Company type | Incorporation |
---|---|
Industry | Automotive industry, contract manufacturing |
Founded | 1968Uusikaupunki, Finland | in
Headquarters | Uusikaupunki , Finland |
Area served | Worldwide |
Key people | Pasi Rannus (CEO) |
Products | Manufacturing service provider to the automotive industry; passenger car contract manufacturing, supplier for development and manufacturing of battery systems as well as a supplier for roof and kinematic systems |
Services | Automotive contract manufacturing |
Revenue | €2.2 billion [1] (2023) |
31.3 (2023) | |
Owners | Pontos Group (38%), Tesi (38%), Contemporary Amperex Technology (28%) |
Number of employees | 3,700 [2] |
Website | www |
Valmet Automotive is a Finnish vehicle contract manufacturer and supplier of battery, roof, and kinematic systems. [3]
Valmet Automotive has manufactured over 1.8 million vehicles at its headquarters in Uusikaupunki, Finland. Its largest shareholders are the Finnish state investment company Tesi and Pontos Group, each holding a 38.46% stake, while China’s Contemporary Amperex Technology Limited (CATL) owns 23.08%.
Valmet Automotive has three business lines: Vehicle Manufacturing, EV Systems, and Roof & Kinematic Systems.
In vehicle manufacturing, Valmet Automotive clients include Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Saab, Opel and Fisker. [4] [5] Valmet Automotive has produced electric vehicles since 2009. In July 2021, Valmet Automotive was selected to build long-range solar cars for Lightyear 0, which was later canceled. [6] Valmet Automotive also announced a manufacturing contract with Sono Motors for the Sion model in 2022, which was also later canceled.
In July 2012, Daimler AG and Valmet Automotive announced a manufacturing agreement for the Mercedes-Benz A-Class for the Uusikaupunki plant, in Finland. Production began in August 2013. A contract for the production of the Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class was announced in November 2015. The GLC production started in February 2017. [7] In March 2017, Valmet Automotive announced the manufacturing contract with Daimler AG for the next generation Mercedes-Benz compact cars. [8] While the production of the GLC ended in 2022, Valmet Automotive announced a manufacturing contract for the Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door Coupé.
In the EV Systems business line, Valmet Automotive operates two battery pack production facilities in Salo, Finland, and in Uusikaupunki, Finland. [9] The battery plant in Salo, Finland, started a large-scale production of 48-volt systems in 2019, and the expansion to include production of high-voltage batteries was completed in the summer of 2021. The battery plant in Uusikaupunki was opened in September 2021; high-voltage batteries for electric vehicles are manufactured there under one roof with vehicle production. A third battery plant in Kirchardt, Germany, is under construction and will open in 2022. Valmet Automotive also has sites for battery testing and engineering in Bad Friedrichshall, Weihenbronn, Munich and Turku (Finland). [10]
In 2010, Valmet Automotive took over Karmann's roof business and continued operations at the Osnabrück, Germany, and Żary, Poland, sites. In 2016, Valmet Automotive expanded the Roof Systems business to include Kinematic Systems. Kinematic Systems develops and produces spoiler systems that reduce fuel consumption and extend the range of electrically powered vehicles. The product range also includes kinematic solutions for electric vehicles such as electric charging flaps. The Roof & Kinematic Systems business line's clients includes brands such as Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Mini (BMW Group), Bentley, McLaren Automotive and Porsche. [11]
Saab-Valmet was established in 1968 as a joint venture of Finnish Valmet and Swedish Saab-Scania. The automotive plant was placed in Uusikaupunki, Finland, and assembled only Saabs for the first eleven years. Between 1979 and 1985, Valmet also assembled Talbots; a total of 31,978 such cars were built in Finland. [12] Valmet was primarily interested in building the compact Simca-Talbot Horizon, but the French company required Valmet to also assemble the larger (and slow selling) 1307 before they would license the Horizon. [13] Unlike Saabs, the Simca-Talbots were only meant for local consumption, although a clause in the contract allowed for the possibility of exports if parts made by the thirty local suppliers began to be exported to Talbot's main plants. Domestic parts content increased to thirty percent within a half year of manufacture commencing. [13]
In 1992, Valmet became the sole owner, and the company was renamed Valmet Automotive in 1995. From 1999 to 2010, the sole owner was Metso, after which both Finnish Industry Investment (Tesi) and Pontos Investments bought 34% of the company's shares. [14] On November 4, 2010, Valmet Automotive bought Karmann’s roof-component sections in Osnabrück, Germany, and Żary, Poland. [15] In January 2017, CATL became a 23.08% minority stakeholder in the company, [16] the other shareholders being Pontos and Tesi (Finnish Industry Investment).
