What Bontaz does

Bontaz is a French family-owned automotive Tier-1 supplier founded in 1972 by Yves Bontaz in Marnaz, Haute-Savoie, specializing in hydraulic and fluid flow management components for vehicles. It operates five product areas — Battery Electric Vehicles (B.E.V), Internal Combustion Engines (I.C.E), Fuel Cell, Truck & Off-Road, and Light Mobility (e-bikes) — and is described as a world leader in piston head cooling nozzles since 1995, with products equipping nearly one in two vehicles worldwide. The company runs 24 factories in 11 countries, 4 R&D centers and produces roughly 150 million parts annually, supplying components such as solenoid valves, motorised valves, chain lubricators, parking brake modules, hydrogen fuel cell sub-systems, and hydraulic disc brakes for e-bikes through its Bontaz Light Mobility subsidiary.

Its business model is B2B hardware sales direct to automotive OEMs and tier manufacturers, supported by embedded engineering teams that co-develop components with customer R&D. Revenue streams are diversified across automotive components (ICE and BEV cooling/oil circuits), fuel cell sub-systems for electric and stationary applications, Truck & Off-Road heavy-duty and industrial machinery, and the emerging Light Mobility e-bike business. The company also operates a precision mechanics subsidiary (MOPI), which demonstrated crisis-response capability by producing 10,000 respirator parts within a month during the COVID-19 pandemic alongside PSA and Air Liquide.

Bontaz monetizes through direct OEM contracts (no public pricing, transactions negotiated enterprise by enterprise) and earns its competitive position from vertical integration in moulds, machines and assembly lines, a low-cost-country manufacturing footprint (Tunisia, Morocco, India, Brazil, Portugal), and long-cycle OEM platform specifications. ESG performance is a meaningful commercial lever: Bontaz France has held EcoVadis Gold for two consecutive years (72/100, top 2% in sector), and the group is a UN Global Compact signatory pursuing Science-Based Targets. Leadership comprises Christophe Bontaz as President and Daniel Anghelone as CEO; the company remains family-owned with no outside institutional investor disclosed.

Name

Bontaz

Legal name

Bontaz Centre SAS

Website

https://bontaz.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1972

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Bontaz is a French family-owned automotive Tier-1 supplier designing hydraulic and electromechanical components — piston cooling nozzles, solenoid valves, fuel cell sub-systems, and e-bike disc brakes — for global OEMs through 24 factories in 11 countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Automotive Hydraulic Components

NAICS

Fluid Power Cylinder and Actuator Manufacturing (333995), Fluid Power Pump and Motor Manufacturing (333996), Other General Purpose Machinery Manufacturing (3339)

SIC

General Industrial Machinery & Equipment (3560)

akta.pro primary industry

Pneumatic Components (FRLs, Cylinders, Valves) (IMAHAGAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Hoses, Tubing & Fittings (Hydraulic/Pneumatic Lines & Connectors) (IMAHAGAH), Automotive Refrigerant Lines, Hoses & Thermal Plumbing (IMACALAG)

Keywords

• Automotive hydraulic components
• Piston cooling nozzles
• Fuel cell subsystems
• Solenoid valves manufacturing
• E-bike hydraulic brakes

Headquarters

HQ city

Marnaz

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Automotive components manufacturing: Design, development and manufacturing of hydraulic systems and components for automotive manufacturers worldwide. Products include piston cooling nozzles, solenoid valves, motorised valves, and electromechanical systems.
2. Fuel cell components: Sub-systems for hydrogen fuel cells including H2, air and cooling loop components for electric mobility and stationary applications.
3. Light mobility components: E-bike systems including electric motors and hydraulic braking systems for the bicycle industry.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Bontaz designs, develops, and manufactures hydraulic components and sub-assemblies for the automotive industry, including piston head cooling nozzles, solenoid valves, motorised valves, and electromechanical systems for oil, fuel, and water cooling circuits. The company supplies these components to global OEMs across five business areas: internal combustion engines (I.C.E), battery electric vehicles (B.E.V), hydrogen fuel cells, truck and off-road vehicles, and light mobility (e-bikes). With 24 factories in 11 countries and 4 R&D centers, Bontaz produces 150 billion parts annually.

