MTU Friedrichshafen GmbH is a manufacturer of commercial internal combustion engines founded by Wilhelm Maybach and his son Karl Maybach in 1909. Wilhelm Maybach was the technical director of Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft (DMG), a predecessor company of the German multinational automotive corporation Daimler AG, until he left in 1907. On 23 March 1909, he founded the new company, Luftfahrzeug-Motorenbau GmbH (Aircraft Engine Manufacturing Corp), with his son Karl Maybach as director. A few years later the company was renamed to Maybach-Motorenbau GmbH (Maybach Engine Manufacturing Corp), which originally developed and manufactured diesel and petrol engines for Zeppelins, and then railcars. The Maybach Mb.IVa was used in aircraft and airships of World War I.
The company first built an experimental car in 1919, with the first production model introduced two years later at the Berlin Motor Show. Between 1921 and 1940, the company produced various classic opulent vehicles. The company also continued to build heavy duty diesel engines for marine and rail purposes. During the Second World War, Maybach produced the engines for Germany's medium and heavy tanks. The company was renamed MTU Friedrichshafen in the 1960s and continued to supply the engines for the Leopard 2 main battle tank.
MTU derives from Motoren- und Turbinen-Union meaning "Motor (Engine) and Turbine Union".
MTU Friedrichshafen remained a subsidiary of DaimlerChrysler until 2006 when it was sold off to the EQT IV private equity fund, becoming a part of the Tognum Corporation. Rolls-Royce Holdings and Daimler AG acquired Tognum in 2011. In 2014, Tognum was renamed Rolls-Royce Power Systems, having become a 100 per cent subsidiary of Rolls-Royce Holdings.
The company manufactures diesel engines for trains, ships, oil and gas installations, military vehicles, agriculture, mining and construction equipment, as well as diesel generators and Molten carbonate fuel cells.
1909: Foundation of Luftfahrzeug-Motorenbau GmbH in Bissingen an der Enz as part of the Zeppelin corporation. The company manufactures engines for airships.1912: 1911/12 relocation to Friedrichshafen; the name is changed to Motorenbau GmbH.1918: Motorenbau GmbH is renamed Maybach-Motorenbau GmbH. After the end of the First World War the company began to manufacture car engines.1966: Merger of the two companies Mercedes-Benz Motorenbau Friedrichshafen GmbH and Maybach-Motorenbau GmbH to form Maybach Mercedes-Benz Motorenbau GmbH.1969: Maybach Mercedes-Benz Motorenbau GmbH is renamed Motoren und Turbinen-Union Friedrichshafen GmbH. The company is a subsidiary of MTU München GmbH which is owned at equal shares by Daimler-Benz AG and MAN AG until 1985.1989: Incorporation of MTU Friedrichshafen in Deutsche Aero-space AG (DASA), a company of the Daimler-Benz Group.1994: Cooperation of MTU Friedrichshafen with Detroit Diesel Corporation1995: MTU Friedrichshafen and MTU München go their separate ways; MTU Friedrichshafen becomes a direct subsidiary of Daimler-Benz AG.2001: MTU Motoren- und Turbinen-Union Friedrichshafen GmbH is renamed MTU Friedrichshafen GmbH.2005: In late 2005, the DaimlerChrysler Off-Highway business unit, including MTU Friedrichshafen and the Off-Highway division of Detroit Diesel Corporation, is sold to the Swedish financial investor EQT Partners.2006: The business is transferred into the new holding company Tognum, with MTU Friedrichshafen as its core company.2009: MTU Friedrichshafen celebrates its centenary. In the same year introduction of the new Series 1600, rounding off the performance range at the lower end of the product portfolio.2011: Rolls-Royce Holdings and Daimler AG announced they were buying Tognum2014: Tognum was renamed Rolls-Royce Power Systems2014: From 26 August Rolls-Royce Power Systems became a 100 per cent subsidiary of Rolls-Royce HoldingsPacific Power Group - Serving Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Alaska and Hawaii.
Vessels powered by MTU and Pacific Power group include:
San Francisco Water Emergency Transportation Authority Ferries - Pacific Power Group (PPG) of Washington continued its long and successful relationship with WETA by engineering a propulsion system with twin MTU 12V4000M 64+ engines rated at 1,950 HP (1,454 kW) and ZF 7600 reduction gears, turning Michigan Wheel CX-500 (NiBrAl) five-bladed propellers for a top working speed fully loaded of 27 knots. PPG's engineers worked closely with the builders (Vigor Industrial) to develop a system that meets weight goals and provides easy installation and maintenance for WETA.City of Portland Fire boats - "Pacific Power Group provided a complete propulsion power solution. Pacific designed and engineered the solution which included the main engines, transmissions and drive lines for the boats to have the necessary high-performance firefighting capabilities. The vessels are powered by MTU 8V2000 M84 engines and Rolls-Royce FF450S waterjets. This allows significantly faster response times in the city’s large emergency response area, as the boats can travel up to 40 knots".National Geographic Expedition Vessels - Two 12-cylinder Series 4000 M54 engines, each producing 1,600 hp at 1,800 rpm, will provide propulsion. Service and support will be provided by Pacific Power Group, based in Washington. Since 2001, Pacific has repowered and supported three National Geographic Expeditions vessels with MTU engines.Delta Marine Yachts: MR. Terrible Western Branch Diesel
Smith Power Products
Wajax - Serving Ontario, Quebec, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and the Maritimes.
