Osram Continental

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OSRAM Continental is an equity joint venture between the technology companies OSRAM and Continental , which has been operating worldwide since July 2018. OSRAM Continental combines OSRAM's expertise in lighting technology with Continental's expertise in electronics and sensors and develops intelligent lighting solutions for the automotive industry. OSRAM and Continental each have a 50 percent stake in the company, which is represented by around 1,500 employees at 15 locations worldwide. OSRAM Continental is headquartered in Munich . The future of the company is currently (as of July 4, 2020) uncertain as, according to a report by Automobilwoche, neither Continental nor OSRAM (or the new majority shareholder AMS ) are currently interested in continuing the joint venture.

Locations

In Germany, OSRAM Continental operates locations in Berlin , Garching , Herbrechtingen , Munich and Regensburg and is also represented in Europe in Vienna , Toulouse , Treviso and Iași . In the USA, there are company locations in Hendersonville , Hillsboro and Troy . In Asia, OSRAM Continental operates in Bangalore, India, and in China in Shanghai and Kunshan . Another location was opened in Guadalajara , Mexico , in April 2019 . In October 2019 it was announced that OSRAM Continental will withdraw from Berlin in the form of the development team. The development area in Berlin was closed on June 30, 2020. "We decided not to develop a further generation of our laser modules for the additional high beam because the market for this niche application is very limited," said a company statement.

Products

OSRAM Continental develops semiconductor-based light modules for front, rear and interior lighting as well as lighting control units for automobile manufacturers and suppliers. The portfolio includes LED modules for high-resolution, adaptive matrix headlights, which, together with laser technology and digital components, ensure increased safety. The digital control of this system reduces the complexity in the construction of the headlight and therefore offers more design options in the front area of ​​the car. In March 2019, Gumpert Aiways presented his methanol-electric sports car "Nathalie" at the Geneva Motor Show , with an LED dual-function projector from OSRAM Continental in the headlights.

Sensor fusion, a modern headlight solution with adaptive driving lights, is another product from OSRAM Continental. Here, sensors record the environment with the help of cameras, radar and invisible infrared light. The merger of this data then creates a detailed model of the vehicle's surroundings and movement, which is transmitted to the headlight systems and based on this can specifically change the light distribution. Here OSRAM Continental relies on learning systems that recognize standardized driving situations and convert them into intelligent system reactions.

OSRAM Continental also develops light projections that can be used to transform the vehicle and its surroundings into a screen for mobility providers and OEMs. A distinction is made between static, semi-dynamic and dynamic projection solutions. While static project solutions project logos or other complex structures motionless, semi-dynamic projection solutions animate various symbols and graphics and thus enable a blinker to be displayed. With dynamic projection solutions, content is adjusted in real time. This makes them ideal for mixed traffic scenarios in which autonomous and person-controlled vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists share the road. With further projections in the interior, the company is also focusing on additional comfort and well-being for the driver.

Future of OSRAM Continental

On July 3, 2020, WirtschaftsWoche reported on an uncertain future for OSRAM Continental. The management of the two companies has been holding open-ended talks about the continuation of the joint venture since the beginning of 2020. It should be emphasized that OSRAM Continental is considered to be in deficit and has so far clearly missed the targeted sales in the mid three-digit million range. OSRAM and Continental wrote off their respective shares in the joint venture in 2019. OSRAM made a valuation adjustment of 171 million euros on the joint venture in the fourth quarter of 2019 (the value adjustment at OSRAM in 2019 was 210 million euros). In this context, the Handelsblatt reports that the OSRAM Continental joint venture has so far only caused problems and losses. Experts are assuming a negative operating return on sales in the double-digit range.

In this context, the question also arises of how things will continue with the current 1,500 employees. The extent to which employees can return to OSRAM and Continental after a possible dissolution of the joint venture is currently completely open, according to a report by WirtschaftsWoche (as of July 4, 2020). For OSRAM, one reason for withdrawing from the joint venture could be the takeover by AMS. According to the Handelsblatt, there was recently speculation about the sale of OSRAM's digital unit and parts of the automotive business. The austerity measures planned by Continental in the wake of the Corona crisis may also be an indication that Continental could exit the joint venture.

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Joint venture Osram Continental takes off , last accessed on May 31, 2019
  2. ↑ Joint venture - clearly explained | LEXICON | GAMBIT. Retrieved July 4, 2020 .
  3. ↑ Handelsblatt: Osram and Continental found joint company for car lighting , accessed on May 31, 2019
  4. ↑ OSRAM Continental , accessed May 31, 2019
  5. ↑ Wochenblatt: Osram Continental GmbH - new company starts business worldwide , accessed May 31, 2019
  6. ↑ Automobilwoche: Perspective uncertain: Unclear future for lighting joint venture by Osram and Continental. Retrieved July 4, 2020 .
  7. ↑ OSRAM Continental , accessed May 31, 2019
  8. ↑ Osram Continental opens location in Mexico , accessed May 31, 2019
  9. ^ Berliner Zeitung: Plant Spandau: Osram-Continental closes the Berlin development department. Retrieved July 4, 2020 .
  10. ↑ manager magazin: Conti and Osram want to revolutionize car lighting , accessed on May 31, 2019
  11. ↑ Automobiltechnische Zeitschrift (ATZ): LED modules for high-resolution matrix headlights , accessed on May 31, 2019
  12. ↑ [1] , accessed on August 20, 2020
  13. ↑ Lighting technology from Osram Continental in the Nathalie e-sports car , accessed on May 31, 2019
  14. ↑ Hanser Automotive: https://www.hanser-automotive.de/zeitschrift/archiv/artikel/-11122809.html , accessed on August 20, 2020
  15. ↑ DVN Newsletter # 652: https://www.drivingvisionnews.com/previous-newsletters-2/ , accessed on August 20, 2020
  16. ↑ a b Andreas Macho: Continental / Osram: “Open-ended discussions” about the future of the headlight joint venture. Retrieved July 4, 2020 .
  17. ↑ heise online: Loss, downsizing and dispute over takeover offer at Osram. Retrieved July 7, 2020 .
  18. ↑ above: Osram Annual Report 2019. Accessed July 7, 2020 .
  19. ↑ a b c Joint Venture: Osram and Continental: The joint car lighting project is threatened. Retrieved July 4, 2020 .
  20. ↑ manager magazin: Continental: Auto supplier plans job cuts, stricter austerity course due to coronavirus - manager magazin - company. Retrieved July 4, 2020 .