Company History

The history section charts the milestones of MAHLE Powertrain from the original founders, Mike Costin (right) and Keith Duckworth (left), to its present day place in the MAHLE Group.

MAHLE era

2022

  • Second climatic test chamber commissioned in Vehicle Development Centre (previously RDE Centre)
  • New Battery Development Centre (BDC) opened at Northampton
  • New Chassis Dyno facility approved for Plymouth, MI location

2021

  • Work commences on new Battery Development Centre (BDC) at Northampton
  • ISO 17025 accreditation awarded for vehicle emissions testing to Euro 6 standards
  • Further £1.5m UK Government funding received towards Phase 2 of RDE Centre and work commences

2020

  • Battery test facility opened in Northampton
  • IMechE Dugald Clark prize awarded to MPT USA for innovative pre-chamber ignition technology
  • eAxle test facility opened in Stuttgart (operated by MPT Germany)

2019

  • MAHLE Modular Hybrid Powertrain unveiled at Aachen Colloquium
  • 48V Battery for mild hybrid applications unveiled
  • MAHLE Powertrain acquires the German transmission specialist ZG-Zahnräder und Getriebe GmbH to further strengthen MAHLE Powertrain’s expertise in transmission design and gear optimisation

2018

  • RDE (Real Driving Emissions) Centre opens in Northampton
  • Work commences on running prototype version of 48V MEET city car

2017

  • MAHLE Powertrain receives £2.1m Government funding for new RDE Center and work begins
  • eSuperchargedDI-3 demo car is updated to comply with WLTP / RDE regulations

2016

  • 48V eSupercharged Downsizing demonstrator vehicle is presented
  • New MAHLE Powertrain office opens in Ingolstadt, Germany    
  • RDE test process and routes are the first in the UK to achieve full VCA approval   
  • Official unveiling of the new Vehicle Engineering Centre at MAHLE Powertrain’s Northampton headquarters 
  • MAHLE Powertrain LLC relocated from Farmington Hills to an ex-Westport facility in Plymouth, MI

2015

  • PEMS (Portable Emissions Measurement System) testing service is introduced
  • ‘Through the Road’ Parallel Hybrid demonstrator vehicle is presented
  • New MAHLE Powertrain office opens in Aschheim, Germany 

2014

  • 50kW Range Extender is presented as part of a new engine family
  • Major upgrade of the UK engine test facilities (6 test cells) at Northampton

2013

  • New electric vehicle charging point installed at MAHLE Powertrain's Northampton headquarters
  • Grand opening of MAHLE'S new R&D technical centre in Farmington Hills, MI, USA
  • Two additional engine test cells commissioned at Shanghai technical centre (making 6 in total)

2012

  • Development of MAHLE Jet Ignition®
  • Presentation of MAHLE Range Extender demonstrator vehicle
  • Successfully completed balanced high speed bottom end for single cylinder research engine
  • Grand opening of MAHLE's extended R&D technical centre in Shanghai, China

2011

  • MAHLE Range Extender engine successfully developed and designed
  • MAHLE flexible ECU (MFE) successfully introduced
  • Stirling engine designed and tested

2010

  • MAHLE downsizing engine installed into a mid-sized estate demonstrator vehicle
  • Detailed research into biofuels combustion in MAHLE Downsizing engine

2009

  • New engine assembly facility commissioned at Northampton

2008

  • Commenced UK government research project into parasitic loss reduction in engines
  • Collaboration with Ford and BP
  • Grand opening of the new MAHLE technical centre in Jundiai, near Sao Paulo, Brazil

2007

  • MAHLE presents downsizing engine at the Frankfurt IAA Motor Show 1.2 litre, inline 3-cylinder engine produces 120 kW

2006

  • Newly designed Optical Engine to study VVT systems and the combustion of alternative fuels for future direct injection gasoline engines. Ongoing research projects at University College London

2005

  • Cosworth Technology acquired by MAHLE from Audi Group, changing name and trading as MAHLE Powertrain from 1st July

Audi era

2004

  • New manufacturing site at Wellingborough for cast iron machining, officially opened by John Patterson, Chief Executive, J C Bamford Excavators Ltd.
  • Engineering site awarded Ford Q1 2003/4 certificate for 'Powertrain Development'

2002

  • New logistics facility built at Wellingborough

2001

  • Cosworth Technology receives Ford Q1 award
  • High performance SVT Focus engine developed together with Ford

2000

  • Cosworth Technology delivers 1000th Aston Martin V12 engine
  • Cosworth Technology Inc. opens new customer facilities in Novi, MI, USA, following more than £1 million investment
  • New vehicle workshop built at Northampton

Vickers era

1998

  • Cosworth Engineering, Novi, MI, USA becomes the first engineering service supplier to be awarded the Ford Q1 Award
  • Cosworth Engineering, Manufacture and Casting units are acquired by Audi AG from Vickers trading as Cosworth Technology
  • Racing unit, trading as Cosworth Racing, sold to Ford Motor Co

1996

  • Aston Martin V12 engine programme commences

1995

  • Cosworth Engineering acquires Intelligent Controls, Novi, MI, USA
  • Secretary of State for Transport, the Rt Hon Sir George Young, opens the Emissions and Driveability Centre at Northampton
  • New high volumes foundry opened to produce V8 cylinder head castings for Jaguar and later V6 block castings for both Rover and Audi

1993

  • Sir Richard Lloyd, Chairman of Vickers, opens Product Development Centre, Worcester

1988

  • Keith Duckworth retires; Mike Costin becomes Chairman of Cosworth Engineering
  • Jackie Stewart opens the new Engineering Development Centre in Northampton

1987

  • Ford Sierra RS500 Cosworth engine produced

1985

  • The Duke of Kent opens the Wellingborough plant
  • Ford Sierra RS Cosworth engine produced

1984

  • Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.3-16 cylinder heads produced

Cosworth era

1958

  • Mike Costin and Keith Duckworth found Cosworth Engineering; first sited in Shaftsbury Mews, London

1964

  • Cosworth Engineering moves to St. James Mill Road, Northampton

1966

  • Keith Duckworth signs the Ford-Cosworth contract for the DFV (Double Four Valve)

1967

  • Lotus Cosworth-Ford DFV debuts at the Dutch Grand Prix Zandvoort: Jim Clark wins by
    27 seconds

1979

  • Castings plant established in Worcester, England
  • Castings manufacture heads and blocks for F1 and Indy Car Series