MAHLE, a leading automotive supplier, has announced a significant leadership transition. At a Supervisory Board meeting on 25 September 2025, Dr. Michael Macht was elected as the new Chairman, a role he will officially begin on 1 January 2026. He will succeed Professor Dr.-Ing. Heinz K. Junker, who is retiring after nearly three decades with the company, first as CEO and more recently as Chairman.

The appointment of Macht, a seasoned veteran of the automotive industry, comes as part of a carefully planned succession process. Junker, who has served on the Supervisory Board for 10 years, has been preparing Macht for the role over the last few months. Macht is no stranger to MAHLE, having been a member of its Supervisory Board since 2020.

“It has been a great honour for me to serve MAHLE for almost three decades, first as CEO and then as Supervisory Board Chairman. Following the successful reorganisation, I see the group well-positioned for the future with its strategy MAHLE 2030+ and a clearly defined product portfolio. I would like to thank the entire workforce, the Management Board and my direct colleagues for the trust they have placed in me for many years and to wish the company a good future in challenging times. I would also like to thank my successor Dr. Michael Macht for his willingness to take over as Chairman and wish him a sure hand in the performance of this demanding task,” said the departing Chairman of the Supervisory Board Professor Dr.-Ing. Heinz K. Junker.

Arnd Franz, Chairman of the Group Management Board and CEO, MAHLE, said, “Prof. Heinz K. Junker, who is now leaving MAHLE, is a personality who has been closely connected with this company. On behalf of the MAHLE workforce and the Management Board, I would like to thank him for his extraordinary passion and the dedication with which he has shaped our company over three decades. With farsightedness and untiring commitment, he has made a key contribution to the success of MAHLE and most recently guided the company through its transformation with extreme care. I would like to thank him for his close cooperation and his confidence in our Management Board. Even in challenging times, we could always rely on his expertise and support. For his future, he has the sincere best wishes of the entire MAHLE team.”

Boris Schwürz, Deputy Chairman of the Supervisory Board, MAHLE, said, “On behalf of the employee representatives, I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to Prof. Heinz K. Junker for the many years of trustful cooperation. We wish him all the best for the future. We look forward to constructive cooperation with Dr. Michael Macht to position MAHLE for the future in these challenging times.”

This strategic plan, which focuses on electrification, thermal management and sustainable internal combustion engines, was largely shaped under Junker’s leadership. He also oversaw the company's largest acquisition to date, the purchase of the former Behr Group, which significantly bolstered Mahle’s thermal management business.

Macht brings a wealth of experience to his new position. A mechanical engineer by trade, he began his career at Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG in 1991, rising through the ranks to become its CEO in 2009. From 2009 to 2014, he also served on the Board of Management of Volkswagen. His extensive background in the automotive sector makes him an ideal successor to guide Mahle through the ongoing industry transformation.

Dr. Michael Macht, said, “On behalf of the entire MAHLE Supervisory Board, I would like to thank Prof. Heinz K. Junker and to express my sincere appreciation for his work as Chairman. In his many years as Chairman, he has guided the Supervisory Board through demanding phases with considerable commitment and expertise and a calm hand, laying the foundations for the future-oriented development of the company. He has my best wishes for the future.”

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HS HYOSUNG ADVANCED MATERIALS has taken part in JEC World 2026, the premier global composites exhibition, held from 10 to 12 March 2026 at the Paris Nord Villepinte Convention Center in Paris, France. The company’s participation focuses on its advanced carbon fibre-based composite technologies, applicable in the automotive sector, alongside other key industries such as aerospace, construction and renewable energy.

Having consistently attended this prestigious event since 2013, the company is using this year’s platform to showcase innovations that cater to both high-performance and large-scale industrial needs. A central part of its display includes high-strength 3K carbon fibre, notable for its enhanced tensile strength, making it suitable for demanding applications in automotive components, drones, aviation and civil engineering. To address the requirements of broader industrial markets, the company is also featuring its 48K Large Tow carbon fibre, designed for use in wind power and the automotive industry.

At its exhibition booth, HS HYOSUNG ADVANCED MATERIALS is demonstrating the practical versatility of its materials by displaying finished products such as drones and high-pressure hydrogen storage tanks, both manufactured using its carbon fibre. This approach underscores the material’s critical role in lightweighting and high-strength applications, including the growing field of hydrogen mobility.

