Schaeffler AG (FRA: SHA)

Quick Facts / Company Snapshot

Company Name: Schaeffler AG (Schaeffler Group)
Headquarters Location: Industriestr. 1–3, 91074 Herzogenaurach, Germany
Chief Executive Officer: Klaus Rosenfeld
Chairman of the Supervisory Board: Georg F. W. Schaeffler
Total Revenue (2024): EUR 18,188 million
Revenue at Constant Currency Growth (2024): 12.9%
EBIT before special items (2024): EUR 811 million
EBIT Margin before special items (2024): 4.5%
Net Loss (2024): EUR -632 million (attributable to shareholders of the parent company)
Earnings per Share (2024): EUR -0.86
Total Assets (2024): EUR 21,370 million
Shareholders’ Equity (2024): EUR 3,969 million
Net Financial Debt (2024): EUR 4,834 million
Free Cash Flow before M&A activities (2024): EUR 363 million
Capital Expenditures (2024): EUR 956 million
Number of Employees (Headcount): 115,055
Global Production Facilities: 104
Research and Development Centers: 34
Product Families: 8
Majority Shareholder: INA-Holding Schaeffler GmbH & Co. KG (approx. 79%)

Company Overview

Schaeffler AG, operating globally as the Schaeffler Group, is a premier, integrated automotive and industrial supplier. Embodying the core claim “We pioneer motion,” the organization functions as an advanced innovation partner with comprehensive expertise spanning development, complex systems integration, and precision manufacturing. Recognizing that motion is the fundamental connecting element across diverse technological spheres, the enterprise actively supports a massive global customer base in navigating the wide range of modern motion technology. By strategically repositioning itself as the leading Motion Technology Company, the organization has cemented its role in shaping how the world moves.

The enterprise is structurally massive, employing 115,055 personnel across a global network of more than 200 locations.
This localized presence is heavily anchored by 104 advanced production facilities worldwide.
Innovation is driven locally through a powerful network of 34 dedicated research and development centers, supported by the central technology center located in Herzogenaurach, Germany.

The Schaeffler Group’s highly diversified organizational structure deliberately supports common technology and manufacturing capabilities to create profound synergies across products, sectors, and divisions. The company explicitly serves 10 distinct customer sectors, ranging comprehensively from passenger cars, light commercial vehicles, and heavy commercial vehicles through to numerous specialized industrial sectors. The organization’s technical capability is deeply rooted in its twelve core manufacturing technologies. These technologies enable the enterprise to efficiently reflect vertically integrated value and supply chains entirely within the company at a top-level quality standard. This manufacturing prowess starts with traditional forming techniques and winding technologies and expands entirely through to surface coating technologies and additive manufacturing, making the firm an absolute expert in a broad range of technologies for modern industrial production.

Sustainability and climate change mitigation operate as pivotal, uncompromising elements of the corporate strategy. They significantly shape the entire product range and govern the organization’s response to key global megatrends such as electrification, autonomization, digitalization, and connectivity. The enterprise continuously develops energy-efficient products and actively reduces its consumption of resources in production with the ultimate aim of minimizing its environmental footprint. By consistently delivering top efficiency in production and development, ensuring absolute scalability, and committing to sustainability, the organization is perfectly positioned to remain an innovative, reliable, and agile partner in an increasingly competitive international environment.

Business Segments

Throughout the 2024 fiscal year, the Schaeffler Group’s operations were segmented into four distinct divisions: Automotive Technologies, Vehicle Lifetime Solutions, Bearings & Industrial Solutions, and Others. Effective October 1, 2024, following the massive merger with Vitesco Technologies Group AG, the organization initiated a gradual realignment. Starting January 1, 2025, the enterprise is managed based on four product-focused divisions: E-Mobility, Powertrain & Chassis, Vehicle Lifetime Solutions, and Bearings & Industrial Solutions, alongside the Others division.

Automotive Technologies

During 2024, the Automotive Technologies division represented the largest operational segment by revenue. It generated EUR 6,955 million in net sales, accounting for exactly 38.24% of the total consolidated corporate revenue of EUR 18,188 million. Despite a weak global automotive environment, the division’s revenue was only slightly below the prior year level (-1.1%), excluding the impact of currency translation, and it successfully grew faster than global automobile production.

The division reported an EBIT before special items of EUR 294 million.
The EBIT margin before special items stood at 4.2% for the 2024 fiscal year.
The segment’s operational scope historically included components and systems for all-electric and hybrid powertrains, fuel cell powertrains, internal combustion engines, and chassis systems.

The division was managed based on the three product-focused business divisions (BDs): E-Mobility, Engine & Transmission Systems, and Chassis Systems. During 2024, the E-Mobility BD generated EUR 1,452 million in revenue, achieving double-digit growth rates in Europe and the Americas. The Engine & Transmission Systems BD generated EUR 5,054 million, while the Chassis Systems BD generated EUR 449 million in revenue. Under the post-merger realignment effective from 2025, the E-Mobility and Powertrain & Chassis operations have been elevated to function as distinct, fully separate divisions to better capture specific market dynamics.

