Auto Suppliers Tick Off Crisis

2023 Author: Eric Donovan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-08-25 09:36

Short-time work and empty halls - the crisis hit automotive suppliers particularly hard. There is no longer any trace of this; many companies have long had completely different problems: They are working at the limit of their capacity and struggling with rising raw material prices.

The global car boom is filling the order books of the supplier industry - after good figures in 2010, the industry is hoping for records this year. Most companies have long since ticked off the crisis. Companies no longer have to worry about the lack of demand. On the contrary: in many places the capacity limit is being worked on. The managers are particularly concerned about rising raw material prices. "These are great uncertainties that we can not yet estimate," said a spokesman for the Bavarian seat manufacturer Grammer on Tuesday in Amberg, Upper Palatinate.

Full order books

The crisis had deeply affected many suppliers. In 2009, global sales fell by an average of a quarter, and in Germany alone more than 70 companies went bankrupt. Hardly any of this can be felt. "It looks brilliant in the auto industry," said auto expert Ferdinand Dudenhöffer. The order books are full. In China and the USA in particular, demand has risen sharply. "2011 could be a record year," said Dudenhöffer. As early as 2010, many companies followed up on the time before the crisis. Leoni, for example, reported record sales.

The Nuremberg-based cable and wiring system specialist increased its sales in 2010 to a record value of 2.96 billion euros after a conversion program and job cuts. The group thus clearly exceeded its own expectations. In addition to the increased prices for copper, the strong demand in the USA and the growth markets of China, Russia and Brazil in particular drove sales. Leoni expects further growth in the current financial year. The company wants to break the three billion euro mark in 2011.

Surplus after the crisis year

Before interest and taxes (EBIT) there was a profit of 131 million euros in 2010 - after a minus of 116 million euros in 2009. Leoni did not provide any information on the surplus when the preliminary figures were presented. According to earlier information, a surplus of around 55 million euros should be targeted. Leoni plans to present the full annual balance sheet on March 23. The group reacted to the crisis with restructuring measures and cut thousands of jobs. However, due to the increasing demand, staff have been hired again in the meantime.

Seat manufacturer Grammer also saw a steep rise last year. Compared to the crisis year 2009, revenues rose by almost 28 percent to 929.3 million euros. Sales were thus above the twice-raised forecast. In the crisis year of 2009, revenues fell by around 28 percent to 727 million euros. After a pre-tax loss of 23.9 million euros in 2009, Grammer was also able to return to the black in operational terms. Before taxes and interest, Grammer posted a profit of 32.7 million euros.

Record sales at Bosch

Things went just as well last year at the automotive suppliers PWO and Rheinmetall. They too clearly exceeded their expectations. PWO increased its sales in 2010 by 57.8 million to 264.2 million euros. At the piston manufacturer Rheinmetall, sales increased by 30 percent.

The industry leader Bosch also reported record sales in January. 2010 should have gone well at Continental and Schaeffler too. The affiliated companies will present their figures in the coming weeks. (dpa)