What thyssenkrupp Automotive Technology makes

thyssenkrupp Automotive Technology is a German Tier-1 supplier covering a wide band of chassis, drivetrain, and body components for the international automotive industry. The company describes its portfolio as running from high-tech components and mechanical processing through to the assembly of highly complex mechatronic systems -- electronics and software developed in-house are increasingly part of the product, not an add-on.

The Steering business unit is the segment's largest and most recognized operation. It produces steering columns, electric power-assisted steering systems, and cold-forged steering components, and manufactures steering systems for more than 30 million vehicles per year across 24 plants and development centers. Headquarters for this unit sit in Eschen, Liechtenstein, where roughly 2,500 employees work on steer-by-wire systems and autonomous-driving-related steering technology -- the company treats these as development priorities, not future roadmap items.

Camshafts and powertrain components form a second major product line. thyssenkrupp Automotive Technology claims a global leadership position in assembled camshafts, reporting more than 30 million produced annually. Cylinder head cover modules, rotor shafts for electric drivetrains, and eA/C compressor components for EV thermal management round out the powertrain offering.

The segment also runs a shock absorber and spring/stabilizer business under the Bilstein name, including semi-active dampers for premium and performance vehicles. Axle assembly is a separate capability: complete axle modules are produced and delivered just-in-time and just-in-sequence directly to OEM assembly lines. A body solutions operation (Automotive Body Solutions) handles body-in-white framing -- from individual subassemblies to complete body builds using multiframer and robot framing systems for multiple vehicle variants -- and an Automation Engineering unit designs and builds drive and battery assembly systems for EV manufacturing.

A hot and cold forging operation at Homburg in Saarland produces structural metal parts for the drivetrain and chassis; the company says it operates one of the world's most modern forging lines at that site. Across all these product lines, the segment covers the entire value chain from component development through series manufacturing.

Financial performance

thyssenkrupp Automotive Technology generated approximately EUR 7.0 billion in revenue in FY2025, a decline of 4.8% from the EUR 7.3 billion reported in FY2024, per the Berylls by AlixPartners Top-100 study. EBIT margin for the period was -0.4%, reflecting restructuring charges and weak automotive production volumes across Europe, North America, and China.

The company's own segment reporting for its fiscal year ending September 30, 2025 puts segment sales at EUR 7.035 billion and adjusted EBIT -- which excludes restructuring and exceptional items -- at EUR 187 million, an adjusted margin of approximately 2.7%. The gap between reported EBIT and adjusted EBIT reflects a major cost-reduction program: in March 2025, the segment announced plans to cut approximately 1,800 positions and reduce personnel costs by more than EUR 150 million, alongside a temporary hiring freeze and reduced capital expenditure. Adjusted EBIT in the first quarter of FY2025 (October-December 2024) had already fallen 75% to EUR 12 million as order intake dropped 12% and sales fell 10%, with nearly all business units affected.

The employee base stood at 28,892 as of September 30, 2025, down from approximately 31,600 in the prior year, reflecting both the restructuring and a perimeter change: three business units (Automotive Body Solutions, Automation Engineering, and Springs & Stabilizers) are being run separately as the segment evaluates partnerships or new ownership structures for them.

Ownership and history

thyssenkrupp Automotive Technology is a segment of thyssenkrupp AG, which has been listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange under ticker TKA and included in the MDAX index since the group's formation. thyssenkrupp AG was created in 1999 from the merger of two major German industrial groups, Thyssen AG and Fried. Krupp AG, both with origins reaching into the 19th century. The group's headquarters are at thyssenkrupp Allee 1, 45143 Essen, Germany.

The Automotive Technology segment was one of the group's five segments as of FY2025, alongside Decarbon Technologies, Marine Systems (TKMS), Materials Services (tk accelis), and Steel Europe. Marine Systems became an independent publicly traded company in October 2025, in which thyssenkrupp AG holds a 51% majority stake.

In June 2025, the segment announced a structural realignment effective October 2025, reorganizing its core activities into four customer- and technology-oriented business units focused on chassis, components, aftermarket, and forging. The company said this reorganization was aimed at enabling the segment to become capital-market-ready -- meaning capable of operating as a standalone listed entity -- in the coming years.

The Steering unit's operational center in Eschen, Liechtenstein, has more than 80 years of continuous operation in cold forming and steering technology, pre-dating the thyssenkrupp merger, and represents the clearest single historical thread within the segment.