Valmet Automotive's present production includes Mercedes-Benz models (2013-present), with the Mercedes-Benz A-Class (W177) having started production in August 2018. Upcoming production will include the Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door Coupé (X290), scheduled to begin in the third quarter of 2023.
In the past, Valmet Automotive produced a range of vehicles, beginning with Saab models from 1969 to 2003. These included the Saab 95, 96, 99, 90, 900, 900 Convertible, 900 CD, 9000, and 9-3 Convertible. They also produced specialized Saab models like the Saab 9-3 Viggen, and the long-wheelbase Finnish domestic market versions of the Saab 99 and Saab 900 (known as the "Finlandia" 5D combi-coupe and as the Saab 900 CD in 4D Sedan form). These models were favored by Finnish municipal and federal governments, as well as major Finnish industrial corporations, as official executive vehicles.
From 1979 to 1987, Valmet produced vehicles for Chrysler/Talbot, including the Simca-Talbot Horizon, Simca 1307/1508, (Talbot 1510), and Talbot Solara. Between 1991 and 1997, they manufactured the Opel Calibra, and from 1996 to 1998, they produced the Lada EuroSamara. Between 1997 and 2011, Valmet worked with Porsche [17] to manufacture the Porsche Boxster and Porsche Cayman. They also built the Garia electric golf car and the Think electric car (including the Th!nk City [18] ) from 2009 to 2011.
Other past projects include the Fisker Karma for Fisker Automotive from 2011 to 2012, and Mercedes-Benz models from 2013 onwards, such as the Mercedes-Benz A-Class (W176), produced from August 2013 [19] to 2018, and the Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class (X253) from 2017 to 2022. They briefly produced the Lightyear 0 starting in November 2022, but the project was canceled in January 2023. [20] [21]
Valmet also produced the Valmet Raceabout, a limited-series sports roadster. [22] A notable canceled production includes Sono Motors' Sion, which was expected to begin production in late 2023 but was ultimately canceled. [23]
The Saab 900 is a mid-sized automobile produced by Swedish manufacturer Saab from 1978 until 1998 in two generations: the first from 1978 to 1994, and the second from 1994 to 1998.
The Saab 9-3 is a compact executive car initially developed and manufactured by the Swedish automaker Saab.
The Saab 90 is a family car produced by Saab from September 1984 to 1987. It was manufactured at a facility in Uusikaupunki (Nystad), Finland, at that time owned by a joint venture with Finnish Valmet called Saab-Valmet. The 90 was a continuation of the Saab 99 and it was basically a Saab 99 from the B-pillar forward with the rear of a Saab 900 sedan. The 90, while easier to build than the 99, was still considerably more labour-intensive than the more modern 900.
The Saab 99 is a car produced by Swedish manufacturer Saab from 1968 to 1984; their first foray into a larger class than the Saab 96. While considered a large family car in Scandinavia, it was marketed as a niche compact executive car in most other markets. It was manufactured both in Sweden and Finland and was succeeded by the Saab 900, although the 99 continued to be produced alongside its successor. The Saab 90, an updated, less complex version using many 900 parts took over from the 99 in late 1984.
