German technology company Continental has announced that around 3,000 research & development (R&D) jobs worldwide are set to be impacted by end-2026. The move is part of the company’s continued optimisation drive for its global R&D network locations, which also focusses on streamlining processes that enable accelerated adaptation to customer needs.

Philipp von Hirschheydt, member of the Continental Executive Board and head of the Automotive group sector, said, “Offering forward-looking technology is critical to our business. We will continue to invest substantially in research and development for new products and systems. At the same time, we are continuously improving our competitive strengths in the interest of our sustainable market success. As a result, we will ensure our R&D team is one of the most efficient in the world market and secure attractive jobs for the long term.”

One of the factors, which seems to have influenced the move is the automotive slowdown being witnessed in several markets including Germany.

Continental stated that in response to shifting customer demand and the need for greater operational efficiency, it is implementing a series of targeted measures across its business segments, subsidiaries and global locations. The idea is to optimise capacity, enhance the effectiveness of its R&D network and improve overall processes.

In Germany, the primary impact of these measures will be felt at the Babenhausen site, where approximately 12 percent of employees are expected to be affected, and in Frankfurt, where around 5 percent of positions are involved. Additional, albeit smaller-scale, efficiency adjustments are planned for locations in Ingolstadt, Regensburg and Schwalbach.

Furthermore, company's subsidiaries, Elektrobit and Continental Engineering Services, will also undergo restructuring. Elektrobit is set to reduce 480 jobs globally, with approximately 330 of those in Germany. Similarly, Continental Engineering Services will be affected by workforce adjustments impacting 420 positions worldwide, including around 330 in Germany. As part of a broader global location strategy, the company also plans to exit its Nuremberg site.

At present, Continental’s Automotive sector employs around 92,000 people, including 31,000 in R&D as of 31 December 2024.

The German company has shared that the reduction will be done through planned measures as socially responsible as possible. A significant part of the R&D workforce optimisation efforts will be by not positions that become vacant due to natural attrition.

Image for representational purpose only.

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Pune-headquartered tier 1 supplier Varroc Engineering has announced its financial results for FY2025, with revenue of INR 81 billion, up 8 percent YoY.

The company reported profit after tax of INR 1.69 billion, which was down 46 percent YoY, as compared to INR 3.15 billion for same period last year. This the company attributed due to an exceptional item worth INR 1.47 billion on the back of restructuring of subsidiaries and exit from its joint venture in China.

For Q4 FY2025, the company reported revenue of INR 20.99 billion, up 11 percent YoY, profit after tax of INR 1.03 billion.

Tarang Jain, CMD, Varroc, said, "India has now become the 4th largest economy, and the GDP had a steady growth of 6.2 percent in Q3 FY2025. Softening of Inflation in the last few quarters and interest rates reduction globally encouraged our Central Bank to reduce Repo rate by 50 basis points. Weak growth in consumption, on top of global and regional conflicts and uncertain tariff regime, may impact discretionary spending which can have impact on automotive Industry. However, we remain confident about the medium-to-the-long-term growth prospects of automotive industry.”

He revealed that in FY2025, the company filed 25 patents of which more than 10 patents were already granted to Varroc, bringing the total filings to more than 120 for the company.

“We continue to strengthen our balance sheet and return ratios. The net debt of the company in FY2025 was reduced by INR 2,348 million and as a result the net debt to equity was reduced to below 0.5x at the end FY2025 from 0.64X at the end of FY2024. The absolute net debt figure was INR 7,480 million. ROCE (before tax) for FY2025 was 20.8 percent and free cash flow generation was also healthy at INR 3,116 million or 3.8 percent of revenue before growth CAPEX in land,” he added.

IN FY2025, the company also won new business wins estimated to add INR 11,734 million in revenue, with electric vehicle constituting more than 55 percent of it.

“It is more heartening to see business wins in our overseas operations also, which will improve profitability from FY 27 onwards. Our continuing focus on revenue growth, improvement in gross margin, control on fixed cost and optimization of capex and working capital will enable us to generate healthy free cash flows in the future also,” concluded Jain.

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Samvardhana Motherson International (SAMIL) has announced its financial results for FY2025, demonstrating significant growth across key metrics.

The company reported consolidated revenue of INR 1,136 billion, up 15 percent YoY. Earnings Before Interest, Tax, Depreciation, and Amortisation (EBITDA) rose by 17 percent to INR 108.77 billion, while Profit After Tax (PAT) saw a substantial 40 percent jump, reaching INR 38.03 billion.

Vivek Chaand Sehgal, Chairman, Motherson, said, "Our performance underscores the resilience and adaptability of our business. With a booked business value exceeding USD 88 billion, encompassing both automotive and non-automotive sectors, we have established a robust foundation for future growth."

He further congratulated the Motherson team for an ‘exceptional performance’ over the past five years, achieving record sales and integrating 23 acquisitions despite global volatility, all while maintaining a strong focus on free cash flow and reducing the leverage ratio to its lowest point in five years.

