Marelli Electric Powertrain Strasbourg wins e-axle contract with major OEM

Marelli Electric Powertrain Strasbourg, the joint venture between Marelli and Punch Motive International established in May 2021, announced the award of its first contract with a major worldwide OEM to produce e-axles.

The e-axle will be developed, tested, and manufactured by Marelli Electric Powertrain Strasbourg and plan to start production in 2024.

The JV company, majority owned by Marelli, develops and assembles optimized integrated e-axle systems for BEVs or Plug-in Hybrid cars, for Europe and the Americas. The acquisition of this first order since the JV became operational is recognition within the market for its advanced technological capabilities.

The e-axle system will be compatible with the strictest of functional safety requirements, such as ASIL–D (Automotive Safety Integrity Level D) and be one of the most compact, efficient, and high-performance solutions in the market. Another feature is the ability to ensure an optimal drivability to BEVs (Battery Electric Vehicles), through functions such as the active torque vectoring, that brings agility to the driving.

“This JV was created to address a gap in the EV portfolio of the Marelli Vehicle Electrification Division. To achieve such a significant award so soon after its formation demonstrates the rationale for establishing the business, says Hannes Prenn, President of Marelli’s Vehicle Electrification division. “The focus on e-axles for full electrification systems is a key element in the Marelli Vehicle Electrification strategy. Coupled with our established track record in electric powertrain and thermal management, it frames a comprehensive approach that enables the efficient control of the energy flow in vehicles of today and tomorrow.”

The e-axle is a core technology within Marelli’s e-mobility growth strategy. With the accelerating shift toward e-mobility, Marelli´s goal is to expand its unique integrated offering as a full system provider for vehicle electrification, including e-Motors, inverters and software, battery management solutions. Thermal management also plays a major role in this. Reducing power dissipation and optimizing cooling are of paramount importance for lifespan and efficiency gains.