18-01-2013, 12:39 PM
Automotive Industry Switzerland
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Introduction
Nationally, and especially internationally, automotive technology is commonly
not perceived as one of Switzerland’s core competencies. Nevertheless,
Swiss companies play a prominent role as suppliers of parts and production
goods, particularly for the big automotive industries of neighboring
countries such as Germany, France, and Italy. Public perception and
the actual economic importance of the Swiss automotive industry therefore
contradict each other.
Although Switzerland doesn’t possess conventional OEM,1 apart from
individual vehicle manufacturers, there is a multifaceted supplier industry
as well as numerous companies operating in mechanical, facility, and tool
engineering who supply the automotive industry. Many of these companies
are highly innovative and, over many years, have successfully positioned
themselves in fast-growing segments belonging to global technology
leaders. Accordingly, Swiss federal automotive technology is found in
almost every vehicle produced in the global market. The company Feintool,
for example, proclaims that every car in the world operates with
parts and components that have been produced with Feintool technology,
with Feintool construction, or by Feintool itself.
Study aim, design, and structure
Aims and objects of interest of the analyses
The aim of the study is to create a profound survey of the Swiss automotive
branch with respect to the current situation, trends, challenges, and
opportunities. Indeed, there is no industry in Switzerland, as there is in the
neighboring countries of Germany and France, that produces complete
vehicles at high volumes and plays an eminent role in the industry of the
country in its entirety. But still, there are many companies in Switzerland
engaged in delivering their products to the worldwide automotive industry,
be they component parts for cars or construction or tools for their
production.
The objects of interest of this study are parts and production goods manufacturers
from the so-called Frankenraum8. These will be named collectively
as the “Swiss automotive industry branches or sectors.” Wherever a
distinction seems sensible, parts suppliers and production goods manufacturers
will be examined separately. In detail, the following aims were
targeted:
• analysis of the industry’s structure
• analysis of the companies’ structures, focusing on added value
• analysis of the product and service spectrum, the core competencies,
market positions, and product and production strategies
• examination of the industry and its location with regard to positioning
in the global market and among the competition
By analyzing the Swiss automotive sectors along these lines, the survey
aims to contribute to more transparency at home as well as toward foreign
countries. The evaluated facts and figures and the derived results
also offer starting points from which to strengthen the automotive industry.
Procedure and design of the analyses
Image 2-1 shows how the survey was accomplished in three steps. It was
run from July 2007 to September 2008.
The Swiss Automotive Industry
This chapter is organized with the following structure (see Image 3-1):
• Section 3.1 serves to create an aggregated illustration of the Swiss
automotive industry by analyzing the branch’s structure.
• Section 3.2 analyzes structures on the enterprise level. It outlines
the profile of a typical automotive branch enterprise.
• Section 3.3 involves results regarding product and production
strategies, core competencies, and market positioning. To that
end, the product and service spectrums of the respective companies
are examined.
• Section 3.4 examines the competitive position of the companies.
Sales expectancies, growth opportunities, and growth markets as
well as aspects of partnerships and cooperation with science are
considered.
Branch structure
To develop a better understanding of the economic importance of the
branch, several sales volume and employment numbers were aggregated.
In addition, geographical distribution, founding history, and connectivity
were evaluated.
Turnover volume and employment numbers
On the basis of enterprise inquiries, turnover and employment numbers
of the Swiss automotive industry were determined. The 310 companies
identified as relevant to the Swiss automotive industry generated a
worldwide turnover of 16 billion CHF with automotive products developed
or produced in Switzerland. 34,000 employees were engaged in Switzerland.
The bases of the calculated turnover volume and of the employment
number are shown in sections 3.1.3 and 3.1.5
Employed Swiss automotive industry
The number of people employed in the Swiss automotive branch aggregates
from the number of employees who exclusively work at sites in
Switzerland for the development/production of parts and production
goods for the automotive industry. Thereupon 34,000 people are employed
within Switzerland. The high number of employed people shows
that the importance of the Swiss automotive branch has so far been underestimated.
International comparison clearly underlines this. Switzerland
ranks in a middle position, in front of its neighbor Austria.