Stabilus SE sounds the alarm: 450 jobs at risk in the crisis!

Stabilus SE sounds the alarm: 450 jobs at risk in the crisis!

There's a lot going on in the automotive industry: the auto supplier Stabilus SE based in Koblenz feels compelled to respond to the ongoing crisis. The company has announced a comprehensive savings program and has sharply revised its profit forecasts for 2025 downwards. Stabilus thus joins the list of companies struggling with massive restructuring and job cuts.

The transformation program, which is expected to extend over the next few years, includes investments of 18 million euros for the full year 2025. With a disappointing profit outlook of just 25 million euros, the company is well below analysts' estimates of 47.1 million euros. The stock market reacted to these reports with a drop in the share price of over six percent, which underlines investors' skepticism.

Reduce costs and ensure competitiveness

As part of the austerity program, around 450 jobs are to be cut worldwide, with most of the savings expected in Europe and North and South America. Stabilus also plans to relocate or combine office and production space in Germany, the USA, Singapore and Thailand. The aim is to streamline the organizational structure, reduce the hierarchy levels and ultimately be able to make faster decisions. CEO Dr. Michael Büchsner emphasizes the urgency of these measures in a rapidly changing geopolitical and economic environment.

The challenges are not just for Stabilus, but are a clear sign of a broader crisis in the auto industry. How car motor and sport reports, many companies are in crisis mode with frequent reports of restructuring, plant closures and layoffs. Following this trend is also considering ZF Friedrichshafen AG a spin-off of its E division, affecting more than 32,000 employees. The pessimistic sentiment barometer from the Ifo Institute reflects the uncertainties in the industry, which continue to grow.

A look at the future

The coming years will be extremely formative for Stabilus and the entire automotive industry. While the transformation program targets an investment of 18 million euros for 2025, annual savings of 19 million euros are to be realized from 2027 and 32 million euros from 2028. Even if management sticks to optimistic operational forecasts, big questions remain unanswered, such as the patience of investors and the effectiveness of the planned measures.

In this tense economic climate, Stabilus is not alone - many companies are, too Audi or ford, have already taken similar steps to optimize and reduce costs. It remains to be seen whether the transformation can actually be paid off within a year, as the current framework conditions are uncertain and demand a lot from companies.