Segment Overview

The Car Electronics segment began with the manufacture of regulators used for the control of motorcycle battery charging. Products for motorcycles still account for more than 70% of segment sales. Our mainstay electronic control units (ECUs), which help to control motorcycle engines, are widely used in motor scooters in Asia, and our regulators are used worldwide. We also manufacture inverters for portable engine generators, converters used in electrified vehicles and other products, providing products to the motorcycle, four-wheel vehicle and general-purpose machinery industries.

R&D

In the motorcycle field, we are working to establish drive control technology for sensorless motors for internal combustion engine-related products and assist control technology as an additional function. For electrified vehicles, we have established map-less regenerative control technology and surge reduction technology for PCUs, and are establishing resin moldless waterproof structures to reduce environmental burden. In addition, we have developed portable chargers that employ a new circuit system and vehicle-mounted chargers that can communicate with Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE).

In the automobile field, we have developed high-voltage input and output power supplies that incorporate platform technology and established technology for pre-charge functions as an added feature.

In the general-purpose field, we are promoting activities that lead to front-loading of product development, such as rubber analysis and resin flow analysis to improve simulation technology.

Capital Investment

Segment capital investment was aimed mainly at expanding production capacity at Okabe Shindengen Co., Ltd. in the four-wheel vehicle field and at Shindengen India Pvt. Ltd. in the motorcycle field.

Progress in the Second Year of the 16th Medium Term Business Plan

Opportunities and Risks in the Electronic Device Business

• Opportunities

  • Increased volume of electrification-related components for motorcycles due to tightening environmental regulations
  • Growing DC/DC converter demand due to the spread of electrified vehicles

• Risks

  • Decreased volume of engine-related components due to the electrification of motorcycles and general-purpose machinery
  • Growing development burden due to the shift from single component supply to multifunctional system unit development and unit security enhancement

Car Electronics Business Strategy

• 1. Earnings structure construction

  • Expand the customer base:
    Expand sales of regulators and ECUs for motorcycles to new customers.

• 2. Building a foundation for expansion of growth businesses

  • Expand sales in the EV market (included PHEVs and HEVs):
    Proactively take part in the electrification plans of automobile and motorcycle OEM manufacturers, including those overseas, to develop products.

• 3. Focusing resources on product groups that can reduce greenhouse gas emissions

  • In ten years, sales of current mainstay products for motorcycles and general-purpose machinery engines will decrease, while sales of electrification-related products will rapidly expand.
  • Focus on the development of such products as PCUs for motorcycles, motorcycle motor drivers using power devices manufactured by the Electronic Device segment as key parts, DC/DC converters, chargers, bidirectional inverters that use power source technology (one of our core technologies); and external chargers and other electrification-related products for use with battery energy supplies.