Automotive-Today.ro

AUMOVIO concluded the first quarter of 2026 amid a challenging market environment and delivered improvements in adjusted EBIT as well as adjusted and normalized free cash flow.

Adjusted consolidated sales came in at €4.4 billion, representing a decline of 7.8 percent year-on-year (Q1 2025: €4.8 billion). In addition to the realignment of the product and technology portfolio as part of the company’s comprehensive transformation, adverse foreign exchange effects weighed on sales. Adjusted EBIT climbed by 14.3 percent to €106 million (Q1 2025: €93 million), and the adjusted EBIT margin rose to 2.4 percent (Q1 2025: 1.9 percent). Adjusted operating earnings improved primarily due to a higher gross margin resulting from an improved product mix.

“In the first quarter, a persistently challenging market environment, combined with material currency effects and volume declines, affected our business performance. Nevertheless, we succeeded in further improving profitability – a clear indication of the effectiveness of our ongoing efficiency measures, which will continue to play a central role going forward. The recently announced decision to streamline our manufacturing footprint by four additional plants underscores our strong commitment to cost competitiveness. Despite persistent market weakness, we have achieved a solid start to our first full fiscal year.” – Philipp von Hirschheydt, CEO of AUMOVIO

https://www.automotive-today.ro/index.php/2026/05/08/aumovio-reports-consolidated-sales-of-4-4-billion-euros-down-7-8-percent-in-q1/

Bosch, a global leader in technology and services, concluded fiscal year 2025 with consolidated sales of 2.9 billion lei (€570 million) to third parties in Romania, marking steady growth of around 9 percent in lei terms (7.6 percent in euros), despite challenging market conditions. Total net sales of 11.7 billion lei (€2.3 billion) generated in Romania, including sales by non-consolidated companies and internal deliveries to affiliated companies, recorded a slight decline of 1.8 percent compared to the previous year.

“Bosch Romania once again demonstrated its resilience, delivering stable performance despite market difficulties and economic uncertainty during fiscal year 2025,” said Dan Lăzărescu, General Manager of Robert Bosch S.R.L. and representative of the Bosch Group in Romania. “This achievement is the direct result of our strategy focused on digitalization and innovation, as well as the remarkable dedication and adaptability of our employees across all operations. Beyond its business activities, Bosch today represents a trusted partner for Romanian society, a contributor to local communities, and a top employer.”

https://www.automotive-today.ro/index.php/2026/05/07/bosch-reported-total-net-sales-of-2-3-billion-euros-in-romania-investments-reached-35-million-euros-in-2025/

Continental started 2026 with a good first quarter. The Tires and ContiTech group sectors both increased their adjusted EBIT margins compared with the same quarter of last year, despite burdens from tariffs and exchange-rate effects. Adjusted free cash flow was also up year-on-year. By contrast, the economic environment and weak global markets hampered sales growth.

For 2026, Continental still expects consolidated sales of around €17.3 billion to €18.9 billion and an adjusted EBIT margin of around 11.0 to 12.5 percent.

“We had a good operational start to the year, increasing our profitability in both Tires and ContiTech compared with the same quarter of last year. This gives us momentum. At the same time, geopoliticaldevelopments are creating greater uncertainty for consumers and for the economy as a whole. This is why we are continuing to work hard on increasing our competitiveness,” said Continental CEO Christian Kötz.

https://www.automotive-today.ro/index.php/2026/05/06/continental-increases-profitability-in-tires-and-contitech-in-q1/

Schaeffler AG published its results for the first quarter of 2026 today. Revenue for the first three months of the year was 5.76 billion euros, decreasing by 2.7 percent (prior year: 5.9 billion euros.

At group level, the Europe (0.4 percent) and Asia/Pacific (8.0 percent) regions reported constant-currency revenue growth, while revenue declined at constant currency in the Americas (-1.0 percent) and Greater China (-0.5 percent) regions compared to the prior year quarter.

The Schaeffler Group generated 285 million euros in EBIT before special items in the first three months (prior year: 276 million euros). This represents an EBIT margin before special items of 5.0 percent (prior year: 4.7 percent).

https://www.automotive-today.ro/index.php/2026/05/05/schaeffler-reports-revenues-of-5-7-billion-euros-down-2-7-percent-in-q1/

ACAROM, the representative association of Romania’s automotive industry, has elected its leadership for the 2026–2029 term following an online voting procedure.

https://www.automotive-today.ro/index.php/2026/05/04/acarom-elects-new-leadership-for-2026-2029-mandate-appoints-mihai-bordeanu-as-president/

PPC and PPC blue Romania have jointly secured new European funding through the “Connecting Europe Facility” (CEF) funding mechanism, for the installation and operation of fast charging DC publicly accessible chargers, via European Climate, Infastructure & Environment Executive Agency CINEA.