Certifications and quality

thyssenkrupp Automotive Technology's manufacturing sites hold IATF 16949:2016 certification, the quality management standard for automotive production. A certificate for the Presta Shanghai plant (steering systems) was issued June 2023, valid through June 2026, and posted on the company's own site. IATF 16949 certification across multiple plants is the baseline requirement for a Tier-1 supplier at this scale supplying the major OEMs; the segment serves customers across Europe, North America, and Asia.

The company describes APQP and PPAP processes as standard practice and operates dedicated quality engineering functions within its business units. Its electronics and software capability -- including the E/E Center of Excellence in Budapest, Hungary, which the company traces to a steering software project started in the early 2000s -- is also subject to TISAX information-security assessment, relevant to OEM partners' supplier qualification requirements.

Known customers

thyssenkrupp Automotive Technology supplies steering systems and components to the majority of major global automakers. Per press releases on the company's own site:

• Volkswagen Group -- received a supplier quality award from Volkswagen for "outstanding product launches" (press release on company site); operates an axle assembly plant in Mexico supplying Audi.

• General Motors -- received a GM Supplier of the Year quality award on at least two separate occasions (press releases on company site); the awards cite quality performance across GM's global supplier network.

The segment's Steering business unit states that it produces systems for more than 30 million vehicles per year, which at that scale implies supply relationships with virtually all major volume OEMs. No additional customer names are confirmed by press releases or filings accessible during this research.

Recent news

June 2025 -- thyssenkrupp Automotive Technology announced a structural realignment effective October 2025, creating four business units organized by product and technology (chassis, components, aftermarket, forging). Three existing units (Automotive Body Solutions, Automation Engineering, Springs & Stabilizers) will operate separately while the company evaluates strategic partnerships or ownership changes for them. CEO Volkmar Dinstuhl described the move as a step toward becoming a "focused, high-performance automotive supplier" with capital market readiness as a stated objective (company press release).

March 2025 -- The segment announced a cost-reduction program targeting more than EUR 150 million in personnel cost savings and the elimination of approximately 1,800 positions globally, alongside a temporary hiring freeze and reduced capital spending. The announcement cited a 12% decline in order intake and a 10% fall in sales in the first quarter of FY2025, with weakness across Europe, North America, and China (company press release and Reuters).

Frequently asked questions

What does thyssenkrupp Automotive Technology make?

thyssenkrupp Automotive Technology produces chassis and drivetrain components for the global automotive industry, including electric power-assisted steering systems and steering columns, assembled camshafts, shock absorbers and springs, axle modules, body-in-white framing systems, and cold-forged metal parts. It manufactures steering systems for more than 30 million vehicles per year and claims a global leadership position in assembled camshafts.

Who owns thyssenkrupp Automotive Technology?

thyssenkrupp Automotive Technology is a business segment of thyssenkrupp AG, a publicly listed German industrial group (Frankfurt Stock Exchange, ticker TKA, MDAX). The group was formed in 1999 through the merger of Thyssen AG and Fried. Krupp AG. As of 2025 the segment was exploring options to become capital-market-ready as a standalone entity.

What is thyssenkrupp Automotive Technology's annual revenue?

The segment generated approximately EUR 7.0 billion in revenue in FY2025, a decline of around 4.8% from EUR 7.3 billion in FY2024, per the Berylls by AlixPartners Top-100 study. The company's own FY2024/2025 segment report (fiscal year ending September 30, 2025) states EUR 7.035 billion in sales.

Where is thyssenkrupp Automotive Technology headquartered?

The segment's parent, thyssenkrupp AG, is headquartered at thyssenkrupp Allee 1, 45143 Essen, Germany. The Steering business unit -- the segment's largest -- operates its global headquarters in Eschen, Liechtenstein. The segment runs approximately 90 manufacturing sites across four continents.

Who are thyssenkrupp Automotive Technology's customers?

thyssenkrupp Automotive Technology supplies the majority of major global automakers. Volkswagen Group and General Motors are documented customers, each having awarded the company supplier quality recognitions cited in its own press releases. The Steering unit alone produces systems for more than 30 million vehicles per year, implying broad OEM coverage across Europe, North America, and Asia.

How many employees does thyssenkrupp Automotive Technology have?

The segment employed approximately 28,892 people as of September 30, 2025, down from roughly 31,600 in the prior year. The reduction reflects a restructuring program announced in March 2025 that targeted approximately 1,800 position eliminations globally, as well as a perimeter change as several business units (Automotive Body Solutions, Automation Engineering, Springs & Stabilizers) were moved to separate operating structures.

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