Structure of the Manufacturer Group
The Manufacturer Group III at the VDA (Vehicle Parts and Accessories) has around 500 members; more than 80% of them are small and medium-sized enterprises. Almost all of the direct suppliers to vehicle manufacturers, especially suppliers of systems and modules, are organized within the VDA. But also a large proportion of the second and third-tier suppliers use the advantages that VDA membership offers. In addition to information about economic, structural and technical developments in the industry, the Association also facilitates close cooperation with the vehicle manufacturers - which is something the members regard as attractive. This means that there are a number of committees and working groups, in which both groups of manufacturers – i.e. the automotive manufacturers and the suppliers – are represented. In view of the changes in the structure of the automotive value-added process, the representation of the supply industry within the VDA strives to utilize these cooperation opportunities in particular.
The highest representative body of the supplier industry within the VDA is the Manufacturer Group Assembly, which is held once a year. In even-numbered years, this meeting coincides with the General Assembly of VDA members. The Manufacturer Group elects 45 representatives from its members to the Advisory Board of Manufacturer Group III, which determines the strategy for work within the Association. At the same time, seven members of the Advisory Board are elected to represent the Manufacturer Group on the VDA’s Managing Board. The chairman of the Manufacturer Group Vehicle Parts and Accessories is Dr.-Ing. Jürgen Geißinger, chairman of Schaeffler KG.
The supply industry continues to grow
Due to the worldwide economic and financial crisis the year 2009 was the hardest year for the whole automotive industry. The crisis could be faced by the instruments short-time work, reduction of working time accounts and stocks, with corporate liability and the quick implementation of political programms. Since autumn 2009 orders and turnover from Germany and abroad are positive. An other pleasant fact is, that the companies were able to keep the permanent staff as far as possible. The number of employees in the german automotive supply industry was 285,000 employees in 2009. That was only 4.5 per cent less than in the year before. In 2009 turnover decreased from 67.4 billion € in 2008 to 50 billion € and fell short of the volume of one year by 20.5 per cent. Especially concerning the export (-23.9 per cent) the decrease becomes noticable.
