Ehinger traditional company celebrates 30 years of change in the automotive industry!

Ehinger traditional company celebrates 30 years of change in the automotive industry!

The automotive industry is in transition. This development applies not only on a global level, but also for local companies such as the Ehingen company Auto- und Motorradteile Kuhn, which can write a remarkable success story 30 years after it was founded. The company founder Oliver Kuhn, a passionate car and motorsport fan, has maintained his company with skill and a clear view of new opportunities in a highly competitive market. As schwaebische.de reports, it all started in a garage when Kuhn took the step into partial self-employment in the 1990s dared. Today the company supplies around 30 workshops as well as industry, trade and municipalities and has expanded its portfolio to include new business areas such as trailer sales and rental.

Kuhn, who began his career as an agricultural machinery mechanic and later worked for the Bundeswehr as an aircraft mechanic, recognized the challenges of the industry early on. He currently employs 14 people and has become a partner in the car parts group “Car”, an association for car parts dealers in Europe. Around 60 percent of sales come from businesses, while 40 percent come from private customers. The classic car battery accounts for the main share of sales.

Comprehensive change in the automotive industry

But the automotive industry is facing comprehensive change, driven by disruptive forces and megatrends such as connectivity, electromobility and sustainability. According to ey.com, the mobility ecosystem is changing: conventional vehicles are increasingly being replaced by software-defined vehicles. Software and data already account for around half of the value of innovative vehicles. This means that the demand for digital solutions and new mobility services is increasing. Tony and Ford are scaling back their shift to electrification, while at the same time companies like Tesla and Chinese manufacturers like BYD are gaining ground.

The challenges are great: the current rules and regulations create additional pressure, but they also open up opportunities. Oliver Kuhn sees e-mobility as a future growth opportunity and plans to expand its range of combustion engines, hybrids and e-cars accordingly. After all, the demand for electric cars in Europe is showing fluctuations, as statista.com also notes.

New strategies for the future

In order to respond to changing market needs, Kuhn is considering expanding its location. In this way, he wants to be prepared for future challenges, while at the same time the industry is struggling with declining profit margins. AI is becoming increasingly important in vehicle development, for example in the development of autonomous vehicles or digital equipment. The focus is also on demand for batteries, semiconductors and software.

In summary, the example of Auto- und Motorradteile Kuhn shows how important it is to react to changes and break new ground. At a time when the automotive industry is developing rapidly, the principle “if you don't move with the times, you move with the times” couldn't be more appropriate. With a clear plan and an eye on the future, Kuhn appears well-equipped to be successful in the next 30 years.