Bearings & Industrial Solutions

The Bearings & Industrial Solutions division functions as the secondary pillar of the enterprise, generating EUR 6,570 million in net sales during 2024. This equates to 36.12% of the total consolidated net sales. The segment experienced a revenue decline of 5.6% (or -4.5% at constant currency), mainly due to negative volume impacts in the Industrial Automation sector cluster in Europe and sales price impacts within the Wind sector cluster in Greater China.

The division achieved an EBIT before special items of EUR 273 million.
The EBIT margin before special items fell to 4.2% from 7.6% in the prior year.
The segment develops, manufactures, and distributes rotary and linear bearing solutions, drive components, and sensor-based condition monitoring systems for vast industrial applications.

Since the beginning of 2024, the division has completely absorbed the comprehensive portfolio of automotive rolling bearing applications which was previously assigned to the Automotive Technologies division. The operational structure now features the Industrial Bearings BD, the Automotive Bearings BD, and the Linear Motion BD. The Industrial Bearings BD offers precision bearings for jet engines, wind turbines, and e-bikes. The Automotive Bearings BD provides roller, ball, and needle bearings for diverse vehicles, while the Linear Motion BD develops linear guides and electromechanical actuators.

Vehicle Lifetime Solutions

The Vehicle Lifetime Solutions division (previously known as Automotive Aftermarket) generated EUR 2,579 million in net sales during 2024, representing 14.18% of the total consolidated net sales. The division recorded a massive 15.1% revenue increase (16.9% at constant currency), driven heavily by profound volume impacts within the Independent Aftermarket across Europe and the Americas.

The segment delivered an exceptional EBIT before special items of EUR 427 million.
The EBIT margin before special items reached a highly lucrative 16.6%, up from 14.6% in 2023.
The operational scope covers the global spare parts business, offering repair solutions and components for passenger cars, commercial vehicles, tractors, and two-wheelers.

The division operates through four heavily focused business divisions: the Repair & Maintenance Solutions BD (serving the independent aftermarket), the Platform Business BD (facilitating digital sales channels), the Specialty Business BD (serving automobile manufacturers’ OES networks and small batch series), and the Emerging Business BD (identifying future opportunities in the mobility ecosystem). The division provides comprehensive systems expertise and extensive service packages to support repair shops even in highly complex repairs.

Others

The Others division combines business activities that are not specifically assigned to the core divisions. In 2024, this segment generated EUR 2,084 million in net sales, accounting for exactly 11.46% of total consolidated revenue. The massive revenue increase from just EUR 76 million in 2023 was driven entirely by the consolidation of the Vitesco Technologies subsidiaries in the fourth quarter of 2024.

The division reported an EBIT before special items of EUR -183 million.
The EBIT margin before special items was -8.8%.
The segment includes the external business of the Special Machinery unit, engineering services, and development of production-related software solutions.

Furthermore, the division houses the critical start-up and new growth business activities, specifically the operations in battery cells, humanoid robotics, and hydrogen technologies. It also manages end-of-life business activities that the enterprise normally intends to exit within 12 to 18 months. Crucially, the division reflected the equity-accounted investment in Vitesco Technologies Group AG for the first nine months of 2024 and fully consolidated its subsidiaries starting October 1, 2024.

History and Evolution

The evolutionary trajectory of the Schaeffler Group is characterized by decades of profound mechanical innovation, aggressive technological integration, and strategic market expansion. The foundational history of the company traces back directly to 1946 when the enterprise was originally founded. What started in 1950 with the historic patenting of the cage-guided needle roller bearing by the founders has since evolved into a completely integrated, global technology company that actively advances how the world moves.

The historical expansion of the enterprise was marked heavily by the profound integration of the LuK and FAG brands.
These acquisitions built directly on the life’s work of the company’s founders, massively enhancing the organization’s ability to compete as a leading supplier.
In recent years, the firm successfully executed the acquisition of the Ewellix Group to heavily strengthen its linear motion capabilities.

The year 2024 marked a truly historic milestone in the company’s evolution through the highly complex, three-step business combination with Vitesco Technologies Group AG. This merger takes the enterprise full circle—15 years after Schaeffler originally acquired a strategic investment in Continental AG, whose powertrain division was spun off as Vitesco Technologies in 2021. The transaction began with a public tender offer completed on January 5, 2024, where Schaeffler paid a cash consideration of EUR 94 per share for approximately 12 million Vitesco shares (amounting to approx. EUR 1.1 billion). Subsequently, on January 22, 2024, Schaeffler acquired a further 3.6 million shares (approx. 9% of share capital) via BofA Securities Europe S.A., increasing its total shareholding to approximately 38.9%.

As the second step, extraordinary general meetings held on February 2, 2024, passed resolutions to completely convert all 166 million common non-voting shares of Schaeffler AG into common voting shares at a ratio of 1:1. The third and final step occurred when the merger agreement was officially approved by the annual general meetings in April 2024. The merger officially became effective upon entry in the commercial register on October 1, 2024. Vitesco shareholders received 11.4 newly issued common voting Schaeffler AG shares per Vitesco share. Consequently, the newly combined, highly formidable Schaeffler shares debuted on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (Prime Standard) on October 2, 2024, successfully ensuring the “one share, one vote” principle.

