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MAHLE's Inspiring Journey in Diversity and Inclusion

MAHLE, a leading player in the mobility industry, has garnered global recognition for its exemplary approach to promoting diversity and inclusion (D&I). Over the past year, the company has significantly advanced its initiatives in Japan, showcasing its commitment to creating an inclusive environment where diverse talents can thrive.

In anticipation of 2025, MAHLE plans to establish a dedicated D&I Promotion Office in Japan. This strategic move reflects the company’s dedication to enhancing D&I awareness within its workforce. The organization has executed various engagements including surveys and dialogues with diverse leaders from top management across East Asia, fostering an open communication channel to amplify the importance of D&I.

A notable result of these efforts is the dramatic increase in D&I awareness among employees, which surged from 34% to 71% in just six months, according to internal surveys. This impressive gain speaks to the efficacy of MAHLE's innovative engagement strategies tailored to align with Japanese and automotive industry-specific cultural nuances.

The external validation of MAHLE’s initiatives is further evidenced by its receipt of the “D&I AWARD 2025 Individual Award” from JobRainbow, a significant recognition in Japan’s D&I landscape. This accolade exemplifies MAHLE’s ongoing commitment to fostering a culture that values diversity and inclusion by acknowledging individuals who promote D&I values, nurture empathy, and drive organizational transformation.

As Yasuhiko Kinoshita, President of MAHLE Japan and Chief Executive for East Asia, stated, “The evolution of MAHLE's technology, which supports global mobility, is powered by the unique personalities of our employees. A workplace environment that fosters individual strengths based on diverse values, experiences, and backgrounds is essential to innovation and fuels MAHLE’s growth.”

MAHLE’s D&I mission focuses on cultivating a comfortable work environment for all employees, ensuring that every unique perspective, experience, and idea is recognized as vital to innovation and performance. The company strives to enhance talent development and recruitment through D&I initiatives, supporting an environment where creativity can flourish.

In Japan, MAHLE has established unique goals, priority areas, and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) based on successful global D&I examples. The launch of the dedicated D&I Promotion Office has already yielded significant progress. Future strategies will be tailored to fit specific cultural practices across various locations and departments, further driving awareness and engagement.

In line with its commitment, MAHLE emphasizes awareness initiatives not only on “International Women’s Day” but also aims to enhance recognition of “International Men’s Day,” supporting diversity in all forms.

Implementation of Major Initiatives

MAHLE’s comprehensive D&I survey, conducted across all its domestic locations, has led to a remarkable increase in recognition of D&I—jumping from 34% to an impressive 71% in just six months. Moreover, D&I dialogues and interviews involving diverse leaders, including top management from East Asia, have created valuable opportunities for employees to reaffirm the importance of D&I messages from their leaders. Various in-house programs addressing D&I topics have nurtured direct conversations between top management and employees, facilitating an environment for leadership to listen to employee voices effectively.

MAHLE’s D&I Leadership Conference Japan further encouraged participation from employees of all genders, creating networking opportunities with experienced executives from other companies in the automotive sector and fostering collaborations to drive D&I efforts in shaping the industry’s future.

D&I AWARD 2025 Individual Award

The Evangelist Award recognizes individuals who promote D&I values, and is one of the central accolades in the “D&I AWARD 2025” program organized by JobRainbow. This award aims to honor those who spread the importance of D&I, foster shared understanding, and promote transformational efforts within organizations. “In promoting D&I, it’s crucial to embrace the unique culture and strengths of each organization—its essence,” says Minori Tanaka, Learning, Employer Branding, and D&I Specialist at MAHLE Group East Asia. “We will continue to evolve MAHLE’s initiatives, ensuring a safe environment for every employee to flourish.”

For media inquiries and more details, you can visit the MAHLE Newsroom.



Image credit: MAHLE GmbH

About MAHLE: Founded in 1920, MAHLE is a global partner and supplier in the automotive industry, specializing in passenger and commercial vehicles. The company focuses on electrification and thermal management strategies to drive forward climate-neutral mobility and backs clean combustion engines powered by renewable fuels. With operational reach within 135 production locations and 11 technology centers, MAHLE employs approximately 68,000 people worldwide and reaches revenues of around €11.7 billion in 2024. In Japan, MAHLE has been operating for over 50 years, leveraging its extensive expertise to support major Japanese automotive manufacturers in both domestic and international markets. MAHLE Japan employs around 2,600 individuals across 17 locations nationwide.

For further information, visit MAHLE Japan's Official Website.

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