What DRÄXLMAIER makes

DRÄXLMAIER builds three interconnected product systems for premium vehicle manufacturers: wiring harnesses and complete electrical systems, interior trim and surface systems, and high-voltage battery systems for electric vehicles. The company describes itself as a system integrator rather than a component supplier -- it designs, develops, and delivers complete subsystems from initial specification through precisely sequenced delivery to OEM assembly lines.

The electrical systems division produces vehicle-specific wiring harnesses for all voltage levels, managing complexity that the company puts at up to 2,200 cables per vehicle and up to 10 to the power of 31 possible harness variants. DRÄXLMAIER developed a zonal electrical architecture with its own 12-volt power interface -- an intelligent distributor designed to reduce wire count and support software-defined fusing, meeting ISO 26262 safety requirements. Interior systems cover instrument panels, center consoles, door panels, and premium leather and synthetic surfaces, with integrated ambient and functional lighting. The company claims processing more than 85,000 km of thread per year and draws on more than 140 years of leather-working heritage from prior company roots.

The battery and e-mobility division, active since 2009, supplies cell-independent battery packs from 48 volts to 800 volts using pouch, round, and prismatic cell formats. DRÄXLMAIER develops the battery electronics, modular high-voltage charging systems, and high-voltage contact systems in-house, and validates complete systems at a 3,000-square-meter test center at its Vilsbiburg headquarters, where it can simulate a short circuit at 30,000 amperes and 1,000 volts.

Financial performance

DRÄXLMAIER reported revenue of 5.0 billion euros for FY2025, per the company's own press materials. That figure was down from 5.5 billion euros in FY2024 and 5.6 billion euros in FY2023, a two-year decline of roughly 11 percent that tracks the broader European premium automotive production contraction. No profitability data is published; the company is privately held with no public filings.

The workforce contracted alongside revenue. The FY2025 press sheet lists approximately 60,000 employees worldwide, down from approximately 70,000 in FY2024, a reduction of about 14 percent. In July 2026, the company suspended a planned layoff of 359 workers at its Zrenjanin, Serbia plant after union negotiations, per local reporting. DRÄXLMAIER ranks 66th in the Berylls Top-100 global automotive supplier study for 2026.

Ownership and history

Fritz and Lisa Dräxlmaier founded the company in Vilsbiburg, Lower Bavaria, in May 1958. The first order was 50,000 wiring harnesses for the Goggomobil microcar, produced by Glas in nearby Dingolfing. BMW became a customer in 1966 with the BMW 1600 GT, establishing the premium-segment focus the company has maintained for six decades. Audi followed in 1969 and Volkswagen in 1971. International expansion began in 1974 with a production site in Sousse, Tunisia, now one of the company's largest employee concentrations.

The company operates as a German SE & Co. KG, a family-owned limited partnership. Fritz Dräxlmaier (son of the founders) served as CEO from 1990 through 2025 and became Chairman of the Administrative Board in 2025. Stefan Brandl, a former CEO of ebm-papst, joined as Vice Chairman and CEO in August 2021; Jan Reblin, who joined DRÄXLMAIER in 2010 and held COO and COO roles, became CEO in October 2022. CFO Torsten Kurz and COO Arno Güllering both joined in 2024 from Bosch and ZF Friedrichshafen respectively. The company operates more than 60 sites across more than 20 countries, with particularly large production presences in Mexico, Tunisia, and China.

Certifications and quality

DRÄXLMAIER publishes an ISO 9001:2015 quality management certificate for its Vilsbiburg plant, dated October 2024, on its own website. The company describes its electrical-system development as conforming to ISO 26262 (functional safety for road vehicles) for its zonal architecture products. As a primary supplier to BMW, Porsche, Mercedes-Benz, and other OEMs requiring IATF 16949 compliance across their supply base, automotive-sector quality management is standard at DRÄXLMAIER's production sites; the company has not published a group-wide IATF 16949 certificate on its public website.

DRÄXLMAIER has received the Top Employer Germany certification for 17 consecutive years through 2025. It also holds a BMW Supplier Innovation Award (2022) and a Jaguar Land Rover Supplier Excellence Award (2022).

Known customers

DRÄXLMAIER's official press materials name the following customers: Audi, BMW, Cupra, Jaguar, Land Rover, Maserati, Mercedes-Benz, MINI, Porsche, and Volkswagen, as well as "Californian premium automotive manufacturers." The BMW relationship began in 1966 and has continued through multiple generations of BMW, MINI, and Rolls-Royce models. A 2021 investor press release from Faraday Future (NASDAQ: FFIE) named DRÄXLMAIER as the supplier of interior consoles for the FF 91 electric vehicle. OEM customer relationships at this scale typically run under long-term production part approval process agreements with program-specific tooling and engineering commitments.

Recent news

April 2026 -- DRÄXLMAIER announced a partnership with KNDS, a Franco-German defense group, to manufacture components for the Boxer armored vehicle at its Landau (Isar) plant, marking the company's first move into defense contracting (per Passauer Neue Presse).

May 2026 -- Representatives of the Fayoum regional government in Egypt met with DRÄXLMAIER officials to discuss a planned wire harness plant in the region, according to MarkLines Automotive.

July 2026 -- DRÄXLMAIER suspended a planned reduction of 359 positions at its Zrenjanin, Serbia facility following negotiations, according to N1 Serbia reporting.

Frequently asked questions

What does DRÄXLMAIER make?

DRÄXLMAIER manufactures three main product systems for premium vehicles: wiring harnesses and complete electrical systems, vehicle interior components including instrument panels, door panels, and premium surfaces, and high-voltage battery systems for electric vehicles from 48 to 800 volts. It has supplied BMW since 1966 and serves Audi, Porsche, Mercedes-Benz, Jaguar Land Rover, and Volkswagen, among others.

Who owns DRÄXLMAIER?

DRÄXLMAIER Group SE & Co. KG is a privately held family company. Fritz Dräxlmaier, son of the 1958 founders Friedrich and Lisa Dräxlmaier, served as CEO from 1990 to 2025 and is now Chairman of the Administrative Board. The company is not publicly listed and has not disclosed any private-equity ownership.

What is DRÄXLMAIER's annual revenue?

DRÄXLMAIER reported revenue of 5.0 billion euros for FY2025, per its own press materials, down from 5.5 billion euros in FY2024. The company does not publish profit figures. It ranks 66th in the Berylls Top-100 global automotive supplier study for 2026.

Where is DRÄXLMAIER headquartered?

DRÄXLMAIER is headquartered at Landshuter Str. 100, 84137 Vilsbiburg, in Lower Bavaria, Germany. Vilsbiburg has been the company's base since its founding in 1958. The company also has US operations in Duncan, South Carolina and Livermore, California.

Who are DRÄXLMAIER's customers?

DRÄXLMAIER's named customers, per its official press materials, include Audi, BMW, Cupra, Jaguar, Land Rover, Maserati, Mercedes-Benz, MINI, Porsche, and Volkswagen. The BMW relationship dates to 1966. Faraday Future named DRÄXLMAIER as its interior consoles supplier for the FF 91 in a 2021 investor press release.

Last verified September 2026. Is this your company? Request a correction.