Products and Services

Following the monumental acquisition of Vitesco Technologies Group AG, the enterprise thoroughly realigned its product and service portfolio. It is now systematically organized into eight definitive product families linked by one common operational theme: motion. The financial performance of these products is entirely absorbed within the overarching divisional revenues.

Guide Motion

This product family forms the absolute historical core of the enterprise. The operational scope includes extreme-precision bearings and advanced linear guides specifically engineered for moving components in a highly targeted manner.

The products ensure maximum operational efficiency by reducing mechanical friction to an absolute minimum.
Applications span heavily across passenger cars, commercial airplanes, massive wind turbines, and highly complex production machines.

Transmit Motion

This family delivers critical solutions designed for transmitting mechanical energy seamlessly across highly complex systems.

The portfolio comprehensively includes advanced transmissions, robust gearboxes, precise clutches, and heavy-duty dampers.
These highly engineered products perfectly convert torque and speed for a wide array of demanding applications.
End markets include passenger cars, heavy trucks, industrial automation systems, and sensitive medical technology.

Control Motion

Representing the apex of digital and electronic integration, this product family manages the absolute precision of mechanical systems.

The products include highly innovative sensors and incredibly intelligent electronic control units.
These units are explicitly engineered for controlling, heavily regulating, and massively optimizing the performance of various motion control systems.
Applications are found heavily in modern cars, commercial trucks, motorcycles, and related mobility platforms.

Generate Motion

This specialized product family focuses on transforming data and electrical signals into immediate physical action.

The portfolio comprises advanced actuator systems designed strictly for converting signals into mechanical movement, physical force, pressure, or raw torque.
These systems are absolutely vital for maintaining functionality, ensuring safety, and driving efficiency.
Key markets encompass cars, trucks, heavy agricultural machinery, medical devices, and industrial production.

Power Motion

Supporting the massive global shift toward electrification, this product family delivers the energy necessary for heavy traction.

The enterprise engineers complex power electronics explicitly designed for converting electric energy for massive traction motors.
These solutions meet the absolute highest performance requirements for highly efficient and incredibly comfortable mobility.
The products are the backbone of modern hybrid and fully electric powertrains.

Drive Motion

This product family combines multiple disciplines into highly integrated, immensely powerful electric drive systems.

The products represent a perfect synergy of the electric motor, advanced transmission, and sophisticated power electronics.
These are packaged into immensely powerful electric axles and dedicated hybrid systems.
The solutions deliver sustainable comfort and extreme efficiency for the automotive sector.

Energize Motion

Focusing entirely on the future of global energy infrastructure, this family targets sustainable power generation and management.

The portfolio includes complex systems designed specifically for generating, converting, storing, and actively managing clean energy.
These solutions serve as the absolute backbone of a highly sustainable future.
The systems heavily utilize hydrogen and electricity as the primary energy carriers for both mobile and massive stationary applications.

Sustain Motion

This product family ensures that all mechanical and electronic systems remain operational across their entire intended life cycle.

The offerings include advanced digital services and highly intelligent condition monitoring systems.
The portfolio encompasses comprehensive repair and maintenance solutions specifically designed to dramatically extend the product life cycle.
These solutions are deployed heavily across diverse applications across all industrial and automotive sectors.

Brand Portfolio

The organization operates its vast manufacturing enterprise through an array of highly specialized, world-renowned brand identities. While specific brand revenues are perfectly integrated within the consolidated segment financials, the market positioning of these entities is absolute.

Schaeffler: The overarching parent brand, globally recognized for its massive dominance in precision engineering, motion technology, and industrial solutions.
Vitesco Technologies: The recently acquired and heavily integrated brand bringing massive capabilities in electric mobility, power electronics, and advanced sensor technologies.
LuK: A highly specialized legacy brand universally recognized for extreme excellence in automotive transmission systems, heavy-duty clutches, and complex damper technology.
FAG: A premier, globally dominant brand identity serving as a historical pioneer and a massive global supplier of high-precision ball and roller bearings.
REPXPERT: The dedicated service brand operating within the Vehicle Lifetime Solutions division, providing comprehensive repair solutions, digital platforms, and technical services directly to independent repair shops globally.

Geographical Presence

The corporate footprint is exceptionally vast, encompassing a highly resilient, intentionally decentralized global model. The enterprise operates exactly 104 distinct production locations alongside 34 research and development centers actively situated across the globe. This massive geographical diversification ensures absolute supply chain resilience and facilitates direct, localized responsiveness to vital customer needs.

Europe

Representing the absolute largest geographical region in the Schaeffler world, the European operations generated EUR 8,149 million in net sales during 2024. This massive figure accounts for exactly 44.80% of the total consolidated corporate revenue.

