Partnership with Chaowei, Metair powers up MOLL from niche player to global battery supplier
- MOLL has gained the trust of Porsche, Lamborghini, Audi, Škoda and Volkswagen during its 74 years in operation
The global automotive battery market is forecast to reach US$95.57 billion by 2025 at a compound annual growth rate of 7.9 per cent – a massive, competitive industry where leaders are determined not by mere volume, but by unmatched quality and innovativeness.
MOLL has proven so for 74 years, through which it has remained a niche player, while gaining the trust of Porsche, Lamborghini, Audi, Škoda and Volkswagen, among other distinguished carmakers.
The Kamina system and MOLL EFB are undoubtedly two of the most important battery inventions of their time
The award-winning company’s legacy of innovation is reflected by its various patents, such as the Kamina central degassing system MOLL invented in 1953, which is now used by nearly every battery worldwide. Recent breakthroughs include the Enhanced Flooded Battery (EFB) for stop-start function, which combines the advantages of the classic lead acid battery with exceptional performance and more than triple the cyclic lifetime of a normal battery.
“The Kamina system and MOLL EFB are undoubtedly two of the most important battery inventions of their time,” says MOLL commercial director Dr Klaus Eichhorn. “These are the kinds of contributions we aim to pursue as we take bolder steps as a global player.”
The move is backed by MOLL’s partnerships with Hong Kong-based Chaowei Power Holdings and Johannesburg-headquartered Metair Group. Chaowei is the largest manufacturer of lead-acid electric bicycle batteries in China, while Metair is a global producer, distributor and retailer of energy storage solutions and automotive components.
Over the next three years, MOLL will be building a competence centre and doubling its production capacity for car batteries in its headquarters in Bad Staffelstein.
These will complement its production growth in China through Chaowei, so that clients such as Volkswagen and Audi can be directly served locally. “Crucial to MOLL’s expansion is following the markets, breathing with the markets and managing technology shifts,” Eichhorn says.
“These strategic partnerships will allow a medium-sized family business to successfully meet the challenges of a global economy.”