Press Release — renco GmbH Launch (January 2026)

Press release

renco GmbH launches as independent engineering company, building on 15 years of electric vehicle system integration

Cologne, Germany, January 1, 2026 — renco GmbH today announces its establishment as an independent engineering company specialising in electric vehicle system integration and vehicle control unit (VCU) software development. The company continues the work of the same core team that has operated in this field since 2009, most recently as Dana Cologne Technology Center GmbH.

15 years of uninterrupted engineering experience

Renco's origins trace back to 2009, when the founding team established Rational Motion GmbH with a focus on EV prototype development and system-level electric powertrain integration. A defining milestone came through the development of complete electric powertrain control and vehicle software for a Formula E team across Seasons 2 through 5, one of the earliest and most demanding applications of EV powertrain control in motorsport.

From 2020 to 2025, the team operated as Dana Cologne Technology Center GmbH, expanding its capabilities into production programs, functional safety (ISO 26262), cybersecurity, and production-ready VCU software for OEM-level programs.

Today, as renco GmbH, the company offers the same engineering discipline and the same team, now operating independently with full focus on vehicle integration and validated, production-ready control software. As an authorised value-added reseller of Dana TM4, renco also supplies and integrates SUMO motor and inverter systems for commercial, off-highway, and specialty electric vehicle programs.

Engineering services

Renco supports programs where software correctness, functional safety, and hardware-level validation need to be built into the development process from the start. The team's in-house capabilities cover four areas:

VCU software development covers architecture, implementation, and validation through HIL testing. Automotive cybersecurity engineering follows ISO/SAE 21434. Safety-critical software development operates under ISO 26262, with full V-model support and safety analyses including FMEA, FTA, and FMEDA. Powertrain-in-the-Loop testing is carried out on renco's in-house PIL bench, rated at 250 kW continuous and 20 to 1000 Vdc, for software validation against real hardware before vehicle power-up.

Quote

"This is an exciting moment for everyone on the team. We are proud of what we built during our years with Dana, and particularly grateful for the depth we developed in functional safety and cybersecurity. Those competences make us stronger today. What matters most to me is that the team continues together into this new chapter. That continuity is the foundation everything else is built on."

— Carlos Eslava, Managing Director, renco GmbH

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