News & Events

Astemo will present selected highlight topics and its comprehensive aftermarket portfolio at Automechanika 2026 in Frankfurt am Main. The world's leading trade fair for the automotive aftermarket will take place from 8 to 12 September 2026. Visitors will find Astemo in Hall 3.0, Booth E60.

At the center of this year's trade fair presence are several key topics: the 45-year anniversary of air flow meters, the introduction of a new packaging design for the HÜCO brand, and the Astemo 5-year warranty. In addition, the company will showcase proven aftermarket products from its Astemo, HÜCO and TOKICO brands, including solutions for engine management, fuel supply, suspension, electronics, sensors, brakes and steering.

With OE-based technologies, broad product coverage and decades of experience, Astemo supports distributors, workshops and partners in the EMEA region with reliable products and a comprehensive range of solutions for the independent aftermarket.

Highlight Topics at Automechanika 2026

45 Years of Air Flow Meters

In 2026, Astemo celebrates the 45-year anniversary of its air flow meter production. Since the start of series production in 1981, the technology has been continuously developed. The focus has been in particular on improving measurement accuracy, increasing resistance to contamination, and ensuring long-term reliability in vehicle use.

Over the past 45 years, more than 400 million air flow meters have been produced in total. This figure underlines Astemo's decades of experience, the high market penetration of the technology, and the trust placed in it by leading vehicle manufacturers.

The latest evolutionary stage of the air flow meter combines several sensor functions in one component. In addition to air mass measurement, the sensor also integrates pressure and humidity sensors. This allows changes in air density to be taken into account even more precisely and the actual air mass to be determined more accurately, especially under varying ambient conditions.

The most advanced generation currently available is based on silicon technology. This enables particularly fast and precise detection of dynamic changes in air mass and meets the requirements of modern engine generations with highly dynamic operating states and optimized emissions strategies.

A key feature of the technology is the glass-coated sensor element. The special glass coating reliably protects the sensitive element from dirt particles and environmental influences. It makes a major contribution to the long-term durability of the sensor and ensures high measurement stability even under demanding operating conditions. At the same time, the coating supports constant sensor performance throughout the entire service life and thus contributes significantly to the reliability of the overall system.

Air flow meter technology is used worldwide in a wide range of passenger car and commercial vehicle applications with combustion engines. It is particularly widespread in gasoline and diesel engines, where precise measurement of the intake air mass is crucial for mixture formation, emissions control and engine performance. Even with electrification and changing powertrain mixes, the air flow meter remains relevant: in vehicles with combustion engines and hybrid powertrains, precise air mass measurement continues to be an essential basis for efficient combustion, optimized fuel consumption and compliance with legal emission limits. Accordingly, the air flow meter remains an important product in the aftermarket for maintenance and spare parts business.

Astemo air flow meter technology: Since 1981, the technology has been continuously developed - with a focus on measurement accuracy, contamination resistance and long-term reliability.

New HÜCO packaging design

Astemo is also introducing a modernized packaging design for the HÜCO brand. The new appearance combines HÜCO's long-standing aftermarket heritage with a fresh, contemporary design while retaining the familiar blue and red brand colors. It reflects the brand's quality promise and strong recognition in the automotive aftermarket, while supporting a gradual transition in line with existing packaging requirements. Further details will be available in a separate press release on 10 September 2026.

Astemo 5-Year Warranty

From 1 January 2027, Astemo Aftermarket Germany will extend its warranty promise. The company will in future grant a 5-year warranty on products of the Astemo brand. In doing so, Astemo underlines the high quality of its products as well as its confidence in their reliability, performance and durability. The warranty provides distributors and workshops with additional security in the spare parts business. The basis for this is comprehensive development, testing and quality standards as well as the OE know-how of the Astemo Group. Further details on the new warranty promise will be announced later in a separate press release.

Product Highlights

Astemo will present highlights from several product categories at Automechanika 2026. The focus will be on technologies that support efficient engine operation, reliable vehicle performance and high product coverage in the aftermarket.

