Daimler wants to be Europe’s turbocharger leader

Turbocharging is quickly becoming the must-have technology for carmakers looking for proven methods of boosting the performance of an engine without bumping up displacement. Most diesel passenger cars come equipped with a blower, and the number of turbocharged petrol models is growing at a rapid rate. Despite this growing dependence, most carmakers still rely on outside suppliers for their turbochargers.

Daimler hopes to change that by developing its own turbocharging technology. “Not long from now, we will be Europe’s third-largest turbocharger supplier,” explained Mercedes’ passenger-car engines and powertrains Chief Leopold Mikulic during a recent interview with Automotive News Europe.

Mercedes currently sources more than 50% of its turbos from IHI Charging Systems International, a joint venture between Daimler and Ishikawajima-Harima Heavy Industries of Japan, Mikulic revealed. The rest come from other suppliers such as BorgWarner and Honeywell (Garrett).

Daimler isn’t the only company looking into producing turbos. As more carmakers look to forced induction to improve performance as well as fuel-economy, demand for turbos is expected to skyrocket. Other companies expected to join the foray include Germany’s Mahle, a leading producer of pistons, as well as Bosch.