Carbon fibre, which is both a quarter of the weight of steel and significantly stronger, is seeing rising demand for pressure vessels, automotive parts and wind turbine blades. As the first Korean company to domestically develop high-strength carbon fibre under the TANSOME brand in 2010, HS HYOSUNG has been operating its Jeonju plant since 2013 and is now expanding its production capabilities into China and Vietnam. Building on this foundation, the company aims to solidify its status as a global leader, particularly following its 2022 development of H3065, an ultra-high-strength carbon fibre over 14 times stronger than steel, intended for advanced aerospace and automotive sectors.

Jim Dal Lim, CEO, HS HYOSUNG ADVANCED MATERIALS, said, “JEC World 2026 is an ideal platform to showcase our outstanding technologies to a global audience and discover future collaboration partners. Through this exhibition, we will expand cooperation with global customers and actively explore new business opportunities in the composites market.”

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Belgium-headquartered Dumarey Group (formerly Punch Group) has appointed Abhishek Agarwal as the Vice President – India, effective 1 March 2026. He joins the propulsion systems provider from HORIBA India, where he served as Head of Mobility and Energy.

Agarwal comes with over two decades of experience in the automotive and engineering sectors. Before his tenure at HORIBA India, he spent over 15 years at AVL India as Business Unit Head for Simulation Software. His career also includes roles at Eicher Engineering Solutions and Minda Industries.

His technical focus encompasses: engine and transmission development; control functions and ECU solutions; fuel injection systems and electric vehicle systems.

The Dumarey Group was founded in 1983 by Guido Dumarey as an international business providing engineering services, systems and components for the automotive and industrial sectors. The company’s technology portfolio includes vehicle powertrains, control systems, dual-fuel hydrogen engines and energy storage.

The group operates across ten locations in Europe, the Americas, and Asia. With a workforce of 3,000 employees, it generates approximately EUR 1 billion in annual revenue.

Agarwal holds a Bachelor of Technology in Mechanical Engineering from the Institute of Engineering and Technology (IET) Kanpur. He also earned an Advance Diploma in Business Administration from the Institute of Management Technology (IMT) Ghaziabad.

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Advent HoldCo has confirmed it will not acquire the LANXESS stake in the ENVALIOR joint venture in 2026. This follows a tender submitted by LANXESS in September 2025. Advent cited financing conditions as the reason for the decision.

The tender and purchase periods for the shares in 2027 and 2028 remain in effect. LANXESS will continue its role in the joint venture. The company attributes the development of ENVALIOR to market recovery within the sector, synergies between the companies and consolidation among competitors.

LANXESS stated it remains financed despite the absence of sale proceeds in 2026. The company maintains a cash position and credit lines totalling more than EUR 1.35 billion. Repayment of the bond maturing in October 2026 is secured.

The company stated that it maintains access to debt capital markets and debt reduction remains its top priority.

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European automotive component supplier Marelli has launched its new generation Port Fuel Injection Engine Control Units (PFI ECUs) for petrol, flex fuel (ethanol, methanol and synthetic fuels) and Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) applications, specifically targeting the India, Brazil and EMEA markets.

The ECUs are designed, validated and produced locally in each region. This portfolio utilises Marelli’s 20-year history in flex fuel and bi-fuel technologies to address regional vehicle architectures and emission regulations.

The new ECUs incorporate the Infineon AURIX TC3x automotive microcontroller to manage multitasking and processing. The hardware and software are built to support calibration, homologation and customer-specific tuning.

Key technical features include:

• Processing: Integration of Infineon’s AURIX TC3x for reliability and fast processing.
• Architecture: Open system allowing third-party applications and Firmware Over-the-Air (FOTA) updates.
• Safety & Security: Compliance with ISO 26262 ASIL D functional safety standards and anti-tuning protection.
• Control Channels: Up to eight gasoline injector drivers and four CNG injector drivers.
• Diagnostics: OBDII diagnostics and wide-range O2 Universal Exhaust Gas Oxygen (UEGO) sensors for air/fuel ratio monitoring.

By localising production and R&D, Marelli aims to provide automakers with reduced costs and faster implementation times. The units manage all engine requirements, including integrated combustion algorithms and emission control strategies to meet local regulatory standards.

Giovanni Mastrangelo, Head of R&D for Marelli's Propulsion business, said, "As adoption speeds for propulsion technologies vary, Marelli continues to support customers across the powertrain spectrum. In markets where internal combustion engines remain relevant, our new engine control units enable greater efficiency, emissions reduction, and versatility. This reflects our system-driven approach and know-how in vehicle control, conventional and alternative fuel injection technologies and transmission systems.”

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