Rolls-Royce Power Systems AG (RRPS) is a German-headquartered industrial subsidiary of Rolls-Royce plc and the parent of the MTU brand of high-speed diesel engines, gas engines, and stationary power generators. The MTU lineage traces to Friedrichshafen aircraft and airship engine works of the early twentieth century and evolved through several corporate ownerships to become one of the world’s leading high-speed marine, locomotive, and stationary engine builders. RRPS is in the process of being acquired by Cummins Inc., with regulatory approvals in progress as of 2026.
Foundation: Maybach and Friedrichshafen
The corporate lineage begins with Wilhelm Maybach (1846 to 1929), Gottlieb Daimler’s principal collaborator and engineer, who left Daimler in 1907 to establish his own works at Friedrichshafen on Lake Constance. The Maybach-Motorenbau GmbH was founded in 1909 to produce engines for the Zeppelin airship programme. Through the First World War the Friedrichshafen works became a major supplier of aviation and airship engines.
After the First World War, the Treaty of Versailles restrictions on German aviation activity led the Maybach works to diversify into automotive, locomotive, and marine diesel applications. Karl Maybach, Wilhelm’s son, led the company from 1922 and presided over decades of growth in luxury automotive and high-output diesel engines.
The MTU lineage
The Motoren- und Turbinen-Union (MTU) brand was created in 1969 through the merger of Maybach Motorenbau, Mercedes-Benz industrial diesel division, and Daimler-Benz aero engine activities. The marine and industrial diesel business operated as MTU Friedrichshafen, with the aero engine business eventually splitting off as MTU Aero Engines (a separate company unrelated to RRPS).
Through the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s MTU Friedrichshafen developed the Series 1163 (V12, V16, V20 medium-large high-speed) for naval frigates and corvettes, the Series 396 (V8, V12, V16) for tugs and yachts, and the Series 595 for high-output applications. The Series 4000 was introduced in 1996 as a clean-sheet replacement for the Series 396 and quickly became the company’s flagship marine product.
Tognum and the EQT/Daimler ownership
Through the 2000s the Friedrichshafen marine engine business was reorganised under the Tognum AG holding company, headed by Bodo Uebber and partly owned by Daimler AG and the private equity group EQT. Tognum’s portfolio included the MTU brand, Detroit Diesel North American operations, the MTU Onsite Energy stationary power business, and the L’Orange common-rail injection system business.
In 2011 to 2014 Rolls-Royce plc and Daimler AG jointly acquired Tognum and renamed the company Rolls-Royce Power Systems AG, with each parent holding 50 per cent. In 2014 Rolls-Royce plc acquired Daimler’s stake to take 100 per cent ownership. The renamed RRPS continued the MTU brand and integrated the legacy Tognum subsidiaries.
Bergen Engines partial divestiture
A separate development through this period concerned Bergen Engines, the Norwegian medium-speed marine engine builder that had been part of Rolls-Royce Marine since the late 1990s acquisition of Vickers. In 2021 Rolls-Royce attempted to sell Bergen Engines to TMH Group of Russia, but the Norwegian government blocked the sale on national security grounds. Bergen Engines was subsequently sold to Langley Holdings (UK) in 2021. Bergen Engines is therefore not part of RRPS and not part of the pending Cummins acquisition.
Rolls-Royce divestment of broader Marine
Rolls-Royce plc had acquired the Vickers marine business in 1999, which included Kamewa propulsors, Aquamaster thrusters, Bergen Engines, and assorted naval marine systems. In 2018 the Rolls-Royce Commercial Marine business (Kamewa, propellers, thrusters, automation, but not Bergen Engines or the high-speed engine business) was sold to Kongsberg Maritime, restructuring the marine portfolio. Rolls-Royce Defence Marine and the high-speed engine business under MTU/RRPS remained with Rolls-Royce.
Pending Cummins acquisition
In late 2024 Cummins Inc. announced an agreement to acquire 100 per cent of RRPS from Rolls-Royce plc. The acquisition is subject to regulatory approval in the European Union, the United States, the United Kingdom, and other jurisdictions, and is expected to complete in 2026.
The acquisition consolidates Cummins as the broadest high-speed diesel engine company globally, combining Cummins QSK (US-based, strong inland waterway and global service network) with MTU Series 4000 (Friedrichshafen-based, premium naval and megayacht references). Brand and product line decisions for the combined entity will be finalised after closing.
Current product structure
The MTU marine portfolio in 2026 includes:
- Series 4000: V8/V12/V16/V20 high-speed, output approximately 1,000 to 4,300 kilowatts. The flagship marine and naval product.
- Series 1163: V12/V16/V20 medium-large high-speed, primarily naval. Output approximately 2,000 to 4,000 kilowatts.
- Series 2000: V8/V12/V16 mid-output high-speed for yachts and workboats. Output approximately 700 to 1,800 kilowatts.
- Series 1600: smaller V engines for yachts, fishing, and patrol craft.
- Series 1000: smallest mass-produced MTU marine engines for yachts and workboats.
Manufacturing footprint
MTU engines are produced principally at:
- Friedrichshafen, Germany: the historic plant and global engineering centre.
- Aiken, South Carolina, USA: North American manufacturing.
- Suzhou, China: Chinese-market manufacturing.
Service centres operate across Europe, the Americas, Asia-Pacific, and Africa.
Outlook
Beyond the pending Cummins acquisition, the MTU product range is being progressively updated for the energy transition through:
- HVO certification across the marine product range.
- Hydrogen and methanol pilot programmes.
- Hybrid integration with battery and DC bus systems.
- mtu Hybrid PowerPack rail traction product line.
The company’s strong naval references — Series 4000 powers more than fifty navies’ patrol boats, frigates, corvettes, and OPVs — provide a particularly defensible market position less exposed to commercial shipping cycles.