The Porsche 986 is the internal designation for the first generation Boxster, a mid-engine two-seater roadster built by German automobile manufacturer Porsche. Introduced in late 1996, the Boxster, based on the 1993 Boxster Concept, was Porsche's first road vehicle to be originally designed as a roadster since the 550 Spyder. The Boxster's name is derived from the word "boxer", referring to the vehicle's flat or "boxer" engine, and the name "speedster", first seen on the 356. Powered by a 2.5-litre flat six-cylinder engine, the base model was upgraded to a 2.7-litre engine in the year 2000 and a new Boxster S variant was introduced with a 3.2-litre engine. In 2003, styling and engine output was upgraded on both variants. The 986 was succeeded by the 987 which retained the Boxster roadster and added the Cayman fixed-roof coupé body style.
Wilhelm Karmann GmbH, commonly known as Karmann, was a German automobile manufacturer and contract manufacturer based in Osnabrück, Germany. Founded by Wilhelm Karmann in 1901, the company specialised in various automotive roles, including design, production and assembly of components for a wide variety of automobile manufacturers, including Chrysler, Porsche, Mercedes-Benz and Volkswagen Group.
The Talbot Horizon is a compact hatchback designed by Chrysler Europe and produced from 1978 to 1987. It was sold under the Simca, Chrysler and Talbot nameplates. The successor to both the Simca 1100 and Hillman Avenger, the Horizon adopted a front-wheel drive, transverse-engine layout.
Uusikaupunki is a town and municipality of Finland. It is located in the Southwest Finland region, 71 kilometres (44 mi) northwest of Turku and 97 kilometres (60 mi) south of Pori. The municipality has a population of 14,887 and covers an area of 551.65 square kilometres (212.99 sq mi) of which 49.04 km2 (18.93 sq mi) is inland water. The population density is 29.58 inhabitants per square kilometre (76.6/sq mi).
The Simca 1307 is a large family car produced by Chrysler Europe and subsequently PSA Peugeot Citroën from 1975 to 1986. Codenamed 'C6' in development, the car was styled in the United Kingdom by Roy Axe and his team at Whitley, and the car was engineered by Simca at Poissy in France.
Magna Steyr GmbH & Co KG is an automobile manufacturer based in Graz, Styria, Austria, where its primary manufacturing plant is also located. It is a subsidiary of Canadian-based Magna International and was previously part of the Steyr-Daimler-Puch conglomerate.
The Mercedes-Benz A-Class is a subcompact car manufactured by Mercedes-Benz and marketed across fourth generations as a front-engine, front-wheel drive, five-passenger, five-door hatchback, with a three-door hatchback offered for the second generation.
The Geneva International Motor Show was an annual auto show held in March in the Swiss city of Geneva.
Magna Car Top Systems (CTS) is a supplier of convertible tops. Having been a subsidiary of Porsche for an extensive period, that company agreed to sell it to Magna in late 2005 for roughly $470,000,000.
Fisker Automotive was an American automobile company. It produced the Fisker Karma, which was one of the world's first production luxury plug-in hybrid electric vehicles. The company was founded in 2007 by Henrik Fisker, a Danish automobile designer.
The Fisker Karma is a luxury plug-in range-extended electric sports sedan produced by Fisker Automotive between 2011 and 2012. The cars were manufactured at Valmet Automotive in Finland.
The Mercedes-Benz GLC is a compact luxury crossover SUV introduced in 2015 for the 2016 model year that replaced the GLK-Class. According to Mercedes-Benz, it is the SUV equivalent to the C-Class.
The Porsche Boxster and Cayman are mid-engine two-seater sports cars manufactured and marketed by German automobile manufacturer Porsche across four generations—as a two-door, two-seater roadster (Boxster) and a three-door, two-seater fastback coupé (Cayman).
Karosserie Friedrich Rometsch, a German metallurgical-coachbuilding company based in Berlin-Halensee, Nestorstrasse 41, manufactured, modified, and repaired coaches, trailers, bodies and chassis.
Stola is an Italian automotive company founded in 1919. From its start it realized concept cars, prototypes and style models, master models and engineering consultancy for some of the biggest manufacturers in the automotive industry.
Uusikaupunki Automobile Museum is a vehicle museum located next to the Valmet Automotive factory in Uusikaupunki, Southwest Finland. Its collections include about a hundred cars, a selection of mopeds, a few motorcycles and even two airplanes. The museum has three exhibition halls and is open all year round.