Melexis Launches 1st China-Made Current Sensor

Melexis has launched the MLX91241, its first current sensor to be manufactured locally in China, according to a post the company issued on September 16 via its WeChat account Manufactured by HHGrace, the chip represents a milestone in Melexis’ localization strategy and reflects the company’s commitment to China, a major market for electrification.

China continues to play a leading role in global electrification across areas including electric vehicles (EVs), power conversion and renewable energy management. To keep pace with the pace of innovation and demand in the Chinese market, Melexis previously outlined a localization roadmap aimed at expanding its business through localized logistics and end-to-end local manufacturing capabilities.

Melexis said it continues to apply the same global quality standards to chips manufactured by HHGrace. At the same time, local manufacturing is intended to enable shorter development and iteration cycles, an optimized cost structure and greater supply chain resilience for customers in China.

The delivery of the MLX91241 marks a concrete step in Melexis’ strategy to integrate core wafer manufacturing into its local supply chain.

Given China’s position in high-efficiency electrification applications, Melexis said it has selected current sensing as an entry point for its localized manufacturing strategy. In automotive powertrain and energy management systems, safe, accurate and efficient current monitoring is an important element in maintaining stable system operation.

The new MLX91241 is a high-speed conventional Hall-effect current sensor IC designed for high-power electrification systems. It is suited to demanding applications including EV traction inverters, 48V energy recovery systems, DC-DC converters and photovoltaic inverters.

The product combines Melexis’ expertise in magnetic sensing with localized manufacturing and packaging capabilities, addressing the Chinese market’s demand for fast response and consistent product quality, according to the company.

Dieter Verstreken, vice president of China strategy at Melexis, said the launch of the MLX91241 represents a concrete step in the company’s commitment to deepening its presence in China.

Through close collaboration with HHGrace, Melexis’ localization strategy is now operational, he said, adding that the approach is intended to strengthen regional supply chain coordination while maintaining the quality standards expected by customers. The MLX91241 is the starting point of Melexis’ localization efforts in China, with more locally manufactured chip products planned for the future.

Engineering samples of the MLX91241 are now available to the market. As the first product under Melexis’ localization strategy in China, the device is expected to provide a foundation for the company to develop a broader portfolio of locally manufactured solutions.