Parking Brake Actuator

Did you know that ... Astemo is one of the world's leading providers of brake systems.

Brakes and brake systems have been at the core of the companies of the Astemo Group for more than five decades.

Astemo's technology for automatic parking brakes (APB), together with the corresponding actuator, represents an important step toward fully integrated "brake-by-wire" systems. With more than 60 million units installed worldwide, Astemo is now bringing its proven OE quality to the aftermarket for the first time.

At market launch, the Astemo portfolio comprises three products that are used in more than 6,000 vehicle applications and cover more than 10 million vehicles in the EMEA region.

Glow Time Control Units

Did you know that ... Astemo has the largest range of glow time control units in the entire aftermarket.

To facilitate engine starting and ensure operation below 0°C, glow plugs are used. They increase the temperature in the combustion chamber at the point where the diesel-air mixture is injected. Glow plugs have very low resistance, ranging from 0.3 Ω to 1 Ω when cold and changing rapidly as the temperature increases. This low resistance allows for high current flow.

The role of glow time control units extends beyond merely switching this current on and off. Various timing parameters must be considered, depending on the vehicle model year and the type of glow plugs used:

• Pre-heating time
• Heating time
• Post-heating time

Temperature also influences these timing specifications.

Early control units used internal timing for the switch-on duration. They were adjusted according to temperature and used relays to switch the current. In some cases, two relays were used to handle the high current. From around 2001, newer units became fully controlled by the Electronic Diesel Control (EDC). These communicate via a bus signal and use modern semiconductors instead of relays. This also enables them to detect defective glow plugs. Since 2007, the latest control units have been using the LIN protocol for bus communication and therefore have advanced failure check modes.

Astemo's portfolio comprises 130 of these control units, covering more than 8,500 vehicle types and offering extensive coverage and high quality.

Fuel Supply

Did you know that ... Astemo has achieved the smallest height in the industry - 47 mm from flange to apex - through a unique internal configuration, resulting in an improved design for mounting.

Astemo addresses all components of the fuel supply system - from fuel feed units, pumps or fuel level sender units through the high-pressure pump and up to the injectors. Astemo also offers control units for fuel pumps from its own production.

Low-Pressure Fuel Supply

Astemo's extensive range of fuel pumps, fuel feed units and fuel level sender units is among the fastest-growing product groups. With more than 1,000 products for more than 130 million vehicles in the EMEA region, the company has consistently achieved double-digit percentage growth. This gives Astemo around 60 percent market coverage and has established the company as one of the market leaders in this area.

Control Units for Fuel Pumps

Conventional fuel pump control, which operates at full power and feeds excess fuel back to the tank, is outdated due to efficiency losses. Vehicles built from 2003 onwards feature a control unit that regulates fuel demand. It is controlled by the engine control unit, which measures the fuel pressure in the low-pressure system and communicates these values to the fuel pump control unit. This control unit adjusts the fuel pump power using an internal characteristic curve, reducing fuel heating and minimizing vapor formation.

High-Pressure Pumps

For more than 20 years, Astemo has been the OE supplier for high-pressure pumps manufactured in Germany. The product portfolio covers more than 18 million vehicles in Europe. The high-pressure pump and the fuel pump function as the engine's heartbeat and supply the injectors with the required pressure to ensure efficient fuel injection.

Modern engines with direct fuel injection use high-pressure pumps, which offer higher torque and power with the same displacement, better accelerator response and reduced fuel consumption. The fuel pump supplies fuel to the high-pressure pump at up to 6 bar, which then increases the pressure to approximately 350 bar. The high-pressure pump, driven mechanically by an additional cam on the intake camshaft, is mounted directly to the engine. The flow rate is controlled by the flow control valve. The valve opens to prevent further pressure build-up as soon as the required pressure is achieved.