The company also highlighted its strategic advancements, including outpacing the industry by approximately 15 percent through content growth and mergers and acquisitions. Return on Capital Employed (ROCE) improved to 17.2 percent at a consolidated level, even amidst expansions. Net Debt to EBITDA stands at a comfortable 0.9x. Capital expenditure for the year was INR 44.33 billion, calibrated to market dynamics.

Furthermore, 14 greenfield projects are underway, with nine expected to commence operations in FY2026.

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Aumovio, the automotive business of Continental Group, will see Philipp von Hirschheydt, presently CEO, take on the additional duties of the Chief Financial Officer (CFO). This comes on the heels of Karin Dohm’s decision not to take on the intended role of CFO due to personal reasons.

It was on 23 April 2025, German technology company Continental Group revealed the new identity for its Automotive Business – Aumovio at the Auto Shanghai Show 2025.

Stefan E Buchner, Designated Chairman of the Supervisory Board, Auomovio, said, "We deeply regret her decision, but at the same time, have the greatest understanding and respect for her choice. Together with our strong team, we will consistently continue on the path we have begun and lead Aumovio into the future with responsibility and foresight."

The announcement is said to have no impact on the planned spin-off, with Aumovio on track to be listed on stock exchange in September 2025. The company stated that during the transition the existing Finance and Controlling team will take on additional responsibilities to ensure a seamless spin-off.

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German technology and services major Bosch has announced its financial performance for Q4 and FY2025. The company reported revenue of INR 49 billion in Q4 FY2025, up 16 percent YoY and profit after tax of INR 5.54 billion, up 11.1 percent YoY.  It attributed the performance on the back of a buoyant automotive market, particularly within the tractor and passenger car segments.

During the period, Bosch’s Mobility business sector's product revenue grew by 14.9 percent QoQ, driven by increased sales in the off-highway and passenger car segments. The Beyond Mobility business sector saw a flat growth of 1.7 percent.

Guruprasad Mudlapur, President of the Bosch Group in India and Managing Director of Bosch, said, "Amid a challenging business environment, we concluded FY2024-25 with strong revenue growth and increased sales across businesses. Sustained demand in the off-highway and passenger car segments contributed to our performance this quarter. This development reflects our agility in adapting to dynamic market needs and our continuous focus on customer centricity."

For FY2024-25, revenue from operations climbed by 8.1 percent to INR 180 billion, bolstered by increased sales in the off-highway segment and the Mobility Aftermarket business. The profit after tax came at INR 20 billion, which was 11.1 percent of the revenue.

Within the Mobility business sector, product sales for the fiscal year increased by 7 percent, predominantly due to growth in the overall passenger and tractor segments. Domestic sales for this sector also rose by 6.2 percent. The Powertrain Solutions division experienced a 5.8 percent sales increase, driven by the tractor segment and increased export sales. Meanwhile, the Mobility Aftermarket division saw an 8.4 percent rise, thanks to heightened market demand for diesel components and filters. The Beyond Mobility sector recorded a 4.4 percent increase in sales, propelled by the consumer goods segment.

Bosch Limited also announced a strategic decision to divest its 6.97 percent shareholding in Nivaata Systems (Routematic), having achieved its goals for the initial investment made in 2020.

Future Outlook

Sharing his perspective on the company’s performance for FY2026 and beyond, Mudlapur, said, "India is poised to become a leading automotive powerhouse with high levels of engineering and manufacturing excellence. In the coming years, we expect substantial growth in India as a strategic market, with an accelerated shift towards digitalisation, electrification and sustainable mobility. At Bosch, we are fully geared to lead this change and remain committed to being the preferred technology partner for OEMs in India and the world over."

The company anticipates continued growth in non-mobility areas through sustained infrastructural investments, reinforcing its position as a multi-sector technology leader.

The broader Bosch Group is forging ahead with its ambitious Strategy 2030, aiming to solidify its competitive standing. Despite a challenging market environment last year, which saw sales revenue decrease by 1.4 percent to EUR 90.3 billion (0.5 percent adjusted for exchange-rate effects), the group remains focused on its long-term objectives. EBIT (earnings before interest and taxes) from operations stood at EUR 3.1 billion (2023: EUR 4.8 billion), with an EBIT margin from operations of 3.5 percent.

Stefan Hartung, Chairman of the Board of Management of Robert Bosch, affirmed: "In the 2024 business year, we achieved important improvements in terms of costs, structures, and portfolio. We are sticking to our ambitious targets in order to continue to grow and strengthen our financial independence. Our Strategy 2030 gives us the orientation we need, especially in times of global turbulence, to become one of the top three providers in our core markets in five years’ time at the latest.”

Going forward, Bosch has outlined its financial targets of attaining 6 percent and 8 percent annual average growth until 2030, assuming a normal inflation rate of between 2 percent and 3 percent.

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