Nidec Corp. has acquired a 100 percent of the shares of driveXpert GmbH specialized in design and development of hardware and software for automotive electronic control unit (ECU) from its shareholders on Nov. 30, through the company’s subsidiary, Nidec Motors & Actuators (Germany) GmbH. As a result of the transaction, driveXpert GmbH became a consolidated subsidiary of Nidec.

Nidec says it is placing strategic importance on the market for automotive ECUs and electric motors, which is expected to double from 2.8 trillion yen (approximately $25 billion USD) in 2016 to 6 trillion yen ($53 billion USD) by 2030 as electrification of in-vehicle parts accelerates. Today, the company supplies high-performance brushless DC motors to a variety of automotive applications, such as electric power steering systems, engine cooling fans and electric oil/water pumps.

driveXpert has the high technical capability in designing ECUs for foregoing applications. The transaction will enable the combination of Nidec’s high-performance motors and driveXpert’s high precision ECUs. Given today’s automotive industry moving fast toward EV/PHV platforms, the industry is putting a growing premium on hardware and software design that achieves unprecedented levels of safety, environmental performance and driving comfort.

Also, driveXpert is located near the Ilmenau University of Technology and engaged in high-level electrical engineering research and education. It currently conducts joint research with the university and accepts interns and graduates. Nidec and driveXpert will work in tandem to nurture engineering talents through hands-on education, adding new competitive edge to Nidec’s European automotive components business.