigidity, and the journal surface needs to be wear-resistant and well-balanced. ThyssenKrupp of Germany, Sumitomo of Japan, Hitachi of Japan, and Fuji of Japan are well-known manufacturers of automotive crankshafts, occupying most of the market share.
Germany ThyssenKrupp Group is a German industrial giant, and ThyssenKrupp Elevator Group is one of the world’s top three manufacturers of elevators and escalators. It operates businesses all over the world.
Sumitomo Japan, a construction machinery manufacturer under the Sumitomo Group, is one of the oldest business groups in Japan, and after developing the first hydraulic excavator in 1967 with its own technology, Sumitomo’s hydraulic excavators have been active all over the world. In particular, the recently launched “LEGEST” new hydraulic excavator is the crystallization of Sumitomo’s 38 years of experience and technology and is highly regarded in the industry as a result of the opinions of customers from all over the world, including Europe, the U.S., China, and Japan.
Key Component No. 7 —— Spark Plugs
- Leading countries: Japan, Germany
Spark plugs, commonly known as the fire nozzle, the role of the high-voltage wire to send a pulse of high-voltage electric discharge, spark plugs between the two electrodes to break through the air, resulting in an electric spark to ignite the gas mixture in the cylinder. The main types are quasi-type spark plugs, edge-of-the-body protruding spark plugs, electrode-type spark plugs, seat-type spark plugs, pole-type spark plugs, face-jumping spark plugs, and so on. The function of the spark plug is to introduce tens of thousands of volts of high-voltage electricity into the combustion chamber and produce an electric spark to ignite the mixture, with the ignition system and oil supply system to make the engine work, to a large extent, jointly determine the performance of the engine.
A spark plug is an important component of a gasoline engine ignition system, which can introduce high-voltage electricity into the combustion chamber, and make it jump over the electrode gap and produce sparks, thus igniting the combustible mixture in the cylinder. It mainly consists of a wire nut, insulator, wire screw, center electrode, side electrode, and shell, and the side electrode is welded on the shell. Bosch of Germany and Denso of Japan each occupy 20% of the global market share.
Nippon Specialty Ceramics Corporation, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of electronic spark plugs, has developed a hydrogen production module, which is a core component of a hydrogen refueling station that is indispensable for the popularization of fuel cell vehicles (FCVs). In the development process, Nippon Special Ceramics utilized its core technologies such as heterogeneous material bonding, which it had cultivated through the automotive parts field.
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how do we ensure our progress and development in such a competitive automotive industry? How to expand our influence? There are many famous enterprises supporting the development of China’s engine industry and cooperating deeply, so we believe that resource integration and stable channels are very important! Moreover, there is a certain threshold for small enterprises to cooperate with big factories. There are too many retailers and suppliers in the market to confirm the goodness and stability of the resources, so cooperation with one-stop resource suppliers is especially important. Shanhedongli brings together all kinds of engine solutions, we have many years of cooperation with famous brand engine factories, providing original spare parts and accessories as well as modified engines, taking into account the b-side and c-side, to help you quickly link to the original brand, and become a stable channel for your engine in China.