The region maintains a massive workforce of approximately 67,800 employees.
The physical footprint includes exactly 56 plants located across 39 distinct locations within six subregions.
The region also includes strategic locations in the Middle East and a major plant in Port Elizabeth, South Africa.
Innovation is driven by the central technology center in Herzogenaurach alongside another 16 R&D centers at 16 locations.
During 2024, the enterprise invested heavily, directing EUR 717 million entirely into this specific region.
The total carrying amount of non-current assets (intangible assets and property, plant and equipment) in Europe stood at EUR 5,782 million.

Americas

Functioning as a profoundly critical operational hub, the Americas region generated EUR 4,092 million in net sales. This equates strictly to 22.50% of the total consolidated corporate revenue. The region is strictly divided into the two subregions of North America and Latin America.

The regional headquarters are strategically anchored in Fort Mill, South Carolina, U.S.
The region houses approximately 18,200 highly skilled employees.
Operations are supported entirely by 19 physical plants and 9 dedicated R&D centers.
The organization aggressively invested EUR 117 million directly into this region during the year.
The total non-current assets situated within the Americas reached EUR 1,263 million.

Greater China

The Greater China region represents the third-largest region within the group, generating exactly EUR 3,490 million in net sales during the fiscal year. This represents exactly 19.19% of the total corporate revenue, characterized by immense structural growth and automotive demand.

The regional headquarters are firmly established in Anting.
The region maintains a massive workforce of approximately 18,800 employees.
The footprint encompasses exactly 17 massive plants across eleven locations, heavily supported by 4 specific R&D centers.
Capital expenditures strictly allocated to Greater China amounted to EUR 162 million.
The total non-current assets situated within Greater China stood at an immense EUR 1,354 million.

Asia/Pacific

The rapidly expanding Asia/Pacific region generated exactly EUR 2,458 million in net sales. This represents exactly 13.51% of the total corporate revenue. The region spans 2 continents, 18 countries, and 6 time zones.

The regional headquarters are strategically located in Singapore.
Key operational locations include Australia, India, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam.
The region operates with approximately 10,000 employees.
Physical production is driven by 12 plants, closely supported by 5 R&D centers.
The enterprise invested exactly EUR 123 million directly into the Asia/Pacific infrastructure.
The total non-current assets situated within this region equaled EUR 702 million.

Schaeffler AG (FRA SHA) Logo

Profit and Loss Analysis

The consolidated financial trajectory for the 2024 fiscal year vividly illustrates a massive organization successfully navigating extreme macroeconomic volatility while aggressively integrating a highly complex, multi-billion euro corporate acquisition.

Income statement (in € millions)	2024	2023	Change
Revenue	18,188	16,313	11.5%
at constant currency			12.9%
EBIT	294	834	-64.7%
in % of revenue	1.6	5.1	-3.5 %-pts.
EBIT before special items	811	1,187	-31.6%
in % of revenue	4.5	7.3	-2.8 %-pts.
Net income (loss)	-632	309	–
Earnings per share (basic/diluted, in €)	-0.86	0.46	–

Total revenue increased considerably to EUR 18,188 million, heavily driven by the revenue contributed by the subsidiaries of Vitesco Technologies Group AG following their consolidation in the fourth quarter. Excluding the impact of currency translation, revenue growth stood at an impressive 12.9%. However, the massive top-line expansion was met with severe pressure on operating margins.

EBIT before special items fell significantly to EUR 811 million, generating a margin of 4.5%, down from the 7.3% margin achieved in 2023.
The EBIT margin was weighed down particularly by weak fourth-quarter earnings within the Bearings & Industrial Solutions division and by Vitesco.
Total special items severely impacted the statutory EBIT, amounting to exactly EUR 517 million (up from EUR 353 million in the prior year).
These special items heavily included EUR 487 million in restructuring charges, driven primarily by the EUR 488 million recognized for the massive personnel restructuring measures adopted by the Board in November 2024.
Special items also included EUR 83 million strictly related to M&A activities and a EUR 39 million impairment charge in the Bearings & Industrial Solutions segment related to precision gearboxes for automation applications.

Interest expense on financial debt surged massively to EUR 275 million (up from EUR 137 million). This sharp increase was primarily driven by exactly two bond issuances totaling EUR 1.1 billion in January 2024, a further EUR 850 million bond issuance in March 2024, the full drawdown of a EUR 420 million European Investment Bank loan, and the heavy assumption of Vitesco’s massive financial debt. Consequently, income tax expense surged to EUR 608 million, heavily distorting the effective tax rate to an unrepresentative 22,127.4%. Ultimately, the enterprise recorded a net loss attributable to shareholders of exactly EUR -632 million, yielding an earnings per share of EUR -0.86.

Balance Sheet Analysis

The corporate balance sheet heavily illustrates an immensely capitalized organization deliberately and intricately structured to maintain long-term technological dominance while completely absorbing the assets and liabilities of a massive corporate merger.

