STUTTGART, Germany, Feb. 7, 2005 (PRIMEZONE) -- MAHLE has increased its share in Izumi Piston Manufacturing Co., (Thailand) Ltd. from 34 to 52 percent, effective retroactively from January 1, 2005. The company will now operate under MAHLE Engine Components Thailand Ltd. and supplies the Thai automotive industry with 1.8 million pistons per year, predominantly for diesel engines for passenger cars and commercial vehicles.
The 370 employees at the Bangkok location currently achieve sales of around EUR 13.1 million. The positive development of the Thai automotive market leads us to expect significant growth in sales in the next few years.
In taking this step, MAHLE is consistently pursuing its expansion strategy in Asia. With 7 locations, MAHLE now has a production capacity of 18 million pistons and is one of the largest suppliers in this sector on the most dynamic growth market.
The MAHLE Group is the leading manufacturer of pistons, engine components and filter systems worldwide. With over 35,000 employees at 65 production locations, MAHLE achieved sales of more than EUR 3.7 billion in 2004, which makes it one of the 30 largest automobile suppliers worldwide.