Product overview

Bontaz is a world leader in automotive hydraulic functions, operating as an Automotive Flow Control Specialist. The company designs and manufactures sub-assemblies and components for hydraulic systems across five main product areas: B.E.V (Battery Electric Vehicle) for electromobility, I.C.E (Internal Combustion Engine) including mechanical systems (piston head cooling nozzles, mechanical valves, chain lubricators) and electromechanical systems (solenoid valves, parking brake modules, motorised coolant valves), Fuel Cell for hydrogen applications with sub-systems for H2, air and cooling loops up to 1MW, Truck & Off-Road for heavy-duty and industrial applications, and Light Mobility through its Bontaz Light Mobility subsidiary focused on electric bike hydraulic braking systems. With 4 R&D centers and 24 factories worldwide, the company serves major automotive manufacturers with products equipping more than one in two vehicles globally.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Bontaz Light Mobility: Business unit dedicated to electric bicycle and light mobility solutions including hydraulic disc brakes
• MOPI

Quantifiable outcome

• 150,000 million parts produced each year
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• French Ice Sports Federation (FFSG)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015Partnership focused on French bobsleigh established at initiative of founder Yves Bontaz. Global partnership covering financial, technical, media and human support. Bontaz R&D teams work with athletes to improve equipment and optimize performance. Development of push car 2.0 for measuring athlete performance.
• PSA Group (Peugeot)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner40-year relationship with PSA Group. During COVID-19, PSA requested Bontaz help find suppliers for respirator components. Bontaz produced 7,000 blocks for Air Liquide respirators within one month.
• Air LiquidecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerManufacturer of respirators. During COVID-19, collaborated with PSA and Bontaz to produce 10,000 respirators within a month using components manufactured by Bontaz.
• Renault GroupcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerAwarded Bontaz as supplier with most progress in CSR among 10,000+ suppliers. EcoVadis-based evaluation of CSR commitment.
• UtopiescoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerSelected as official climate strategy partner to structure Net Zero Emissions Leader axis of CSR policy IMPACT. France's leading sustainable development consulting agency providing methodology for developing Group's climate strategy.
• Supply Chain + AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociation aimed at measuring, benchmarking and certifying Supply Chain across sectors. Bontaz Supply Chain Director Mathieu Bails serves as Vice President.
• Mont Blanc Medias GroupminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerSupported setup of innovative hybrid (physical and digital) corporate seminar on a real TV set.
• Chinese Hydrogen IndustryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerParticipated in 6th CHFE exhibition in Foshan, China - largest hydrogen and fuel cell event in China. Working with groups to impact climate change.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• TI Fluid Systems: TI Fluid Systems designs and manufactures automotive fluid handling systems (fuel, coolant, brake, and HVAC lines) for OEMs globally, the closest direct comparable to Bontaz's hydraulic sub-assembly portfolio for ICE and electrified powertrains.
• Hutchinson: Hutchinson (a TotalEnergies subsidiary) produces sealing, vibration, and fluid transfer solutions for automotive and mobility customers, directly overlapping with Bontaz's solenoid valves, hose sub-assemblies and thermal management components.
• Mahle GmbH: Mahle is a global automotive supplier of engine and thermal management components including piston cooling nozzles and valve systems, making it a direct technology peer in Bontaz's flagship ICE product category.
• Modine Manufacturing: Modine designs and manufactures thermal management and fluid handling solutions including EV battery cooling modules—directly aligned with Bontaz's BEV cooling circuit and truck/off-road thermal products.
• Stanadyne: Stanadyne specializes in precision fuel injection and engine fluid management components for diesel and gasoline powertrains, comparable to Bontaz's fuel circuit and ICE hydraulic sub-assembly business.
• Dayco: Dayco manufactures belt, tensioner and powertrain fluid management systems for automotive OEMs, with comparable products to Bontaz's engine accessories and ICE cooling/oil circuit components.
• Magura: Magura produces hydraulic disc brakes for bicycles and e-bikes, directly overlapping with Bontaz Light Mobility's hydraulic braking products supplied to bicycle manufacturers.

Broad incumbents

• Continental AG: Continental is a broad automotive Tier 1 with overlapping capabilities in fluid systems, sensor/solenoid valve trains and emerging hydrogen components, but competes across the full vehicle stack rather than focusing on hydraulic sub-assemblies.
• Valeo: Valeo supplies thermal management, powertrain and actuation systems (including Valeo Transmission) to global OEMs; multiple Bontaz managers (Christophe Laurens, Dominique Hanquier, Matthieu Bails) previously held senior roles at Valeo, signaling strong functional overlap.
• BorgWarner: BorgWarner is a global automotive propulsion specialist with overlapping solenoid valves, cooling and emissions components across ICE, hybrid and EV portfolios, competing for the same OEM platforms as Bontaz.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCmUwHqc11D-URT2dg1OsM5Q
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bontaz
• Facebookfacebook.com/groupebontaz

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Subsidiaries8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Bontaz