FEV acquires electronics engineering firm DGE Inc.

FEV GmbH (Germany) and FEV, Inc. (FEV) of Auburn Hills, Mich. announced today that it has completed the acquisition of DGE Inc. (DGE), an electronics engineering firm located in Rochester Hills, Mich. FEV calls the acquisition a strategic move to enhance its current electrical / electronics and vehicle systems expertise, and to broaden its reach into the area of telematics and infotainment systems. Stefan Pischinger, President and CEO of the FEV Group and Gary Rogers, president and CEO of FEV, Inc. made the announcement.

“The mechanical and electronic functions of the automobile have become inseparable,” said Rogers. “There is virtually no vehicular system that is untouched by electronics and computer control. As a vehicle systems developer, FEV has been in the forefront of this technology, and with the acquisition of DGE Inc., we will extend that capability to software development, validation, as well as unique test systems. It allows the company to now influence systems that touch the end user.”

DGE will become a subsidiary of FEV, Inc., the U.S. operation of the FEV Group, headquartered in Aachen, Germany. As private companies, terms of the acquisition are not being disclosed. DGE will remain at its current location in Rochester Hills.

Founded in 1984, DGE specializes in creating products that help vehicle electronic systems communicate. Its wide range of products includes gateways and associated hardware, and communications drivers including Bluetooth and other wireless protocols. Its capabilities also include the design of network architecture, including validation testing for components that must stand up to the rigors of daily use in vehicles.

DGE develops applications for intelligent vehicles that can communicate beyond in-vehicle systems, including infotainment systems that connect with external devices such as iPods and smart phones. One application is under development for interface with smart traffic intersections as part of the Intelligent Transportation System.

“I am excited to play a lead role as the DGE family transitions into this new chapter,” said Stephan Tarnutzer, COO of DGE. “We will be able to apply DGE’s complementary capabilities and technologies together with FEV’s worldwide presence to provide our customers with unprecedented end-to-end global engineering services and products.”

Stefan Pischinger, president and CEO of the FEV Group, stated that the expertise of the two companies is extremely complimentary and provides a very strong capability set to the combined world-wide customer base.

“The work of FEV has expanded globally over the past 35 years and, today encompasses not only powertrain and transmission design, but entire vehicle systems,” said Pischinger. “We have grown our electronics expertise accordingly, and have become recognized experts in control system, algorithm development, and integration. By merging the expertise of DGE with our own capabilities we can now develop complete systems from a clean sheet of paper to the final user interface.”

About FEV

The FEV Group is an internationally recognized powertrain and vehicle engineering company that supplies the global transportation industry. FEV offers a complete range of engineering services, providing support across the globe to customers in the design, analysis, prototyping, powertrain and transmission development, as well as vehicle integration, calibration and homologation for advanced internal combustion gasoline-, diesel-, and alternative-fueled powertrains. FEV also designs, develops and prototypes advanced vehicle / powertrain electronic control systems and hybrid-electric engine concepts that address future emission and fuel economy standards. The FEV Test Systems division is a global supplier of advanced test cell, instrumentation and test equipment. The FEV Group employs a staff of over 2,500 highly skilled specialists at advanced technical centers on three continents. FEV, Inc. employs over 400 personnel in its North American Technical Center in Auburn Hills, MI.