At Automechanika Frankfurt 2026, Mann + Hummel celebrated its 85th anniversary. But instead of looking back, the company looked ahead. Its message was that in a world full of noise and uncertainty, focus matters. Separate what’s useful from what’s harmful, that’s exactly what filters do. And for 85 years, that’s exactly what Mann + Hummel has done best.
A One-Stop Filtration Partner
Ms. Hasmeet Kaur, President, Transportation Division, MANN+HUMMEL Group, said what sets the company apart is not just the breadth of its product range but the depth of its commitment to the entire vehicle lifecycle, from first fit through authorised workshops and into the independent aftermarket. The company operates across passenger cars, heavy-duty vehicles, commercial vehicles, off-road applications, and multiple industrial sectors, with a presence in virtually every geography.
“As a family-owned company, it thinks in decades, not quarters. In a world where supply chain resilience has become a top customer concern, that long-term mindset, combined with a strategy of localising production for each region, is a genuine competitive advantage,” she said.
Sustainability that Works Without Trade-offs
The most compelling part of Mann + Hummel’s story at this year’s show was its approach to sustainability, not as an eco-friendly add-on, but as a core engineering principle built around three non-negotiables such as real environmental benefit, no compromise on performance, and no added complexity for customers.
According to Mr. Jorge Sala, Vice President, Automotive Aftermarket, Mann + Hummel, two breakthrough innovations illustrated this perfectly. The first is lignin-based filter media, replacing fossil-linked impregnation in oil and air filters with a plant-based alternative derived directly from wood, a byproduct of the pulp industry. The result is a 27% reduction in crude oil dependence and a more than 5% improvement in overall carbon footprint. Crucially, the filters look and perform identically, the only visible difference is a slightly browner filter media and a small green leaf on the box.
The second innovation is recycled activated carbon, off-cuts from the production process are reactivated to 100% filtration capability and reused in new carbon filters. More than 100-part numbers featuring this technology are being launched, saving 70% of the carbon footprint associated with activated carbon production and recycling approximately 30 tonnes of material per year, equivalent to 240 million coconut shells. However, “the price to the customer is unchanged. Eco normally sounds like more expensive. It is not. Same specification, same price, yet much more sustainable,” he said.
Ready for Electrification
Ms. Kaur said electrification does not eliminate the need for filtration; instead, it changes it. Thermal management, battery safety, and cabin air quality are all areas where filtration plays a critical role. Mann + Hummel’s smoke removal venting unit, designed specifically for battery safety in electric vehicles, is already deployed with major EV OEMs globally. Its cabin air filtration technology for electric vehicles is another growing focus area, she mentioned.
Chinese OEMs: Opportunity, Not Threat
The rise of Chinese automotive brands in global markets is reshaping the aftermarket landscape rapidly. In Africa and Latin America, 30-35% of new vehicle registrations are now Chinese brands. In Europe, Chinese vehicles already account for 10% of new registrations, with the UK seeing figures as high as 90% in some recent quarters. However, for Mann + Hummel, this is not a threat, it is an opportunity, said Mr. Cedric Dackam, President & General Manager – Automotive Aftermarket, of the company. With 30 years of experience operating in China, the company is well placed to support its customers in navigating the new vehicle population. Its priority is speed, how quickly it can bring the right filtration applications to market for Chinese platforms, supported by strong data management and category expertise.
The Multi-Brand Strategy
This brand depth, Mr. Dackam pointed out, is also key to competing across price points as Chinese platforms enter new markets. Mann + Hummel’s portfolio spans three distinct brands, Mann Filter, its premium brand with 85 years of engineering heritage; Filtron, delivering premium quality at the right price point, and Wix Filters, an iconic 87-year-old American brand now sold across Africa, the Middle East, Asia, and Europe. Together, they represent over 272 years of combined filtration heritage, and a one-stop solution for customers across every market and price point, he highlighted.
The Bigger Picture
Beyond electrification, filtration’s relevance is expanding even further. Asked whether confining to filtration is limiting the opportunity to enhance content per vehicle, Ms. Kaur said commercial vehicles, agriculture, mining, construction, aerospace, defence, energy, home appliances, and industrial applications all represent significant and growing filtration opportunities. Beyond transportation entirely, Mann + Hummel’s life sciences and environment division addresses clean air and clean water globally, markets where demand is only going in one direction.
“The sky is the limit. The real risk is not how do we grow. The real risk is whether we can keep pace with the opportunities in front of us,” she added.