Statement of financial position (in € millions)	12/31/2024	12/31/2023	Change
Total assets	21,370	15,016	42.3%
Additions to intangible assets and property, plant and equipment	1,120	932	20.1%
Amortization, depreciation, and impairment losses	1,035	930	11.3%
Reinvestment rate	1.08	1.00	–
Shareholders’ equity	3,969	3,913	56 € millions
in % of total assets	18.6	26.1	-7.5 %-pts.
Net financial debt	4,834	3,189	51.6%
Net financial debt to EBITDA ratio before special items	2.5	1.5	–
Gearing ratio (Net financial debt to shareholders’ equity, in %)	121.8	81.5	40.3 %-pts.

Total assets expanded incredibly significantly to a massive EUR 21,370 million. This explosive 42.3% increase was completely driven by the assets assumed from Vitesco on October 1, 2024. Current assets surged as the company assumed EUR 1.5 billion in trade receivables and EUR 684 million in inventories directly from Vitesco. Non-current assets skyrocketed due to the integration of exactly EUR 2.0 billion in physical property, plant and equipment, EUR 780 million in goodwill, and EUR 281 million in capitalized costs to fulfill contracts.

Total liabilities increased sharply, heavily driven by an expansion in financial debt of approximately EUR 2.1 billion.
This massive debt increase resulted specifically from three massive bond issuances totaling approximately EUR 2.0 billion, the drawdown of the EUR 420 million loan, and exactly EUR 467 million in financial debt assumed directly from Vitesco.
Liabilities were further inflated by the assumption of EUR 513 million in contract liabilities and EUR 509 million in complex provisions for pensions.
Shareholders’ equity increased marginally to EUR 3,969 million. The equity balance was bolstered by approximately EUR 1.0 billion in capital increases strictly connected to the Vitesco merger, but was severely reduced by the net loss of EUR 605 million (total) and the EUR 295 million in cash dividends paid to shareholders.

Consequently, the overall equity ratio dropped sharply to 18.6%, down from 26.1%. The net financial debt swelled to EUR 4,834 million, pushing the net financial debt to EBITDA ratio before special items up to 2.5x.

Cash Flow Analysis

The fundamental business model is explicitly designed to consistently generate strong, highly reliable free cash flows. This liquidity is strictly utilized to fund perpetual physical capital expenditures, service massive debt structures, and aggressively fund corporate integrations.

Statement of cash flows (in € millions)	2024	2023	Change
EBITDA	1,419	1,836	-22.7%
Cash flows from operating activities	1,390	1,348	42 € millions
Capital expenditures (capex)	956	938	18 € millions
in % of revenue (capex ratio)	5.3	5.7	-0.5 %-pts.
Free cash flow (FCF) before cash in- and outflows for M&A activities	363	421	-57 € millions
FCF-conversion	1.2	0.5	–

Operating activities provided a strong EUR 1,390 million in 2024. This increase was primarily attributable to heavily reduced restructuring expenditures and a strict reduction in working capital, which had previously expanded in the prior year. These positive cash inflows were partially offset by heavy cash outflows exclusively dedicated to complex integration activities, massive interest payments for the financing transactions strictly related to the merger, and distinct cash outflows for legal cases.

Capital expenditures (capex) strictly targeting property, plant and equipment, and intangible assets amounted to an immense EUR 956 million, representing a capex ratio of 5.3%.
Investing activities also reflected the massive EUR 1,246 million paid specifically to acquire investments in associated companies and other equity investments.
Cash inflows strictly from the acquisition of subsidiaries totaled EUR 304 million, which heavily included the precise EUR 308 million in cash and cash equivalents held by the Vitesco Group at the exact time of the merger.

Financing activities heavily utilized cash to repay existing debt. The enterprise systematically redeemed an outstanding EUR 800 million bond series upon maturity and executed exactly EUR 295 million in cash dividend payments to Schaeffler AG’s shareholders. Despite these massive outflows, the ultimate free cash flow before cash in- and outflows for M&A activities stood securely positive at EUR 363 million. Total available liquidity, deducting bank balances in countries with foreign exchange restrictions, stood at a highly robust EUR 3,990 million at the end of the year.

Board of Directors and Leadership Team

The massive global enterprise is guided securely by an incredibly distinguished Board of Managing Directors and a deeply experienced Supervisory Board. The organization strictly maintains a rigid two-tier management structure to guarantee absolute governance transparency and operational accountability.

