Webasto

Webasto AG makes products that contribute to more comfort and enjoyment on the road and is one of the world’s largest manufacturers of sunroofs and parking heaters. The family-owned company is a supplier to the automobile industry worldwide, and in 2003 its around 5,779 employees delivered sales of over 1.359 billion euros.
Company headquarters are in Stockdorf, near Munich. As well as its three production sites in Germany, Webasto has production plants in a number of European and other countries, including the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Italy and Turkey, as well as Japan, Korea and the United States.

Webasto supplies car manufacturers with roof and heating systems and also provides the aftermarket with products for end customers. Roof systems for passenger cars range from steel sunroofs and glass sunroofs – with or without solar cells – through to complete roof modules. In a joint venture with Pininfarina, Webasto has founded a new company, Open Air Systems, which has caused a sensation in the convertible roof market.

The parking heater range includes models for virtually all cars, heavy goods vehicles and buses. In addition, Webasto makes air conditioning systems for commercial vehicles and buses.

Company History

The Company was founded in 1901 by Wilhelm Baier in Esslingen, where it made wire products and ironware. In 1907, it moved to Stockdorf. The name Webasto was coined from the initial letters of (W)ilhelm (Ba)ier (Sto)ckdorf. To begin with, its business focused on bicycle parts and household appliances. The first car sunroofs were produced in the 1930s and were followed in the 1950s by parking heaters for automobiles. From that time on, Webasto has been one of the automobile industry’s key suppliers, and counts among the most successful family businesses.

High annual levels of investment in research and development also ensure that Webasto continues to find new and innovative solutions that are targeted to its customers’ demands.