Hella Automotive South Africa is stepping up its focus on thermal management, with Product Manager Grant Christian using the Hella Synergy event in Sandton on 9 June 2026 to outline an ambitious aftermarket growth strategy built on expanding product coverage, technical support and changing vehicle demand.
Addressing attendees at the event, Christian said Hella’s move into thermal management should be viewed as a return rather than a fresh entry. He pointed to the company’s previous involvement in the field through its Behr partnership, arguing that Hella already has a strong foundation in the category and is now re-establishing that position under its own name.
Christian said the timing reflects the way the vehicle market is evolving. Modern vehicles, he explained, generate and manage heat in far more complex ways than older models. Beyond the traditional requirements of engine cooling, thermal management now has a wider role across turbocharged systems, electronics, sensors, control units, hybrid components and electric vehicle technologies. That, he said, is creating a growing need for dependable replacement parts in the aftermarket.
To meet that demand, Hella began rebuilding its thermal management range in 2025, launching around 900 stock keeping units across six product categories for passenger vehicles, commercial vehicles and light commercial vehicles. This year the company added another 1,000 SKUs, and Christian said the business is targeting a portfolio of more than 6,000 SKUs by 2027. Additional expansion is already planned for 2028 as the range is broadened further.
Christian said the strategy is rooted in local market realities. South Africa’s vehicle parc is changing, with Asian brands becoming increasingly prominent, and Hella has been shaping its product plans around those shifts. The aim, he said, is to ensure that the portfolio reflects the vehicles most commonly seen in workshops and on the road.
The current range covers both engine cooling and air conditioning, with products including radiators, intercoolers and expansion tanks, as well as compressors, condensers, interior blowers and expansion valves. Taken together, the portfolio currently spans around 2,400 SKUs across 70 product lines.
That offering is expected to grow further over the next two years. Christian said Hella plans to add product lines such as heat exchangers, thermostat management modules, thermostats, pressure switches, high-pressure lines and evaporators. The company is also preparing for greater involvement in thermal management solutions for hybrid and electric vehicles, reflecting broader changes in the automotive sector.
Alongside product growth, Christian stressed the importance of making those parts practical and profitable for customers. He said Hella aims to support fitment and serviceability by supplying related components where needed, including items such as gaskets, O-rings and circlips. Technical assistance will also form part of the offer, supported by digital resources that provide installation guidance, technical information and diagnostic support.
Product data quality is another area Hella is prioritising. Christian said the company is working to ensure accurate application information, OE references and specifications are available through platforms such as TecDoc, helping customers identify the correct parts with greater confidence.
He also highlighted stockholding efficiency as a key advantage. By simplifying parts coverage in some applications, Hella believes customers can reduce inventory complexity while lowering the risk of ordering errors. In practice, that means a smaller number of more versatile SKUs may be able to cover applications that competitors serve with multiple separate part numbers.
Christian’s message was that thermal management is becoming an increasingly important category as vehicle technology develops, and Hella intends to be a serious long-term player in that space. With a rapidly growing product range, a focus on the South African car parc and a commitment to technical support, the company is seeking to establish itself as a stronger presence in the aftermarket.
Staff Writer
Reporting from the front lines of the automotive industry, delivering expert analysis and the technical updates that drive the South African motor sector forward.
