The Webasto Group, one of the 100 leading automotive suppliers worldwide, has bought the shares of its long-standing South Korean joint venture partner. The joint venture Webasto Donghee, with headquarters in Ulsan (South Korea) that previously focused on production and sales of panorama roofs, will now become part of Webasto’s worldwide development and production network. Since 1987, the joint venture had been owned equally by the Webasto Group and the automotive supplier Donghee.
The takeover of shares is the largest acquistion in Webasto’s history to date. “This investment is an important step in strengthening our position as a systems partner to the automotive industry in the growth market of Asia,” explains Dr. Holger Engelmann, Chairman of the Management Board, Webasto SE. The Webasto Donghee joint venture supplied the most important, globally successful Korean automobile manufacturer with innovative roof systems. Engelmann: “We are pleased to be able to provide our third largest customer with our entire product portfolio worldwide including battery systems, charging solutions and electrical heating systems in the future.”
Webasto has had its own locations in Asia since the 1970s and has continuously expanded its business in the region ever since. In recent years, the company has concentrated primarily on developping in China. Webasto is now intensifying its activities throughout Asia as part of its strategic development and the expansion of its product range with systems for electromobility. Following the acquisition, the joint venture Webasto Donghee, with five plants and around 900 employees in South Korea, China and Slovakia, will operate under the umbrella of Webasto Korea Holdings, Ltd.
SOURCE: Webasto
