Key sector with future potential
The automotive industry is a key field of excellence in German industry. Due to the worldwide growing
demand for individual mobility, the lack of technological alternatives and the enormous potential for new,
intelligent mobility solutions, the automotive engineering sector will remain a dynamic pacesetter of the
industry in the future as well.
Bavaria - a top automotive location
Some 25 percent of German patent applications in automotive engineering and 16.3 percent
of automotive component suppliers are from Bavaria: This makes Bavaria one of the leading automotive
engineering locations in Germany. Vehicles „Made in Bavaria“ are highly attractive top of
the range products that enjoy high prestige the world over: Almost two thirds of sales are achieved
abroad.
Bavaria ranks among the top global locations in the premium segment. The Bavarian automobile
manufacturers, Audi in Ingolstadt and BMW in Munich are among the most successful and most advanced
in the world. With their high-end top quality, sporty vehicles they generate record figures on the market,
in spite of the problems experienced in this sector worldwide. This success is based on consistent innovation.
In the application of new materials, for example, in modern information and assistance systems, in the
reduction of fuel consumption and emissions –Bavaria's automobile manufacturers are spearheads in this
field of technology. They set the worldwide trend in design.
Bavaria is also the prime location in the commercial vehicle segment. Trucks and busses of the
MAN Group enjoy an excellent reputation based on their innovative technology and highest quality standards,
and are also holding their position in today’s rough economic environment. With its modern product program
MAN can look forward with confidence into the future.
Automotive engineering in Bavaria
Automotive engineering is one of the core competences of the Bavarian industry and has a longstanding
tradition in the State of Bavaria. It was Rudolph Diesel who invented the self-igniting engine in 1893
in Augsburg.
The automotive industry is the sector of industry with the strongest sales in Bavaria (25 percent
of industrial sales output). Approximately 16 percent of all jobs in Bavarian industry are established
in vehicle and vehicle component manufacturing. The sector employs a workforce of some 180,000 people.
This figure is bumped up by a large number of people employed in related production and service sectors.
Bavarian automobile manufacturers can only achieve this top performance with a network of outstanding
suppliers. All in all, there are some 1,000 companies operating in the automotive sector in Bavaria - some 180
of these being „Tier 1-4“ component suppliers.
From the world’s „Top 100“ automotive component suppliers, five are based in Bavaria
(Siemens VDO Automotive, INA, Brose, ZF Sachs, Webasto). Bavaria is home to renowned companies of
tradition such as Dräxlmaier (Interiors, electronics), FTE Automotive (brake and clutch systems), Grammer
(Interiors), Leoni (cables), Rehau (plastics) or Scherdel (springs).
All major international companies have a base in Bavaria (e.g. Delphi, Bosch, Denso, Lear, Johnson
Controls, Faurecia, Arvin Meritor, Federal Mogul, VALEO, INTIER, TRW Automotive). Many SMEs draw on this
strong business location and are geared to provide services as high-performance partners for special
solutions.
Market and partners for automotive engineering in Bavaria
Extensive component supplier competence
The Bavarian automobile manufacturers and the wide technology and product spectrum of suppliers offer
optimal market and cooperation potential.
Core competences of the Bavarian automotive component suppliers are to be found in the sectors of
- Electronics and electrical engineering
- Mechanical engineering and drive systems
- IT and software
- Metal processing and lightweight construction
- Plastic processing
- Textiles and chemical fibers
- Ceramics and glass
Strong networks
BAIKA, the Bavarian Innovation and Cooperation
Initiative of the Automotive Component Supplier Industry is a network operating throughout Bavaria
which promotes cooperation between automobile manufacturers, system suppliers and „Tier 1-4“
suppliers. Twelve automobile manufacturers (Audi, BMW, DaimlerChrysler, Ford, Opel, Honda, Isuzu, PSA,
Porsche, Toyota, Renault, VW) and over 1800 international automotive component suppliers - including the
world’s „Top Ten“ – are active in the BAIKA network. Key features of BAIKA are: innovation
through cooperation, technology transfer, information rationalization and qualification. The services
offered by BAIKA include working groups, cooperation platforms, qualification measures and the support
of international cooperation.
www.OfraCar.de, the competence atlas of the Upper
Franconian automotive component supplier industry, provides a network of cooperation partners from many
sectors and competence fields.
The Lightweight Construction Cluster Landshut
is a network of over 140 companies, research institutes and service providers promoting cross-sectoral
cooperation in lightweight technologies. Key topics are lightweight construction materials, lightweight
construction and manufacturing technologies.
The Ingolstadt Institutes of Munich
Technical University and the Institute
for Applied Research (AF) of the Ingolstadt University of Applied Sciences form a network in close
cooperation with Audi AG, in which science and practice operate hand in hand.
Attractive research environment for automotive engineering in Bavaria
The Bavarian universities offer specific know-how in automotive engineering and experience with industrial
projects:
The automotive sector can draw on the universities of applied sciences (FH) as cooperation partners in the field of application-oriented development:
Beyond this, companies can enter partnerships with renowned non-university research institutions:
Well-qualified workforce for the automotive industry
Companies in the automotive sector can rely of the dual vocational training system as well as the many
universities and universities of applied sciences which guarantee well qualified and highly motivated young
talent. Two of the ten universities and 10 of the 17 universities of applied sciences offer training courses
which are tailored to the specific operations of the automotive industry. All administrative districts offer
training possibilities in the automotive sector.
Optimum environment
Bavaria's central location right in the heart of Europe
A first class transport infrastructure ensures that final assembly factories of automobile manufacturers,
component supplier sites and major global markets are within fast and easy reach.
Because of the close proximity to the new EU Member Sates in Central and Eastern Europe and the existing
East-West competence, Bavaria is an excellent gateway for developing these new and rapidly expanding markets.
Logistics competence „just in time“
Supply and logistics go hand in hand in Bavaria, where innovative solutions for logistics requirements have
a longstanding tradition.
- Efficient large enterprises for the entire logistics spectrum
- Many mid-sized companies also for special solutions
- Development competence and modern solutions for the demanding requirements of supply chain management of
automobile manufacturers
Bavarian initiatives and programs for automotive engineering
Programmed to innovation
Bavaria awards extensive support to business community R&D projects through the
Bavarian Research Foundation
and specific technology
support programs. „New Materials“ and „Micro-System technology“
for targeted support of cooperation projects aimed at developing new materials or electronic
devices. Through these activities Bavaria is able to help companies face the challenges of
the future.
Automotive Component Suppliers' Park HochFranken with Engineering Center
The Bavarian concept for strengthening the automotive industry attaches major importance to the
Automotive Component
Supplier's Park which is built up around the Automotive Engineering Center in HochFranken. The companies are able to develop
innovative solutions in the Automotive Component Supplier's Park in direct cooperation with Bavarian
research institutions, test the developments on the spot and then directly proceed to the production
of small and large series. The Automotive Engineering Center helps companies realize cost, innovation
and time benefits.
Attractive and flexible equipment facilities coordinated to the specific requirements
of users, an interesting business environment and access to comprehensive networks make the
Automotive Engineering
Center Hochfranken with adjacent Component Suppliers' Park an ideal
base for an investment in Bavaria, Germany and Europe.
Information material
www.baika.de
In thecompany database „Key Technologies in Bavaria“ you will
find information on the automotive companies operating in Bavaria.
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