Rolls-Royce Power Systems’s CEO Andreas Schell said he believes that the diesel engine remains indispensable despite changes in the automotive industry and the manufacturer’s own plans to focus on services.
“We are not going to take our leave of the diesel but are convinced that it will in future continue to be an integral part of our product portfolio – in the medium term, however, to a lesser degree as is the case today,” said Schell. “Because there is often no alternative, it is constantly being developed further and we have just recently presented the fifth generation of our MTU Series 4000 engine.”
Hybrid drive systems, gas engines, alternative fuels and possibly even fuel cells will in some cases replace it, he added.
“Whatever happens, however, we intend to offer our customers the most appropriate solution – often with, but more frequently without diesel. For this reason, we are changing and will be offering our customers new solutions and products we don’t yet have today. That will secure our future,” added Schell.
Adjusted revenue was up 6% to £1.553 billion (or €1.778 billion) in the first half of 2019 with services seeing a 7% rise in income.
“This shows that our customers no longer simply buy an engine or a drive system but tend increasingly to purchase a total package that includes maintenance, which offers them reliability and fail-safe stability with calculable costs,” said Schell.
