Financial Overview

(in million euros)

	FY2008-09	FY2007-08	Rate of change (%)	Factors
Overall
Sales	40,563	53,426	(24.0)	-
Earnings before taxes	(2,364)	3,128	-	-
Auto
Sales	3,684	5,106	(27.8)	1)

1)
Financial overview at Auto business unit
-After new contracts had been concluded with most customers at July 01, 2008 to take account of prior substantial increases in raw material costs, price were adjusted from July 01, 2009 to reflect the expected decreases in raw material costs.
-Sales at Tailored Blanks were also down due to lower volumes, though less sharply than at the other businesses. One factor in this was the first full-year inclusion of the North American TWB group, in which a majority interest was acquired in the prior year. Tailored Blanks ended FY2008-09 with a slight profit.
-Sales at Metal Forming were also lower in all units except in China. Despite extensive adjustment measures, operating earnings deteriorated further, compounded by expenditure for the further expanded restructuring program. As a result, the business posted another significant loss.

R&D Structure

-After implementing a new corporate structure in October 2009, The Company launched the cross-Group research project "InCar."

Product Development

-Under the InCar project, the Company developed 35 new solutions for the body, powertrain and chassis areas.

Two-stage damper system "DampTronic"
-The damper can be switched between a normal tuning and a tight sport tuning via a dash mounted button. The system costs around 44% less than conventional continuously variable dampers.

-The center of the system is the DampTronic select valve. It provides the driver with a normal setting and, at the touch of a button a sport setting. The change is controlled by an electro magnet. If the magnet is activated, the two inner valves are connected in parallel and provide a comfortable suspension setting. If the driver wants sporty tuning, he switches the electro magnet off. The system is robust, low in cost and can be adapted to a wide variety of vehicles.

Front axle beam with integrated steering gear
-The newly developed beam not only accommodates the steering gear but also meets all structural requirements. This reduces weight by 11% and part and manufacturing costs by 3% compared with a conventional axle beam.

Light weight chassis concept made of high-strength steel "LCK II"
-In this concept the steel rear axle is just as strong and only 4% heavier than a comparable aluminum design but costs 50% less. In the lifecycle assessment the LCK II permits savings of around 120 kilograms CO2 equivalent per vehicle. The LCK II is made from the hot-rolled complex phase steel CP-W 800. With a yield strength of 680 megapascals this material is significantly stronger than the steels previously used in chassis design. It allows parts to be designed with thinner walls to reduce weight. In addition to the material concept, a further highlight is the use of square butt welds to join the parts: Avoiding welding flanges and the resulting optimized use of package space allows further weigh savings. The laser hybrid welds last at least twice as long as MAG-welded joints.