Science & Tech · Gadgets & EVs · 7 hrs ago
Mennekes weighs its next move as Europe’s electric-car market shifts
Mennekes helped make its Type 2 plug the EU standard for electric-car charging in 2014.
The family-owned company is based in Kirchhundem in Germany’s Sauerland region and was already a global leader in industrial plugs.
Its charging technology became widely used across Europe, while the company’s revenue grew from €120 million in 2014 to nearly €300 million in 2022, according to Mennekes.
Industrial plugs still account for about half its business, with products sold in more than 90 countries.
Electric-car sales fell sharply in 2024, affecting the company, but new registrations are now rising again.
Mennekes must decide how strongly to pursue electric-car charging while continuing to invest in industrial plugs.
The company is developing new products in both areas, but the next steps it will take are not specified.
Mennekes, the German family company known for industrial plugs, is weighing whether to focus more on electric-car charging systems or on its industrial-plug business.
Its Type 2 charging system became an EU standard in 2014 and is used to charge electric cars across Europe.
The company’s revenue rose from €120 million in 2014 to nearly €300 million in 2022, according to Mennekes.
After a sharp downturn in electric-car sales in 2024, new registrations are now rising again, leaving the company to consider its next move.
- Who
- Mennekes, a family-owned company based in Kirchhundem in Germany’s Sauerland region.
- What
- The company is weighing whether to expand its electric-car charging business or focus on industrial plugs.
- When
- The article was published on 18 October 2026. The Type 2 system became an EU standard in 2014.
- Where
- Kirchhundem, Germany, and the European electric-car market.
- Why
- The electric-car market has fluctuated, including a sharp downturn in 2024, while new registrations are rising again.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Walter Mennekes and colleague Voker Lazzaro presented the company’s charging system to the European Commission.
The Type 2 charging system became an EU standard.
Mennekes’ revenue reached nearly €300 million, up from €120 million in 2014, according to the company.
Electric-car sales suffered a sharp downturn.
The article reported that new electric-car registrations were rising again and that Mennekes was considering its next move.
- Headquarters
- Kirchhundem, Sauerland, Germany
- Type 2 system
- Became an EU standard in 2014
- Revenue
- €120 million in 2014; nearly €300 million in 2022
- Employees
- 1,600 in total; 1,100 in Germany
- Industrial-plug reach
- Sold in more than 90 countries
What people are saying
Spätestens seit der Entwicklung des Typ 2-Ladesystems für Elektromobilität sind wir international bekannt
So muss der Monteur statt etwa sechs Einzel-Steckdosen nur noch einen Verteilerkasten mit sechs Steckdosen anschließen