[Gen-AI Analysis] Sanluis Corporation S.A.B. de C.V. Business Report FY ended 2012 - MarkLines Automotive Information & Gen-AI Platform

Sanluis Corporation S.A.B. de C.V. Business Report FY ended Dec. 2012

Business Highlights

Financial Overview

(in million USD)

	FY ended Dec. 31, 2012	FY ended Dec. 31, 2011	Rate of change (%)	Factors
Overall
Net Sales	713.1	752.7	(5.3)	1)
EBITDA	91.3	94.8	(3.7)	-
Sales by business units
North America Suspension	395	377	4.8	2)
South America Suspension	195	290	(32.8)	3)
North America Brake	124	96	29.2	4)

Factors
1) Net Sales
-Net sales in 2012 decreased 5% from 2011 to USD 713 million in 2012. The decrease was caused by a 32.8% decline in sales in South America, while being partially offset by a 12% increase in sales in North America.

2) North America Suspension
-Compared to 2011, sales in the North America Suspension segment grew 4.8% due to the ongoing economic recovery of the automobile industry.

3) South America Suspension
-Net sales in South America Suspension segment declined 32.8% from 2011 due to a change in environmental regulations that had a temporary negative effect in the bus and truck markets, which was anticipated by the Company.

4) Brake business
-Net sales for the North America Brake segment grew 29.2% from 2011 to 2012 due to the economic recovery of the automobile industry, as well as the start of production of new brake platforms for Ford, Chysler and Volkswagen.

R&D

R&D Structure

-The Company has an engineering, research and development center in Plymouth, Michigan, USA. The Company also has Product Development laboratories in Piedras Negras, Coahuila, San Martin Texmeulcan, Puebla, Mexico; as well as another laboratory in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Product Developments

<Two-piece rotor>
-In 2012, the Company launched a new two-piece rotor which features a ductile iron hat and gray iron brake plates. This rotor provides weight savings of up to 18 percent while also improving a vehicle's heat management capabilities. The rotor will be incorporated on the 2014 Chevrolet "Corvette Stingray", along with two other high performance vehicles in 2015.

<Weight Saving>
-The engineering group developed advanced engineering materials and processes that reduce component weight by 30% for brake and suspension systems. These technologies have already been tested and approved by customers to be launched in 2013 vehicles.