Niterra is one of the leading automotive and technical ceramics suppliers, with its corporate headquarters in Nagoya, Japan and sales organisations and production facilities all over the world. With more than 16,400 employees, the company’s activities generate a total annual turnover of around 3.7 billion euros worldwide. Niterra is represented on all continents and has 60 group companies, 35 production plants, and five technical centres.

Ever since its founding in 1936, NGK has been synonymous with Spark Plugs and today enjoys the position of global leader in this market. However, the internal combustion engine (ICE)-related business comprises just one part of Niterra, with the company also having achieved significant success in other areas.

With the on-going transformation of the automotive industry, the Niterra 2030 Long-Term Management Plan, ‘NITTOKU WAY’, which was unveiled in 2020, set out the company’s future path, focusing on the successful portfolio transformation towards environmentally sustainable business fields. These are Mobility, Medical, Environment & Energy and Communications

Considering the company’s sustainable business objectives, as well as the forecasted shift away from ICE powertrains, the name ‘NGK Spark plug’ no longer accurately describes the company’s future direction as a whole. Indeed, the current name is strongly associated with the internal combustion engine business segment, which can create an impression that overlooks the positive contribution that the company makes to the environment – especially with its various ranges of sensors, its technical ceramics business and its many new fields of activities.

Global environmental conservation is fundamental to a sustainable society, and is a key business challenge to be addressed head-on for all stakeholders.
On the premise of aiming for carbon neutrality in 2050, we have established “Eco Vision 2030,” which shows the vision (or goal) of what we want to be by 2030 and the vision of what we will pursue until 2040.

For Eco Vision 2030, the impacts that our businesses and products would have on society and our company were analysed, and 13 issues that would have a large impact were selected. Among them, the four issues that were considered to have a greater impact – “Responding to Climate Change”, “Expanding Environmentally Friendly Products”, “Conserving Water Resources”, and “Waste Management” -were positioned as the four important issues, and numerical goals were set for them. Through the practice of Eco Vision 2030, our group will work together to contribute to the realization of global carbon neutrality and zero emissions.