German Suppliers Change Course: From Automotive Sector to Medicine, Robotics, and Defense
German suppliers are strategically moving away from the traditional automotive sector due to competition and the EV trend. They are refocusing on high-growth areas like medicine, robotics, space, and defense. This shift is necessary because the German automotive industry faces projected job losses of around 125,000 by 2035.
German suppliers of automotive parts are undergoing a significant strategic realignment, moving away from the traditional automotive sector. This change is primarily driven by increasing competition and the development towards electric vehicles (EV trend). Faced with these developments, companies are actively seeking markets outside of the automotive industry.
The companies are shifting their focus to growing industrial sectors such as medicine, robotics, space, and defense. Specifically, companies are orienting themselves, for example, toward the production of components for pacemakers, as demonstrated by the example of Sembach. Schaeffler is also specifically adapting its technology for the areas of robotics and defense.
This transformation is necessitated by profound market dynamics. In addition to global competitive pressure, the shift towards electromobility plays a decisive role. The implications are considerable: By 2035, the German automotive industry is expected to lose around 125,000 jobs. Given these challenges, diversifying business areas is a central survival and growth concern for the suppliers.