High-Pressure Pumps Up to and Including Generation 5

The current product portfolio includes high-pressure pumps up to and including Generation 5. These pumps can build pressures of up to 500 bar. The Generation 5 high-pressure pumps feature stainless-steel bodies for lower noise, higher efficiency and low weight. They are used, among others, in modern 1.0 TFSI and 1.5 TFSI engines, including hybrid engines, ensuring future OEM supply.

The Generation 5 pumps introduced in 2017 are already used in more than 4.5 million vehicles in the EMEA region.

Ignition Coils

Did you know that ... Astemo produces more than 15 percent of the world's annually manufactured ignition coils for various OEMs.

An ignition coil transforms the battery's low voltage into the high voltage needed by spark plugs to ignite the air/fuel mixture. It consists of primary and secondary coils with different numbers of copper windings. When the primary coil's electric current is switched off, a high voltage is induced in the secondary coil. Modern engines typically use one or two single coils per cylinder. This contrasts with older systems that used one ignition coil for all cylinders via an ignition distributor and ignition cables.

Astemo's product portfolio comprises more than 420 ignition coils, covering more than 14,800 vehicle types.

Air Flow Meters

Did you know that ... Astemo is the number one supplier of air flow sensors in the world.

Compliance with legal emission standards is crucial in automobile development and requires precise measurement of the air mass-to-fuel ratio. This is achieved using air flow meters. These sensors measure the air mass in combustion engines and provide values to the engine management or fuel-injection system. This defines the injected fuel quantity based on performance requirements, air pressure and temperature.

Functionally, air flow meters use an indirect measurement of airflow. A heating element, powered during operation, is cooled by the incoming air. The resulting heat loss indicates the air mass. A larger air mass results in a larger temperature difference.

Astemo's product portfolio comprises more than 180 air flow meters, covering more than 6,800 vehicle types.

Shock Absorbers

Did you know that ... 1 out of 5 new cars is manufactured with OE shock absorbers from Astemo.

Shock absorbers are vital to a vehicle chassis because they reduce shocks and vibrations while driving. This happens by converting kinetic energy into heat via hydraulic fluid or gas in a piston rod-cylinder assembly. This control improves handling, traction and ride comfort.

Astemo's portfolio comprises more than 1,000 products marketed under the TOKICO brand.

Throttle Bodies

Did you know that ... 1 vehicle out of 5 in the world is equipped with a throttle body by Astemo?

The electronic throttle body, positioned between the air flow meter and the intake manifold, regulates the engine air intake. The air-to-fuel ratio changes with the throttle valve's opening angle, synchronized with the accelerator pedal and engine control unit (ECU) data. The ECU determines the optimal throttle valve position based on collected data, with electronic control ensuring efficient engine performance.

Astemo has extensive experience with electronic throttle bodies and has supplied all major vehicle manufacturers for decades.

Astemo's portfolio comprises more than 100 products, covering more than 67 million vehicles in the EMEA region.

About Astemo

Astemo, headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, is a joint venture between Hitachi, Ltd., Honda Motor Co., and JIC Capital, Ltd. With 80,000 employees worldwide and operations in Americas, Asia, China, Europe and Japan, the company is a global mega-supplier in the automotive industry. The Electric Business Division, Vehicle Business Division, and Motorcycle Business Division are engaged in the development, manufacture, sales, and service of automotive parts as well as transportation and industrial machinery and systems. Astemo is committed to creating a sustainable society and delivering enhanced corporate value.

For more information, visit: www.astemo.com

About Astemo Aftermarket

Astemo Aftermarket is one of the leading partners for electronic parts in the automotive and motorcycle aftermarket. The constantly growing portfolio includes products from the fields of electronics, shock absorbers, fuel delivery, steering, engine management and sensor technology. The regional competence center in Espelkamp is responsible for the development, production, sales and logistics of Astemo's aftermarket activities for the EMEA region.

For more information, visit: www.aftermarket.astemo.com/emea/en/