MARKET ANALYSIS AUTOMOTIVE SUPPLIERS GERMANY: TOP 100 RANKING 2025
The 2025 Ranking: In our 2025 market analysis of automotive suppliers in Germany by MEYER INDUSTRY RESEARCH, we systematically examine the leading 100 automotive suppliers in Germany.
Facts about companies and the industry: The market analysis "Automotive Suppliers Germany 2025" collected data on the current revenue development of the top 100 suppliers with headquarters and production facilities in Germany, the development of company profits, and the distribution by product group. The Munich-based market analysts also analyzed the regional distribution of the industry in Germany.
Revenue and employment are (still) positive, but profitability remains unclear: The total revenue of Germany's top 100 automotive suppliers amounted to €279 billion in 2023. Compared to the crisis year of 2020, the revenues of the top 100 players have thus increased significantly again in recent years. The average revenue of the top 100 is growing at a CAGR of 6.9%, from €2,600 million in 2019 to €3,400 million in 2023. This development also demonstrates the trend toward further consolidation among automotive suppliers. However, a considerable portion of the revenue increases is likely also attributable to inflation and the associated price increases, coupled with higher material costs. The number of employees at the major automotive suppliers studied has increased significantly since 2019, with an average growth rate of approximately 4.5% per annum. However, given the large-scale job cuts recently announced by many major players, this trend is likely to come to a halt from 2024 onwards, and at the latest with their implementation in 2025. Profitability development varies considerably, with some companies becoming significantly more profitable recently. At the same time, numerous suppliers in the middle to lower ranks of the ranking are also operating at a loss.
Global players and hidden champions: While well-known industry giants like Bosch, ZF, Continental, and Schaeffler naturally top the revenue rankings, the analysis reveals that the German supplier landscape is characterized by many "hidden champions"—companies that are relatively unknown to the public. A high proportion of these are family-run, long-established businesses.
MATTHIAS MEYER, MANAGING DIRECTOR OF MEYER INDUSTRY RESEARCH, ON THE MARKET STUDY
“Global rankings of the automotive supplier industry have existed for years. However, our market analysis projects show that the German automotive supplier industry, in particular, is considered one of the world's leaders. Against this backdrop, we wanted to take a closer look at the high-performing German companies behind this success in 2018 and compiled a ranking of the top 100 German suppliers. Since then, we have been regularly monitoring this crucial supplier industry for Germany and its 100 most important representatives, analyzing how these companies are managing the industry's transformation.”
Diversification into new sectors among the top 100 automotive suppliers is (still) not clearly evident
Automotive remains the core business: Among companies that generate a large portion (76% to 99%) or all of their revenue in the automotive sector, there have been some diversification efforts in recent years: In 2023, 70% of the top 10 companies generated more than 75% of their revenue in the automotive segment, compared to 74% in 2020. A clear trend towards a more diversified customer base is therefore not yet apparent in the currently available figures.
Electronics and e-mobility components are leading the way: Over time, it has become clear that more and more of the top 100 suppliers are providing OEMs with electronics. This is also the most important product segment in 2023, followed by e-mobility and engine/ powertrain. In addition to electronics, the product segments of e-mobility, C-parts, and chassis are also gaining in importance. The number of exterior suppliers among the top 100 has steadily decreased.
REGIONAL DISTRIBUTION: BADEN-WÜRTTEMBERG, BAVARIA AND NORTH RHINE-WESTPHALIA AS TOP LOCATIONS
The south and west lead the way: According to the study, the headquarters of the 100 largest German automotive suppliers are concentrated in southern and western Germany. More than three-quarters of the suppliers are headquartered in Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, and North Rhine-Westphalia. These states are therefore the hardest hit by the industry crisis affecting Germany's most important automotive suppliers.
Christian Scherer, Automotive Analyst at MEYER INDUSTRY RESEARCH and co-author of the study, comments: “We clearly see a concentration of leading automotive suppliers in the south and west of Germany. At the same time, it must be taken into account that the German headquarters of each company were evaluated here. If the production sites of the automotive suppliers were included in the analysis, regions in eastern Germany would likely also be significantly more prominent.”
MARKET RESEARCH AGENCY FOR MARKET ANALYSIS IN INDUSTRY AND TECHNOLOGY
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