Webasto

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Webasto SE
Founded1901[1]
Headquarters
Gauting-Stockdorf
,
Germany
Key people
Jörg Buchheim (CEO)
Revenue4,6 Mrd. Euro (2023)[2]
Number of employees
16,600 (2023)[2]
Websitewebasto.com

Webasto SE is a company headquartered in Stockdorf, Germany, which makes sunroofs, hardtop convertible modules, heating and air-conditioning systems.[3]

History

The company was founded by Werner Baier in 1901 as a bicycle spoke manufacturer.[3]

In 1997, the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration investigated Webasto sunroof modules that shattered or blew off of 1991-1994 the Ford Explorer and Mazda Navajo.[4]

In 2021, after causing delay in the launch and delivery of the new Ford Bronco with low hardtop production, Webasto delivered roof modules with cosmetic defects, turning to a discolored honeycomb pattern. Already-sold models had their tops replaced. Ford scrapped the replaced parts.[5][6][7][8]

Coronavirus outbreak

Webasto owns 11 locations in China, including in Wuhan.[9] In late January 2020, the company disclosed that five of its workers had tested positive to SARS-CoV-2.[10][11][12] This was reportedly one of the first cases of person-to-person transmission of the virus outside China.[12]

The outbreak was handled internally within the company.

coronavirus outbreak in Europe.[14] Genetic sequencing also linked the cluster of cases at Webasto's headquarters to the virus outbreak in northern Italy.[15] In May 2020 some medical disprove this assumptions and confirm that the Webasto case remained isolated,[16] while in July other studies identified the most common Italian strain as coming from Germany.[17]

Autonomous driving

In 2022, Webasto joined forces with

Bosch to develop a self-driving car that will enable autonomous driving at Level 4.[18] The company has integrated 25 sensors from Bosch into the roof of a prototype vehicle for this purpose.[18]

Charging division

Webasto purchased AeroVironment's charging division in 2018.[19]

Webasto has offices in

Wuhan, China.[20][21]

General Motors had to recall over 9000 Webasto charging cords in 2023.[22]

After looking for a buyer for two years, Webasto sold a majority stake of the charging business to Transom Capital Group (a wholly owned subsidiary of Morgan Stanley Domestic Holdings) in 2024. The company had taken heavy financial losses from the division.[23][6][24]

Current production of roof modules

Past production of roof modules

Facilities

References

  1. ^ "Das Unternehmen – Geschichte". webasto-group.com. Webasto Group. Retrieved 2025-02-12.
  2. ^ a b "Das Unternehmen – Zahlen & Fakten". webasto.com. Webasto Group. Retrieved 2025-02-12.
  3. ^ a b c Boston, William (6 March 2020). "The Company That Fought the Coronavirus and Won". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 13 March 2020.
  4. ^ "Motorists complain of sunroofs flying off". Tampa Bay Times. 17 August 1997. Retrieved 19 March 2025.
  5. ^ Colias, Mike (12 August 2021). "Revival of Ford Bronco SUV Hits Production Snag". WSJ. Retrieved 19 March 2025.
  6. ^ a b c d "Webasto seeks investor for EV charging division - electrive.com". electrive.com. 1 August 2022. Retrieved 19 March 2025. Because the new plant in Detroit opened late, Webasto could not deliver a significant Ford order for the Bronco SUV on time, forcing Ford to postpone the market launch. Later, Ford had to replace thousands of hardtop roofs manufactured by Webasto due to quality problems.
  7. ^ Phoebe Wall Howard (7 July 2021). "Ford Bronco hardtops delayed because supplier Webasto behind schedule". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved 19 March 2025. As a supplier, you have to be prepared to handle the volume proposed by your customer, the vehicle manufacturer. ... Customer interest to the number of people on wait lists," said Sam Fiorani, vice president of global vehicle forecasting at AutoForecast Solutions based in Chester Springs, Pennsylvania. "Not having the capacity to support Ford's plans is a dramatic misstep by the supplier.
  8. ^ a b Phoebe Wall Howard (8 December 2021). "Ford wants defective Bronco hardtops to disappear forever after supplier issues". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved 19 March 2025.
  9. ^ "Angela Merkel Opens New Webasto Location in Wuhan".
  10. ^ "German car supplier Webasto halts China corporate travel over coronavirus: spokeswoman". Reuters. 27 January 2020. Retrieved 13 March 2020.
  11. ^ "Webasto halts travel to China after 2 employees in Germany contract coronavirus | Automotive News". 28 January 2020.
  12. ^ a b "Germany confirms seventh coronavirus case". Reuters. 1 February 2020. Retrieved 13 March 2020.
  13. ^ "Coronavirus: Why employers need a balance on communication". Human Resource Executive. 3 March 2020. Retrieved 13 March 2020. Webasto ... directly handled coronavirus cases within the company's Germany office in January.
  14. ^ Regalado, Antonio. "Gene sleuths are tracking the coronavirus outbreak as it happens". MIT Technology Review. Retrieved 13 March 2020.
  15. ^ "Italian virologists trace coronavirus outbreak in Italy to German car parts manufacturer". Retrieved 13 March 2020.
  16. ^ "Italiens Corona-Katastrophe hat Verantwortliche".
  17. ^ "In Italia un solo ceppo proveniente dalla Germania e più contagioso". 19 July 2020.
  18. ^ a b "Autonomes Fahren Level 4: Bosch und Webasto präsentieren Prototypen". www.elektrotechnik.vogel.de (in German). 2022-07-14. Retrieved 2022-07-16.
  19. ^ Nora Manthey (6 May 2018). "Webasto buying AeroVironment EV unit for $35M - electrive.com". electrive.com. Retrieved 19 March 2025.
  20. ^ "Webasto sucht Investor für Ladesäulen-Geschäft". handelsblatt.com. 1 August 2022. Retrieved 19 March 2025.
  21. ^ Chris Randall (21 February 2023). "Webasto opens new charger factory in Mexico - electrive.com". electrive.com. Retrieved 19 March 2025.
  22. ^ Chris Randall (8 September 2023). "GM announces recall for Webasto charging cords in the USA - electrive.com". electrive.com. Retrieved 19 March 2025.
  23. ^ "Webasto withdraws from the charging infrastructure business - electrive.com". electrive.com. 10 Feb 2024. Retrieved 19 March 2025.
  24. ^ "Autozulieferer: Webasto findet Käufer für defizitäres Ladegeschäft". handelsblatt.com. 9 February 2024. Retrieved 19 March 2025.
  25. ^ "2009 Porsche Cayenne GTS 6-Speed". 27 January 2024.
  26. ^ a b c d e Nora Manthey (25 June 2022). "Germany's Webasto opens battery assembly in South Korea - electrive.com". electrive.com. Retrieved 19 March 2025.
  27. ^ Phoebe Wall Howard (13 August 2021). "Ford to replace all 2021 Bronco hardtops after extreme water, humidity change appearance". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved 19 March 2025.
  28. ^ Chris Randall (21 February 2023). "Webasto opens new charger factory in Mexico - electrive.com". electrive.com. Retrieved 19 March 2025.
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