Schaeffler expands business fields

Robots and Defense Schaeffler Aims to Become Less Dependent on the Automotive Industry

2026-02-26 Source: dpa 2 min Reading Time

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The supplier wants to build up new business areas. With components for humanoid robots and the defense industry, Schaeffler wants to achieve sales in the billions.

The Schaeffler Group wants to reduce its dependence on the automotive industry.(Image: Schaeffler) — The Schaeffler Group wants to reduce its dependence on the automotive industry.
(Image: Schaeffler)

Schaeffler, which mainly supplies the automotive industry, intends to generate large parts of its business outside its traditional field of activity in the future. In an interview with Deutsche Presse-Agentur, CEO Klaus Rosenfeld named the construction of parts for humanoid robots and products for the defense industry as new fields of activity.

"We have set ourselves the target of generating ten percent of our turnover from new activities by 2035," said Rosenfeld. "If we reach a turnover of around 30 billion euros in 2035, then we need to generate three billion euros in turnover from new growth areas." (~$35 Billion) These include humanoid robots, for example, but also the defense industry and aerospace. "We will manage the three billion."

The topic of humanoid robots is currently in high demand. "We can't keep up with the interest at the moment." There are more than 28 orders for prototypes. Schaeffler does not have to reinvent itself for this, but can use its experience in precision mechanics or power electronics.

Suppliers from Europe are currently facing a variety of challenges. Pictured: The Aumovio headquarters in Frankfurt am Main. (Image:Aumovio)

Rethinking Supply Chains for Defense

The same applies to the defense sector: small, high-performance electric motors are supplied to the drone manufacturer Helsing, for example. "We can already do that today," said Rosenfeld. However, the supply chains need to be reconsidered.

These would have to be free of products from China, for example, and preferably also from the USA. For example, a domestic source must be found for the magnets used in the motors.

However, the automotive sector will remain a key area for Schaeffler in the long term. Components for internal combustion engines will still be needed for a long time, including for the high-margin repair business. Schaeffler continues to make progress in the field of e-mobility.

Following the merger with electric drive specialist Vitesco, Schaeffler has become one of the ten largest suppliers worldwide. The company employs 110,000 people worldwide and has an annual turnover of around 24 billion euros (~$28 Billion). Most of the shares in the listed company are still held by the owner family around matriarch Maria-Elisabeth Schaeffler-Thumann and her son Georg.

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