MEYLE’s new HD brake rotor has won the Automechanika Innovation Award in the “Advanced Parts & Vehicle Technologies” category at Automechanika Frankfurt 2026. The Hamburg-based aftermarket supplier says the MEYLE HD brake disc is the first product to bring its HD engineering principle to the braking system, targeting the wear and corrosion conditions created by regenerative braking.
Why Regenerative Braking Changes Rotor Requirements
According to MEYLE, vehicles with regenerative braking use their conventional friction brakes far less often, which creates new challenges for brake components. The HD brake rotor was developed for those conditions, the company says. The design has been a recurring theme in laser-coated rotor development as electrified vehicles leave friction brakes idle for long stretches.
Two features define the product, per the release:
- Laser-coated friction surface intended to hold up under infrequent use
- Enhanced long-term corrosion protection applied to both friction and non-friction surfaces
Coordinated Rotor and Pad Solution
The rotor is offered as part of a coordinated solution together with a MEYLE brake pad. The company frames the product as an example of its HD approach: re-examining established designs, anticipating changing requirements, and developing replacement parts for what comes next.
The award follows a period of expansion for the supplier’s brake portfolio and sales organization, including new commercial leadership in the UK and Ireland earlier this year.
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