Board of Managing Directors

Klaus Rosenfeld: Serves strictly as the Chief Executive Officer. Appointed initially in October 2014, his term of office extends to June 30, 2029. He concurrently serves on the Supervisory Board of Continental AG and the Advisory Board of Schaeffler Immobilien AG & Co. KG.
Claus Bauer: Functions effectively as the Chief Financial Officer. Appointed in September 2021, he will end his second term of office on August 31, 2025, at his own request. He is heavily credited with securing the stable financial footing necessary for the Vitesco transaction.
Christophe Hannequin: Appointed to succeed Claus Bauer as Chief Financial Officer, effective September 1, 2025. He previously served as Group Chief Financial Officer at the JCB Group.
Dr. Astrid Fontaine: Serves as Chief Human Resources Officer and Labor Relations Director. Appointed January 1, 2024.
Andreas Schick: Operates strictly as Chief Operating Officer, responsible for Operations, Supply Chain Management, and Purchasing.
Jens Schüler: Functions as the CEO of the Vehicle Lifetime Solutions division. He concurrently holds seats on the shareholder committees of Caruso GmbH and TecAlliance GmbH.
Thomas Stierle: Serves strictly as the CEO of the new E-Mobility division. Appointed October 1, 2024, he previously served on the Executive Board of Vitesco Technologies.
Uwe Wagner: Functions deeply as the Chief Technology Officer, responsible for Research and Development.
Sascha Zaps: Serves actively as the CEO of the Bearings & Industrial Solutions division. Appointed May 1, 2024, succeeding Dr. Stefan Spindler.
Matthias Zink: Operates securely as the CEO of the Powertrain & Chassis division. Appointed January 1, 2017, with a term extending to December 31, 2029.

The regional management is executed by Regional CEOs: Dr. Jochen Schröder (Europe), Marc McGrath (Americas), Dr. Yilin Zhang (Greater China), and Dharmesh Arora (Asia/Pacific).

Supervisory Board

The Supervisory Board is absolutely subject to strict co-determination on the basis of parity under the German Co-Determination Act. It consists of exactly 20 members: ten appointed directly by the shareholders and ten elected securely by the employees.

Georg F. W. Schaeffler: Serves resolutely as the Chairman of the Supervisory Board. He is a shareholder of INA-Holding Schaeffler GmbH & Co. KG and completely coordinates the work of the Board.
Horst Ott: Functions as the Deputy Chairman (Employee Representative) since April 25, 2024. He serves as Regional Director of IG Metall Bavaria.
Sabine Bendiek: Independent Board Member and Senior Advisor.
Prof. Dr. Hans-Jörg Bullinger: CEO of Fraunhofer Foundation and Chairman of the Technology Committee.
Dr. Holger Engelmann: Chairman of the Management Board of Webasto SE.
Prof. Dr. Bernd Gottschalk: Owner and Managing Partner of AutoValue GmbH.
Ulrike Hasbargen: Tax consultant/auditor.
Thomas Höhn: Employee Representative, 1st authorized representative IG Metall Schweinfurt.
Hanna Köhler: Employee Representative, Chair of the Works Council Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG.
Susanne Lau: Employee Representative, Chairwoman of the Works Council Hamburg.
Dr. Alexander Putz: Employee Representative, Plant manager Herzogenaurach.
Katherina Reiche: Chairwoman of the Board of Managing Directors of Westenergie AG.
Maja Reusch: Employee Representative.
Jürgen Schenk: Employee Representative, Chairman of the General Works Council Schweinfurt.
Helga Schönhoff: Employee Representative.
Ulrich Schöpplein: Employee Representative, Chairman of the Group Works council Schaeffler AG.
Robin Stalker: Chartered Accountant and strict Chairman of the Audit Committee.
Prof. TU Graz e.h. KR Ing. Siegfried Wolf: Entrepreneur.
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Tong Zhang: Director of Institute of Fuel Cell Vehicle Technology at Tongji University.
Markus Zirkel: Employee Representative, Chairman of the Works Council Hirschaid.

The Board functions securely through five specialized committees: the Mediation Committee, the Presidential Committee, the Audit Committee, the Nomination Committee, and the Technology Committee.

Subsidiaries, Associates, Joint Ventures

The colossal enterprise operates efficiently through a highly complex, globally expansive web of fully consolidated subsidiaries, strategic joint ventures, and profound equity investments.

Vitesco Technologies Group AG: Formerly a massively publicly traded entity, the company acquired an initial equity stake, accounted for it using the equity method (holding approx. 38.9%), and completely merged it into Schaeffler AG effective October 1, 2024. The Vitesco subsidiaries have since been fully and strictly consolidated into the group.
Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG: Functions as an absolutely massive operational and financial entity within the domestic group structure. In 2024, Schaeffler AG received withdrawals of EUR 1,550 million heavily originating from this specific entity.
Ewellix Group: The previous acquisition of this entity offered the enterprise considerable opportunities for immense structural growth, particularly within the advancing technological transition from hydraulic actuators toward electromechanical solutions.
Stegra AB (previously H2GS AB): The enterprise heavily acquired an additional strategic interest in this unconsolidated equity entity during the year, representing a massive EUR 27 million addition to other investments.
Agility Robotics Inc.: The company strictly executed a EUR 10 million equity addition to securely lock down strategic insights within the rapidly expanding humanoid robotics sector.
IAV GmbH Ingenieurgesellschaft Auto und Verkehr: The firm explicitly held a EUR 23 million equity investment in this Berlin-based entity, which was successfully completely sold in 2024.

Physical Properties

The physical infrastructure of the enterprise is systematically and aggressively engineered to support massive, highly precise industrial production globally. The global corporate headquarters is strategically and physically positioned at Industriestr. 1–3, 91074 Herzogenaurach, Germany. This massive central facility serves as the absolute central nervous system for all global administrative functions.

