LIPPSTADT (GERMANY)

17 October 2024

 
Sales at previous year's level: FORVIA HELLA announces key figures for the first nine months of 2024          

• Currency-adjusted sales increase slightly by 0.8 percent to €6.0 billion;
  reported sales at €5.9 billion and therewith at previous year's level
• Sales development driven by business group Lighting;
  business groups Electronics and Lifecycle Solutions with declining sales

HELLA GmbH & Co. KGaA ("FORVIA HELLA") today announced its sales data for the first nine months of the fiscal year 2024 (1 January to 30 September 2024). Accordingly, currency-adjusted sales in this period increased slightly by 0.8 percent to €6.0 billion, while reported sales remained at the previous year's level of €5.9 billion (previous year: €5.9 billion). Global vehicle production fell by 1.6 percent in the same period, having largely stagnated in the first half of the fiscal year.

"The third quarter in particular was challenging, as expected. Global light vehicle production was already at a low level in the first half of the year, and especially in the last three months production volumes have decreased significantly worldwide. In addition, in the third quarter negative effects from our customer mix, postponements in series launches and the slower ramp-up of electromobility were even more noticeable than before," says Bernard Schäferbarthold, CEO of FORVIA HELLA. "Despite these challenging framework conditions, we maintained our sales at the previous year's level overall. Also in view of the changed global manufacturer landscape, we will consistently drive forward our strategy of diversifying the customer portfolio and further balancing our business across the regions."

Sales development in the first nine months was supported by growth in the business group Lighting. Here, sales improved, compared to the previous year, by 4.1 percent to €3.0 billion (previous year: €2.9 billion). This is largely due to the full consolidation of the Chinese joint venture Beijing Hella BHAP Automotive Lighting, which has been in effect since the beginning of this fiscal year. In addition, new series launches and higher customer call-offs for individual series projects supported the business group's development.

In the Electronics business group, sales fell by 3.9 percent to €2.4 billion (previous year: €2.5 billion). Although the radar business in particular developed positively, among other things due to new series launches in the Americas, customer-related postponements in new project launches, negative effects from the customer and product mix, particularly in China, and the temporary slowdown in electrification in Europe had a negative impact on business development in Electronics.

In the Lifecycle Solutions business group, sales fell by 5.7 percent to €0.77 billion (previous year: €0.82 billion). As a result of an expansion of the electrics/electronics portfolio, the Independent Aftermarket developed positively overall in key national markets in Europe. However, other relevant customer groups, particularly in the commercial vehicle business, invested in new vehicles to a much lesser extent due to the weaker economic environment. 

The full financial results for the first nine months of the fiscal year 2024 will be announced as planned on 6 November 2024.

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