Automotive Products Business

Offering a wide lineup of products

Approximately 100 to 150 bearings are used in each automobile produced. NSK supplies a wide range of bearing types including hub unit bearings, which support the vehicle wheel, as well as bearings for the transmission and electrical components bearings for engine and air conditioner.

In recent years, NSK has been developing and manufacturing products in response to the electrification of vehicles, including parts for hybrid cars, electric vehicles, and automobiles powered by fuel cells. NSK is producing compact, lightweight bearings that reduce friction loss and noise, always striving to make automobiles more reliable and fuel efficient. This is one way that NSK seeks to promote global environmental conservation while simultaneously improving the safety and comfort of vehicles.

Achieving dramatic growth in the steering systems business

Among its automotive components, NSK develops and manufactures electric power steering (EPS) systems that employ a motor to make the steering wheel easier to turn and help drivers control their vehicles safely and comfortably. EPS systems not only help make driving more comfortable by reducing the force needed to turn the steering wheel, but also improve fuel efficiency and, through the application of electronic control technology, contribute to safer driving. Consequently, demand for these systems is growing worldwide. NSK holds a large share of the global market for EPS systems, and anticipates growing demand in the future for its renowned column-type EPS designed for compact cars, particularly from emerging countries.

NSK also supplies many other kinds of automotive components, including steering columns, high-quality steering components such as intermediate shafts, as well as friction materials and one-way clutches for automatic transmission systems. These friction materials improve fuel efficiency by efficiently controlling force, while the one-way clutches are used in idle reduction system.

In addition to supplying automotive markets in Japan, the United States and Europe with high-performance products designed to ultimate level of reducing friction, light weight and compact, NSK's Automotive Products business segment is focusing on developing enhanced reliable products for emerging markets such as China and India, where usage conditions can be severe.

Automobile mechanism is changing rapidly since the efficiency improvement of engine and transmission, in addition, electrification is becoming more demanding.

NSK will work to optimize the design of specific automobile components, strive to facilitate the optimal design of all automobile functions such as from running, turning and stopping of vehicles. Further more, with wide range of engineering and experience, NSK intends to keep contributing to vehicles comfort, safety and environmental performance.