The company actively maintains exactly 104 production facilities worldwide. This footprint is densely distributed geographically:

Europe: Exactly 56 plants located at 39 specific locations, holding EUR 5,782 million in non-current assets.
Americas: Exactly 19 massive production plants, holding EUR 1,263 million in non-current assets.
Greater China: Exactly 17 vast facilities spread across eleven locations, holding EUR 1,354 million in non-current assets.
Asia/Pacific: Exactly 12 manufacturing plants, holding EUR 702 million in non-current assets.

Additionally, the firm operates exactly 34 highly advanced research and development centers globally, alongside a newly inaugurated, massive technology center specifically built in Herzogenaurach to combine its deep expertise in materials science, electric mobility, and hydrogen.

Founders

The foundational, legal establishment of the corporate entity traces back to the incredibly devastated post-war economy of 1946 when the company was founded. The modern, massive technological trajectory of the firm truly started in 1950 with the absolutely historic patenting of the cage-guided needle roller bearing directly by the company’s founders. This singular, incredibly profound mechanical innovation fundamentally catalyzed the organization’s massive, multi-decade evolution into the globally dominant Motion Technology Company it represents today.

Shareholding Pattern

The complex equity structure of the massive organization strictly characterizes a heavily institutionalized, massively stable ownership base that is actively traded on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange under the Prime Standard. Following the massive capital increase entered in the commercial register on October 1, 2024, the total share capital increased to exactly EUR 945 million. It is divided precisely into 944,884,641 no-par value shares.

INA-Holding Schaeffler GmbH & Co. KG: Functions absolutely as the dominant, strict controlling shareholder. This entity held approximately 79% of Schaeffler’s common shares at the start of post-merger trading.
Free Float / Public Holdings: The remaining shares, heavily representing institutional and private investors globally, equate strictly to a free float of approximately 21%.

Crucially, the historical distinction between common voting shares and common non-voting shares has been completely eradicated. Resolutions passed strictly on February 2, 2024, ensured that all of the 166 million common non-voting shares were completely converted into common voting shares at a precise ratio of 1:1. Each share of Schaeffler AG now entitles the holder to exactly one vote.

Parent

While Schaeffler AG functions entirely as a massive, publicly traded entity with its own independent operational board, it operates strictly under the direct, controlling influence of its absolute parent company, INA-Holding Schaeffler GmbH & Co. KG. Because this entity mathematically and legally maintains approximately 79% of the absolute corporate equity, it effectively serves as the absolute controlling parent entity of the entire enterprise. As a direct result, Schaeffler AG is legally considered a dependent company under section 312 AktG. The ultimate controlling family shareholders remain Maria-Elisabeth Schaeffler-Thumann and Georg F. W. Schaeffler, who ensure the company remains a family business characterized completely by long-term thinking and highly responsible action.

Investments and Capital Expenditure Plans

The overarching organizational strategy totally and unequivocally mandates an exceptionally aggressive capital investment posture. This posture is intricately engineered to wildly scale global production capabilities and completely dominate deep technological innovation.

Capital Expenditures (Capex): In the 2024 fiscal year, the firm aggressively and decisively executed physical capital expenditures totaling an immense EUR 956 million (prior year: EUR 938 million). This massive expenditure heavily equated to exactly 5.3% of total net sales (the capex ratio).
Asset Additions: Total additions to intangible assets and property, plant and equipment stood at EUR 1,120 million. The group’s reinvestment rate for the period was a highly expansive 1.08. Approximately 44% of these additions related strictly to the Automotive Technologies division, primarily driven by massive new product start-ups in the E-Mobility BD.
Research and Development: The enterprise’s “innovation to business” R&D strategy is heavily designed to identify and aggressively fund sustainable products. The R&D framework is governed strictly by the “Innovation & Technology” subprogram of the “Roadmap 2025”. Key investment priorities absolutely include Energy Solutions (hydrogen and renewable energies), eDrive Solutions (electric drives), and advanced Software Defined Solutions.

Future Strategy

The aggressive corporate roadmap is currently rigorously dictated by the overarching “Roadmap 2025” strategic framework. However, recognizing the massive structural transformation induced by the Vitesco merger, the company is actively adapting its strategic scope. The development of a completely new strategy program targeting 2030 is already heavily under way.

The absolute core of this new program is the uncompromising vision of making Schaeffler the leading Motion Technology Company globally.
The strategy explicitly necessitates realizing massive, quantified synergies from the Vitesco merger.
A strictly defined program of measures has been initiated to safeguard long-term competitiveness, especially within Europe, targeting potential annual savings of about EUR 290 million by the absolute end of 2029.
Future portfolio allocation is mathematically governed by four strict strategies: “Build” (for new growth areas like Hydrogen and Robotics), “Grow” (for existing high-efficiency business), “Harvest” (focusing strictly on profitability), and “Exit/Divest”.

Key Strengths

The incredibly deep, highly defensive competitive moat heavily surrounding the enterprise is firmly and permanently constructed upon an unassailable foundation of absolutely unmatched engineering expertise and extreme global operational capacity.

