Overall, German automotive suppliers are looking to the current and coming year with great confidence - despite the noticeable market slowdown in China. Internationalization has become indispensable for the major players in the industry and increasingly also for medium-sized companies. "Without a presence in North America and Asia, they are no longer even invited to take part in tenders. Or vice versa: without a presence in Mexico and China, sooner or later you won't get an order in Europe either," says Claus-Peter Köth, editor-in-chief of the trade magazine "Automobil Industrie".



In addition, OEM partners - whether parts suppliers, equipment suppliers or service providers - must take advantage of the opportunities presented by megatrends in the automotive industry such as networking, electrification, lightweight construction and Production 4.0 and examine how they can develop their business model accordingly. Not least in order to defend the technological leadership of German car manufacturers.



Against this backdrop, however, one thing is worrying: more and more suppliers do not have the impression that their customers are interested in whether their company can operate sustainably. Smaller and medium-sized suppliers in particular are seeing their existence increasingly threatened by rising cost pressure. "The maxim of the automotive chief buyers - more and more performance for less and less money - is jeopardizing the German automotive industry's recipe for success. It's high time for an industry-wide rethink," concludes Claus-Peter Köth.



The 92-page "Automobil Industrie" special "OEM Partners", published in August 2015, presents products, processes and services for purchasers, planners and developers in the automotive industry.



Free press copies are available at pressestelle@vogel.de



"Automobil Industrie " - The whole world of mobility. "Automobil Industrie" is the trade magazine at the interface between technology and business. The focus is on technology and production, lightweight construction and materials as well as information technologies. The megatopics surrounding mobility also feature prominently in the magazine. automobil-industrie.de

The parent company Vogel Business Media is Germany's largest trade media company with 100+ trade journals, 100+ web portals, 100+ business events as well as numerous mobile offerings and international activities. Its headquarters are in Würzburg. The company celebrates its 125th anniversary in 2016.