The Extended East Europe Electric Route – BlueRoute 4E project represents an important milestone in the expansion of the charging infrastructure for electric vehicles in Romania and Greece, directly supporting the European objectives on the decarbonization of transport and the development of electric mobility along the TEN-T corridors.

https://www.automotive-today.ro/index.php/2026/04/30/ppc-blue-will-install-106-fast-charging-points-on-major-european-routes-in-romania-and-greece-with-funding-from-the-european-union/

BMW i Ventures launched its third fund, putting 300 million USD behind a clear premise: that AI will fundamentally reshape how the automotive industry operates and creates value across its entire ecosystem.

Fully backed by the BMW Group, Fund III will focus on physical AI, agentic AI, industrial software, manufacturing technologies, supply chain technologies and advanced materials. The fund will invest across North America and Europe, from Seed through Series B. The launch brings BMW i Ventures’ total capital under management to $1.1 billion.

“With BMW i Ventures, we are investing in technologies that will shape the future of our industry. Our corporate venture capital activities play a key role in our innovation strategy, complementing our internal R&D and building strategic partnerships across the entire automotive value chain”, said Oliver Zipse, CEO of BMW Group. “BMW i Ventures is launching the third fund at the perfect time: AI has shown its tremendous potential to transform products, operations, and entire value chains. Through BMW i Ventures and Fund III, we are best prepared to leverage these opportunities: We can anticipate shifts early, act quickly and efficiently on innovations, and remain at the forefront of our industry.”

https://www.automotive-today.ro/index.php/2026/04/30/bmw-i-ventures-announces-300-million-usd-fund-to-finance-ai-startups-reshaping-the-automotive-ecosystem/

Mușat & Asociații provided legal advice to FORVIA, an international automotive group specializing in the production of automotive components and technologies, with an annual revenue of over 26 billion euros, regarding the legal aspects related to the implementation in Romania of the sale of its Interiors Business Group to the investment fund Apollo Global Management Inc.

The transaction, coordinated internationally by the law firm Baker McKenzie, is subject to the notification of or the consultation with employee representative bodies and to obtaining approvals from regulatory authorities. The transaction is expected to be completed by the end of the year.

https://www.automotive-today.ro/index.php/2026/04/29/musat-asociatii-advised-forvia-on-the-sale-of-its-interiors-business-group-valued-at-1-82-billion-euros/

Bosch is investing around 200 million euros in its subsidiary Bosch Business Innovations over the next five years. As a corporate venture builder, the unit develops new business ideas beyond Bosch’s current core business and builds startups from the early stages onward. The aim is to systematically bring these to market maturity and to develop new leading business models for Bosch.

https://www.automotive-today.ro/index.php/2026/04/29/bosch-to-invest-200-million-euros-in-the-development-of-new-business-ideas-in-startups/

Infineon Technologies AG is a core industrial partner in accelerating Europe’s move toward practical – and ultimately, commercially viable – quantum computing by contributing its engineering and manufacturing expertise to three quantum pilot lines projects: SUPREME, CHAMP-ION AND SPINS.

European quantum pilot lines are designed to bridge the gap between laboratory research and industrial-scale manufacturing. They provide open-access to industrial-grade facilities to startups, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises, and research organizations to accelerate quantum computing, communication and sensing technologies. Overall, six European projects spanning distinct hardware platforms have been selected to advance quantum chip technology in Europe over the next seven years.

https://www.automotive-today.ro/index.php/2026/04/28/infineon-contributes-industrialization-know-how-to-european-quantum-pilot-lines/

With 145,335 sales in Q1 2026, Dacia recorded lower commercial results compared to the same period in 2025 (-16.3%), in a context marked by one-off factors. However, the brand is maintaining its position in the Top 10 European automotive brands across all channels for passenger cars, and on the European podium for sales to retail customers, its core customer base.

https://www.automotive-today.ro/index.php/2026/04/27/dacia-q1-sales-impacted-by-exceptional-logistical-disruptions/