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MEGATRENDS USA: Global turbocharging industry set for dramatic rise

Automotive Megatrends USA: Promising figures are predicted for the global turbocharging industry

Among the various powertrain technologies that were discussed at length during Automotive Megatrends USA, turbocharging sat at the foreground. Industry experts believe that the global turbocharger business will grow dramatically over the next five years.

The technology will witness most of its growth within the gasoline segment, explains Mart Verschoor, Vice President Global Engineering & Innovation, BorgWarner Turbo Systems.

Mart Verschoor, VP Global Engineering & Innovation, BorgWarner
Mart Verschoor, VP Global Engineering & Innovation, BorgWarner

“The global diesel turbocharging business is expected to grow by as much as 15% between 2015 and 2020. On the other hand, the gasoline turbocharging business is significantly more spectacular. Between 2015 and 2020, an 83% increase in sales is predicted,” he said.

Karina Morley, Commercial Director – Automotive at Ricardo, also expects the global turbocharging business to grow. She is confident that by 2022, “70% of the market will be made up of downsized, turbocharged engines that use four or less cylinders.”

Location

In terms of location, BorgWarner expects the largest growth in both the diesel and gasoline turbocharger applications to come from India and Thailand. The two countries will see a growth of 7% between 2015 and 2020 in the diesel turbocharger industry, with 43% growth in the gasoline segment. Other countries that show promise include China, Japan, Korea, the Americas and Europe. “In the Americas alone, the gasoline turbocharged systems business will go from 2 million units today to 7.2 million units by 2020,” adds Verschoor.

To keep up with demand, BorgWarner has recently announced a number of new facilities as the growth of its business continues in various parts of the world. It recently opened a new plant in Itatiba, Brazil, through which it will supply the South American market with its turbocharger technology, alongside various other fuel-saving powertrain components. In China, the company  recently marked production of its five millionth turbocharger at its manufacturing facility in Ningbo, China. In short, Verschoor believes “it is a terrific time to be in turbocharging,” in various markets all over the world.

BorgWarner has produced more than 1.5 million EGR valves for passenger cars and commercial diesel vehicles at its production facility in Ningbo, China.
BorgWarner plant in Ningbo, China

The drivers

What is driving this growth? CO2 emissions and efficiency regulations are the primary reasons behind the growth of the global turbocharger industry, says Verschoor.

“Frankly, all OEMs have worked towards reducing fuel consumption over the past decade,” he says. “Downsizing and turbocharging are seen as a very practical ways to make vehicles more fuel efficient and clean, without having too much of a revolution in powertrain technology. All over the world there are targets, and they are increasingly tough. In the next five years, OEMs must further reduce their fuel consumption by 30%, and turbocharging is a means of doing this.”

New powertrain technology is also contributing to the demand of turbocharging systems, and is pushing development in the field. “The new powertrain applications are much more sensitive to driver impact,” explains Verschoor. “If you have a heavy foot, you pay the price. So, there is still much more to come in turbocharging technology.” Consequently, BorgWarner will look to improve its turbocharging technology, optimising it to work alongside vehicles that are becoming increasingly complex and sophisticated, he says.

Michael Nash

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