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Electromobility is no longer a vision of the future, it is reality and the market is growing steadily – even if this growth varies greatly from region to region. The differences are primarily due to the economic and legal framework conditions in the respective countries and regions. This is particularly impressive in Asia, where technological innovation, short development cycles and a pragmatic approach to innovation are shaping the market.
For NORMA Group, which makes an important contribution to the efficiency and safety of electric vehicles with its joining solutions for thermal management, cooling and HVAC systems, it is essential to closely monitor these developments.
China’s pioneering role in electromobility
The Asian market – especially China – stands out for its bold approach, its speed, and its user-orientation. Vehicles are strongly oriented towards smartphone logic: User interfaces are intuitive and playful. The consistent focus on the user, combined with the enormous speed of development, clearly sets the Chinese market apart from the rest of the world.
Chinese legislation is a major driver of innovation on the ground: From 2026, the world’s strictest safety requirements for batteries will apply there. These regulations will not only change the Chinese market, but will also significantly impact developments worldwide. This may open up new opportunities for NORMA Group – initial assessments by our local team show that our products are already well positioned.
Our strong market position in China is also reflected in current orders: Customers from the electromobility sector – including well-known brands from the top ten suppliers as well as reputable brands from up-and-coming suppliers – rely on our joining solutions. Applications range from battery thermal management and cooling systems for power electronics and motors to HVAC and heat pump systems. Our products – including Torro, VPP, Torca, cooling water systems and quick connectors – are used in battery electric vehicles (BEV), plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV) and range extended electric vehicles (REEV).
Challenges and opportunities for the European automotive industry
My impression is that the European electromobility market is significantly slower compared to the Chinese market. Long development cycles mean that the current technological standard is already evolving during product development, leading to delays. These circumstances make it difficult to efficiently produce both types of drive in high volumes while at the same time having a negative impact on margins. Planning security for the supplier industry is also suffering as a result.
Markets such as China, where the history of the combustion engine is less pronounced, are shifting to electric motors much faster. Although Chinese electric vehicles are currently still rare on European roads, there is a good chance that their presence will increase with a better sales network and attractive financing offers.
The biggest challenge for European manufacturers is global competition. Market share is increasingly being lost. Chinese brands have currently won the innovation race for the “best smartphone on wheels”. The opportunity for European car manufacturers now lies in repositioning themselves technologically and regaining an attractive image – despite their dependence on Chinese battery cells.
Technological trends in battery technology
The cost of electric vehicles is currently largely determined by the battery. But it is only a matter of time before costs are aligned with those of vehicles with combustion engines. There are already approaches to making batteries more cost-effective through alternative cell chemistries and demand-oriented performance profiles.
A second car or a city car, for example, does not need a large battery with fast-charging capability. Adaptation to the actual needs of users saves costs and makes it possible to produce a wider range of models. The often-discussed question of range will also become less important if the car can be charged everywhere while at work or while shopping – similar to the situation with smartphones, which are now charged at every opportunity. In electromobility, this is referred to as “opportunity charging”.
The advantages of electric vehicles – such as quiet driving, direct acceleration, convenient charging at home and pre-air conditioning of the vehicle – are increasingly becoming a point of focus. There is also the aspect of zero local emissions and the possibility of storing renewable energy in the future.
New requirements for thermal management and battery cooling
Thermal management of electric vehicles is also evolving. While water/glycol circuits continue to advance, their design varies depending on the type of vehicle. Large cooling plates are used for less demanding models. High-performance batteries, on the other hand, require more complex solutions such as immersion cooling, in which a non-conductive liquid is in direct contact with the battery cells. This technology offers a high level of security, but is cost-intensive and therefore not suitable for the mass market.
Car manufacturers are increasingly developing and producing their own battery packs for high-volume models – they account for the largest share of vehicle value creation. Specialized suppliers are only used for models with special requirements. The ratio is currently around 80% OEM to 20% supplier.
For NORMA Group, this means that for high-volume models, our focus is on supply and return lines to large cold plates. For the 20% of batteries that are developed together with suppliers, highly individualized circuits are created that require our expertise.
The challenge is that the battery pack, cell layout, electrics, battery management, housing and connections are usually defined first – and we then have to integrate an optimally functioning circuit in the often tight installation space. These demanding conditions make our development work particularly complex – and at the same time they serve as a decisive competitive advantage.
Battery Show Asia: Visibility in a growth market
Our visit to the Battery Show Asia in Hong Kong in July was an important step towards strengthening our market position in the region. As the only supplier of our kind on site, we managed to attract a great deal of attention with our connectors and the dry brake valve we presented – critical components that play a decisive role in electrical systems.
NORMA Group booth at the Battery Show Asia
Feedback was consistently positive despite the fact that many visitors were initially unfamiliar with NORMA Group. This made it all the more important for us to present our company, our locations and our expertise. Our headquarters in Germany was clearly perceived as a quality feature.
Interview with a journalist from the China Business Network about NORMA Group’s thermal management systems
The large number of Chinese exhibitors was striking – international suppliers were clearly in the minority. At the same time, discussions showed that Chinese companies face major challenges when it comes to entering the European market. Regulatory hurdles, cultural differences and geographical distances make access difficult. Cooperation and joint ventures are therefore becoming increasingly important.
Electromobility is global – but the market remains regional
The differences between the markets – whether in speed, technology or regulations – pose particular challenges for NORMA Group as a global company, but these differences also offer opportunities. The wide range of local requirements calls for customized solutions. This is exactly where we at NORMA Group come in.
Our R&D departments closely monitor technological trends and develop solutions at an early stage to meet future requirements – such as new cell chemistries or innovative cooling technologies. And our engineers work closely with customers to further develop products and adapt them to specific requirements.
Our “local for local” production strategy also enables us to react flexibly to regional market requirements while at the same time optimizing supply chains. This combination of technological expertise, customer proximity and local presence makes us a strong partner.
It was not just the visit to Hong Kong that makes perfectly clear that Electromobility is a global issue – but one that is being shaped locally. Those who understand the regional dynamics can derive important impulses for their own strategies.
