Cleaner diesel 34 www.aftermarketonline.net JULY/AUGUST 2025 As technologies advance the future is now… The automotive industry is undergoing a technological transformation, and this will have an impact on the aftermarket. Nissens Automotive knows the writing is on the wall and is developing and preparing for the future as car manufacturers are in the process of investing heavily in new technologies. Basically, there are two main technology streams that will, eventually, also affect the international aftermarket and Nissens Automotive. As a result, the technological transformation of the automotive industry is being studied closely. A Nissens Automotive spokesperson said: “Currently, the automotive industry focuses their investments in two areas. One, they are looking into replacing traditional diesel- and petrol-driven cars with EVs or hybrids. “This trend is getting more and more visible in the global car parc, where more and more EVs and hybrids are getting on the roads, although the share of traditional cars is still by far higher. “Two, they are developing and launching electrical components for their car models, such as turbochargers with electrical actuators, electrical water pumps. “This transition is already well underway. To Nissens, both streams are crucial. Although the aftermarket is traditionally three-to-five years behind in launch mode, when it comes to new technologies, we will not stand a chance, if we do not develop with the industry.” Just as the car manufacturers make business critical decisions in their industry and businesses now, Nissens is doing the same. Studies show that numbers of traditional cars will continue to grow until 2027-2030. From 2030, cars with new technologies will drive the growth, but traditional cars will still play a significant role. However, right now, the NOx requirements and the European Vehicle Emissions Standards drive the significant investments in the electrification of components in existing cars. We see that the electrification of components take place in each of the three product categories that Nissens works with: EC, AC and efficiency and emissions. We are ramping up significantly in our R&D and technology department to ensure the right competences and knowhow needed to develop electrical components for our different product categories. We are also working with leading experts and partners to ensure the right capabilities within high voltages systems, software design and LIN/CAN protocols to develop the best product range for customers. Development also brings about opportunities. When we developed our product strategy, we made an in-depth analysis of the new drivetrains and trends coming from the leading OE car manufacturers, and we quickly found out that the amount of components requiring thermal management in these EV models is significant. This means that there is a market for Nissens, but only if we grow and develop with the market. Although, when it comes to the means of vehicle propulsion, the landscape is changing from combustion engine technology to electric solutions, the fact remains that the mainstay of the service and repair work undertaken in the typical workshop for at least the next 15 years, will be on petrol and diesel vehicles. With this in mind, but also being sympathetic to the environmental reasons for the shift towards EVs, independents have a responsibility to ensure that the diesel cars they service are running to their optimum efficiency. An efficient diesel engine relies on the many elements within the system working in unison, which means that in addition to the obvious things like the correct valve timing and fuel injection, exhaust gas recirculation and sensor operation, the performance of the turbo and thermal management, for example, need also to be considered.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjQ0NzM=