Driving Toward the Goal of a Sustainable Future:
Strategic Partnership Between McLaren Racing and TDK
In October 2024, TDK forged a technology partnership with the legendary British motorsport team McLaren Racing. This collaboration brings together the technological expertise of both companies toward the shared goal of driving innovation and sustainability in the automotive field. On May 17 and 18, 2025, Tokyo E-Prix—one of the world’s premier electric Formula racing events—was held in Ariake, Tokyo, offering huge crowds a firsthand glimpse into the future of electric mobility.
Formula E—Pushing the boundaries of technology and sustainability
The partnership between McLaren Racing and TDK unfolds on the stage of Formula E, an international racing series contested exclusively by fully electric formula cars. Governed by the FIA (Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile, or International Automobile Federation in English), Formula E represents a bold new chapter in motorsports. Unlike traditional formula racing, where the high-pitched roar of combustion engines dominates the scene, these battery-powered vehicles streak through urban circuits at speeds of up to 280 km/h. Often dubbed the “F1 of electric vehicles,” the series tours cities across the globe as teams vie for the annual championship title.
TDK has entered into a strategic technology partnership with McLaren Racing’s NEOM McLaren Formula E Team. TDK’s technologies are already found inside Nissan e-4ORCE 05, the powertrain propelling the team’s current race car. At 2025 Tokyo E-Prix, held on May 17 and 18, the world’s top electric formula machines battled it out on a street circuit custom-built in the Japanese capital’s Ariake waterfront district.
But Formula E is far more than a battle for rankings at the finish line. It is a competitive proving ground for the evolution of the entire automotive industry with the common goal of a more sustainable future. As the global shift toward electric vehicles accelerates, manufacturers view Formula E as a prime platform to showcase both their technological prowess and their visions for tomorrow. Innovations vital to the EV era—from high-efficiency electric powertrains and lightweight component technologies to advanced thermal management systems—are put to the ultimate test in these competitions.
F1 Sim Racing—The eSport enthralling a new generation
The collaboration between TDK and McLaren Racing extends beyond the physical racetracks of Formula E. A key arena is F1 Sim Racing, a virtual motorsport where drivers race on Formula 1 circuits digitally recreated with stunning accuracy inside state-of-the-art simulators. Seated in specialized rigs, drivers manipulate their virtual cars using controls that faithfully replicate the handling of actual F1 machines.
The virtual sport is gaining massive traction among younger audiences, drawing tens of thousands of live viewers worldwide. With real-time race footage streamed widely across platforms like YouTube and Twitch, it is evolving into a new cultural phenomenon stretching beyond the boundaries of conventional eSports. TDK is lending its support to the McLaren Shadow F1 Sim Racing Team in this space as well, supplying advanced technologies from sensors to power supply solutions that underline its expertise as a cutting-edge electronic components manufacturer.
Solutions by TDK—Sensors, passive components, and sustainability
TDK develops and manufactures a broad range of electronic components for today’s rapidly growing xEV and ADAS markets, including power supply products and DC-DC converters indispensable to EV powertrains. Highlighted below are products and technologies driving the advancement of automotive technology, grouped by category.
● Sustainability and Power Management
The continued adoption of xEVs hinges on improving battery performance and minimizing energy loss. TDK helps achieve these goals through passive components like DC link capacitors. The company also supplies protective components that ensure electromagnetic compatibility (EMC), power inductors accommodating various voltages, and high-precision temperature sensors. High-reliability components designed for chargers, capable of handling high voltages and large currents, contribute to faster charging times.
● Speed and Performance
Driver assistance systems, such as adaptive cruise control and lane keeping, require the close coordination of cameras, LiDAR, radar, and ultrasonic sensors for real-time vehicle control. TDK enhances the performance of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) by offering an extensive lineup of components, from common-mode chokes and capacitors for noise suppression to power inductors.
● Safety, Functionality, and Comfort
With its diverse portfolio of sensor technologies, TDK enables both driver assistance and safety. MEMS microphones and ultrasonic sensors detect obstacles when reversing and identify irregular movements of surrounding vehicles. Touch displays with haptic feedback, wireless smartphone charging coils, EMI countermeasure components, and noise suppression technologies help deliver a comfortable, stress-free driving experience.
True to the adage “race-to-road transfer”, the technologies honed in Formula E will eventually find their way into mass-produced vehicles. The collaboration between TDK and McLaren Racing holds the potential to catalyze technological breakthroughs in the xEV market.
TDK is dedicated to driving transformation in the mobility sector through its state-of-the-art electronic components and sensors. As vehicle electrification and functional sophistication continue to accelerate, technologies refined at the pinnacle of racing promise to enhance everyday cars, improving their performance, safety, and energy efficiency—ultimately elevating the environmental performance of automobiles worldwide. Eyeing the goal of a sustainable mobility society, TDK’s pursuit of innovation is boldly entering the next phase, transcending the boundaries of motorsports and eSports alike.
