Magneti Marelli S.p.A. Business Report FY ended Dec. 2017
Financial Overview
-In the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017, the Company’s sales increased from approximately EUR 7,900 million in the previous year to approximately EUR 8,700 million, an increase of approximately 9.2%.
-The Company had increased earnings and earnings margin in the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017 due to strong performance in its lighting and chassis business lines.
Acquisitions
-In 2017, the Company acquired a stake in LeddarTech, a company based in Canada focusing on the development of lidar technology for autonomous vehicles and advanced driver assistance systems. LeddarTech specializes in the development of solid state lidar technologies. The Company has also entered into a technical and commercial cooperation agreement to jointly develop complete lidar systems for automotive applications.
Major Contracts
| Company | Model | Parts Supplied |
| Alfa Romeo | Giulia | Infotainment system, Thin-film transistor display panel, Halogen headlights, Xenon headlights, LED rear lights, Suspension components, Exhaust system, Powertrain components |
| Giulia Quadrifoglio | Chassis Domain Control module | |
| Stelvio | Xenon headlights, Infotainment system, Thin-film-transistor display panel, Engine control units, Intake manifolds, Motorized throttles, Exhaust system components, Suspension components, Plastic components | |
| Stelvio Quadrifoglio | Chassis Domain Control module | |
| Audi | Q5 | Instrument cluster |
| RS5 | Xenon headlights, LED headlights, Motorized throttle | |
| R8 | LED headlights | |
| BMW | X3 | Advanced lighting systems |
| Citroen | Aircross | Motorized throttle, Stepper motor ECU |
| C3 | Motorized throttle | |
| DS7 | Crossback | LED headlights, LED rear lights, 12.3-inch digital thin-film transistor display panel, Telematic Box |
| Jeep | Compass | Halogen headlights, Xenon headlights, LED rear lights, Intake manifolds, Motorized throttle, Instrument cluster, Demonstration display panel |
| Renegade | Demonstration display panel | |
| Maserati | Ghibli | Full-LED Matrix headlights |
| Mercedes-Benz | E-Class | LED rear lights |
| S-Class | Advanced lighting systems | |
| Opel | Insignia Grand Sport | LED rear lights |
| Insignia Sports Tourer | LED rear lights | |
| Peugeot | 3008 | Instrument cluster, i-Cockpit 12-inch display panel, 8-inch display for infotainment system |
| 5008 | Instrument cluster | |
| Porsche | 911 GT2 RS | Instrument clusters |
| Cayenne | Advanced lighting systems | |
| Macan | Instrument clusters | |
| Panamera Sport Turismo | LED rear lights, Motorized throttle | |
| Seat | Ibiza | Motorized throttle, Engine system ECUs, Exhaust system ECus |
| Skoda | Kodiaq | Motorized throttle |
| Suzuki | Swift | Rear light bulbs, Intake manifold, ECU, Motorized throttle, Automated manual transmission |
| Volkswagen | Passat | LED headlights |
R&D Expenditures |
(in million EUR) |
| FY ended Dec. 31, 2017 | FY ended Dec. 31, 2016 | FY ended Dec. 31, 2015 | |
| Overall | - | 466 | 334 |
R&D Activities
-Approximately 20% of the Company’s research and development activities involve the Company working with universities or excellence centers through cooperation agreements.
Product Development
Products displayed at CES 2018
-The Company will exhibit high-tech electronics, lighting and powertrain solutions, with a focus on autonomous driving, connectivity and hybrid/electric mobility at CES 2018. Building on its recent investment in solid-state lidar company LeddarTech, the Company has integrated a camera, radar and lidar into advanced projector headlamps and tail lamps. The Company’s booth will feature a value-added selection of lighting modules, headlamps and tail lamps. The Company will also present its V2X solutions, which integrate driver warnings within the HMI, displaying them in the instrument cluster or center stack. It will also display a mild-hybrid 48-volt belt starter generator, an electric motor with integrated electronics that replaces a standard alternator. (From a press release on December 19, 2017)
Investments Outside Italy
-The Company and the Moroccan State signed an agreement to build an automotive production plant in the country. The industrial zone will be located in Tangier, in the free zone “Tanger Automotive City”, and will cover approximately 20,000 square meters. Initially, the plant will manufacture shock absorbers for passenger cars and commercial vehicles. The production capacity, when fully operational, will comprise approximately 6 million units. Production is forecast to begin in 2019, with the plant employing of approximately 500 workers by 2025. The project will require a global investment of approximately EUR 37 million. (From a press release on September 26, 2017)
-On June 20, 2017, Changchun Magneti Marelli Automotive Lighting System Co., Ltd., the Company’s joint venture with Changchun Fudi Equipment Technology Development Co. Ltd., held an opening ceremony in Changchun. The plant is built on a site of approximately 30,000 square meters and allocates 17,000 square meters for operations to manufacture LED headlights and rear lights. Its products are primarily supplied to FAW-VW, BMW, and other OEMs. By 2019, this new plant will be able to produce 1 million LED headlights and 0.5 million LED rear lights. The plant currently has a workforce of 100 employees that will eventually grow to 800. (From a press release on June 20, 2017)
-Marelli Motherson Auto System Private Limited (MMM) inaugurated its new plant in Bawal, Haryana, India to manufacture automotive lights and air intake systems for customers in India’s National Capital Region. The plant is on a 21,000-square-meter site and has 7,600 square meters of production area. The plant will have an annual production capacity of 1,200,000 rear lamps and 900,000 air intake manifolds. It will serve OEMs such as Maruti Suzuki and Honda Motors. MMM is a joint venture between Samvardhana Motherson Group and the Company. The joint venture manufactures automotive lighting products, integrated plastic air intake manifold assemblies and pedal box modules. (From a press release on March 28, 2017)
-The Company announced that it will invest USD 35 million to expand its automotive lighting production capacity in the U.S., by converting an existing company plant in Independence Township, Michigan, into a facility dedicated to the production of headlamps. The plant expansion and activity will create more than 360 jobs over five years. As a result of the expansion, the Company has been awarded a USD 2 million Michigan Business Development Program performance-based grant. (From a press release on January 31, 2017)