Webasto – A tradition of progress Webasto

For more than 100 years, Webasto in Stockdorf near Munich has been setting new technological standards. The company counts as one of the world’s largest 100 suppliers for the automotive industry and as one of Germany’s top 15 automotive suppliers.

WEBASTO –

A TRADITION OF PROGRESS

For more than 100 years, Webasto has been setting new technological standards again and again with its developments.

Webasto, headquartered in Stockdorf near Munich, has been developing and manufacturing products for the automotive industry for more than 75 years. It counts today as one of the world’s largest 100 suppliers for the automotive industry and as one of Germany’s top 15 automotive suppliers. Webasto’s core competencies include the development, production and sales of convertible systems and sunroofs as well as heating, cooling and ventilation systems for passenger cars, recreational vehicles and boats as well as commercial and special vehicles. The company has been family-owned ever since its foundation in 1901. In 2011 the group achieved sales of around €2.3 billion and employed 9,500 employees worldwide.

Global footprint

Webasto is a global automotive supplier and has more than 50 locations worldwide – 30 of which are manufacturing plants. The company started its global footprint very early. In 1974 the first international subsidiary in the USA near Detroit was established. For years later the first Asian subsidiary with production plant was opened in Japan (Hiroshima). Webasto has been active in Korea through the joint venture Webasto Donghee since 1988. The market leader for roof systems has also has been active and successful on China’s growth market since 2001. The European production sites can

Webasto develops innovative solutions for comfort and safety in various types of vehicles following the company’s motto “Feel the Drive”.

Webasto has more than 50 locations worldwide – 30 of which are manufacturing plants. For example, the retractable hardtop roof is produced in Palmela, Portugal. Today Webasto is the global market leader for roof systems. The trend moves towards panoramic roofs, even in small vehicles. Thereby the development with lightweight constructional components is important, like with polycarbonate as used by Webasto.

be found in Germany, France, Italy, Great Britain, the Netherlands, Portugal, Slovakia and Romania.

Original equipment and aftermarket

Webasto develops innovative solutions for comfort and safety in various types of vehicles following the company’s motto “Feel the Drive”. When developing new products and services, the company focuses on the wishes and requests of its customers. In this way, innovative and market-specific solutions are created for OE partners as well as for the aftermarket. This includes the development and production of complete convertible systems and sunroofs for car manufacturers as well as heating, cooling, and ventilation systems for cars, commercial and special vehicles, boats and trains (OE and retrofitting).

Webasto constructed the first automotive folding roof that could be opened or closed with just a few simple steps. That happened in 1932 and Webasto turned into an automotive supplier. Since then Webasto developed e.g. the panorama roof and introduced it to the market. Today Webasto is the global market leader for sunroofs, offering a broad OE product portfolio: tilting/sliding sunroofs, spoiler roofs, panorama roofs and solar roofs. The technologies are all based on technologies developed and produced in-house.

The first parking heater system was developed and produced by Webasto in 1935. Today Webasto is market leader for parking heaters for cars and delivers auxiliary and parking heater to all well known automotive manufacturer. In addition special installation kits make it possible to retrofit cars with parking heaters.

As of January 2010 the convertible roof business of Edscha AG and the Webasto convertible business unit were combined to make

The first parking heater system was produced by Webasto in the 1930s. Webasto has been the market leader in this field for years.

Commercial vehicles like trucks and construction machines pose special challenges to manufacturers. Webasto offers solutions to improve the comfort in the driver’s cab with its air and water parking heaters and airconditioning systems. Webasto has been developing and producing for the marine industry for about 15 years. The company provides its customers with complete solutions for heating and cooling, as well as roof systems from one source – a unique position in the marine market.

Webasto-Edscha. In addition the Karmann business in North America with sites in the US and Mexico was taken over in August 2010. That makes Webasto-Edscha the leading suppliers of convertible systems. As part of the Webasto Group, its core competences are the development and production of complete soft tops and retractable hardtops. And it offers a comprehensive range of services: concept development and styling, product development including simulation, serial development as well as planning and support for the complete production process.

Special requirements for commercial vehicles

Commercial vehicles like trucks and construction machines pose special challenges to manufacturers. As an example, several European countries have laws that regulate the idling of engines when the vehicle is parked. Webasto offers solutions to reduce idling with its air and water parking heaters and airconditioning systems. These non-idling solutions run independently of the engine, thus lowering the fuel consumption and associated pollutant and carbon dioxide emissions. And drivers benefit from the improved comfort in the driver’s cab.

Webasto offers comfort “on board”

Webasto also has been developing and producing innovative equipment for the marine industry for about 15 years. Today, the company provides its customers with complete climate control solutions for heating and cooling, as well as roof systems from one source – which is a unique position in the marine market. The comprehensive product portfolio has given the company a decisive advantage over the competition.

What the Future holds

The demands of politics and society for the vehicle of the future are clear: it should be safe, economical and environmentally friendly. This is also the challenge for Webasto. In addition to alternative drives, solutions made of alternative materials must be developed for all areas of the vehicle, enabling the highest levels of safety, weight reduction and design freedom. With its advanced technologies in the fields of lightweight construction (like polycarbonate and Webasto Glas ProTec®), solar applications for sunroofs as well as ecofriendly heating systems of e-cars, Webasto is strongly positioned in this area. n