The organization possesses a totally formidable portfolio spanning eight highly specialized product families that address all elements of mechanical and electrical motion.
The enterprise maintains an utterly unique capability built directly upon twelve proprietary manufacturing technologies, allowing for absolute vertical integration and unparalleled supply chain control.
The firm’s extreme diversification across four major divisions and 10 vast customer sectors provides a massive natural hedge, enabling the group to fully offset highly localized market fluctuations.
The deeply successful, hyper-rapid execution of the Vitesco merger has massively fortified the balance sheet, unlocked massive economies of scale, and absolutely cemented the firm’s dominance within the global electric mobility space.

Key Challenges and Risks

Operating deeply within highly complex, totally interconnected, and heavily regulated global supply chains automatically and unavoidably exposes the massive enterprise to a vast array of multifaceted, potentially severe existential risks.

Electric Mobility and Autonomous Driving Uncertainties: The transition away from internal combustion engines places intense, immediate pressure on legacy products. There is massive, long-term uncertainty regarding which specific electric technologies will ultimately prevail. Furthermore, revenue in the massive electric systems business is heavily concentrated on individual customer projects, creating severe project-specific dependency risks.
Climate-Related Transition Risks: The massive global transition to a low-carbon economy poses severe, immediate transition risks. The absolute requirement to adapt physical processes toward a circular economy, implement closed-loop water systems, and source highly scarce low-emission materials threatens to massively inflate operating costs and capital expenditure requirements.
Macroeconomic and Geopolitical Volatility: Persistent geopolitical conflicts, specifically the massive tensions in the South China Sea, the war in Ukraine, and conflicts in the Middle East, strictly weigh on global economic growth. Furthermore, the massive threat of new protectionist tariffs threatens to severely fragment global trade and inflate supply chain inflation.
Working Capital and Cost Pressures: Persistent surges in base material prices and the strict necessity to fund massive working capital expansions during market downturns represent a constant, severe threat to the company’s free cash flow and operational liquidity.

Conclusion and Strategic Outlook

Schaeffler AG has absolutely and undeniably proven its total, unyielding capacity to systematically engineer highly profitable growth amidst profound, unrelenting global macroeconomic volatility. By generating an immense EUR 18,188 million in total net sales and securing a massively impressive EUR 811 million in EBIT before special items during the highly complex 2024 fiscal year, the organization has completely and totally validated the intense, structural resilience of its diversified business model.

As the incredibly massive enterprise aggressively and systematically executes the deeply critical stages of its Vitesco integration and launches its new 2030 strategy, it remains utterly and intensely focused on leveraging its twelve manufacturing technologies completely toward carving a totally dominant, unassailable position as the world’s leading Motion Technology Company. While immediate, intensely severe global challenges explicitly persist regarding rapidly shifting geopolitical trade policies, uncertain electric mobility standards, and profound climate transition requirements, the firm’s absolutely formidable capital expenditure framework—totaling precisely EUR 956 million in 2024 alone—guarantees a continuous, highly lucrative pipeline of deeply proprietary solutions. Anchored perfectly and absolutely by the steadfast, unyielding backing of the Schaeffler family and INA-Holding, the enterprise is fundamentally and perfectly positioned to aggressively elevate its immense corporate value and entirely sustain its absolute dominance as a premier global manufacturing powerhouse well into the future.

FAQ Section

What is the core business of the Schaeffler Group? The Schaeffler Group is a leading global Motion Technology Company. It is an integrated automotive and industrial supplier that develops, manufactures, and distributes advanced components, systems, and services spanning electric mobility, powertrain, chassis, and bearing applications.

When was the company founded? The enterprise was originally founded in 1946, and its technological breakthrough occurred in 1950 with the patenting of the cage-guided needle roller bearing.

What were the total net sales for the 2024 fiscal year? For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024, the Schaeffler Group recorded total consolidated net sales of exactly EUR 18,188 million.

How is the company structured following the Vitesco merger? Effective January 1, 2025, the company operates under four product-focused divisions: E-Mobility, Powertrain & Chassis, Vehicle Lifetime Solutions, and Bearings & Industrial Solutions, alongside the Others division.

Who is the majority shareholder of Schaeffler AG? INA-Holding Schaeffler GmbH & Co. KG is the controlling parent company, securely holding approximately 79% of the total common shares.

What are the company’s primary strategic focus areas for growth? The company focuses heavily on electric mobility, hydrogen technologies, advanced humanoid robotics, and specialized solid-state battery solutions as key vectors for long-term growth.

How much did the company invest in capital expenditures in 2024? During 2024, the Schaeffler Group executed capital expenditures (capex) totaling EUR 956 million, representing a capex ratio of 5.3% of revenue.

Official Site: https://www.schaeffler.com/en/

Source: Content on FirmsWorld.com is based on publicly available corporate filings, regulatory disclosures, annual reports, SEC 10-K filings, investor relations materials, and, where applicable, direct communications with the company.