In a letter, CEO Bernard Schäferbarthold expresses his thanks to all employees on the occasion of the 125th anniversary. For him, innovative strength, the ability to change and the FORVIA HELLA family are three key drivers of the company's success story.

^{Tuesday 2024-06-11}

Dear colleagues,

It was exactly 125 years ago today that Sally Windmüller founded Westfälische Metall-Industrie AG in Lippstadt (Germany), a specialist manufacturer of lamps, lanterns and ball horns for carriages, bicycles and the first automobiles. Just nine years later, in 1908, the company's first outstanding product innovation was launched on the market: the acetylene headlamp “System Hella” was added to the sales catalog. Since then, the company's innovative strength has been unbroken. It is this recurring theme that connects today's company with the WMI back then.

And a second strength has characterized the company over the three centuries: The ability to constantly adapt to changes in the market environment. This has always kept us on course, even in difficult times, and only in this way have we been able to become what we are today: a global technology leader with around 37,500 employees at over 125 locations worldwide. An impressive development!

This success would not have been possible without the commitment, passion and collaboration of our employees, and therefore of you. In this respect, this day is also a good opportunity to say thank you. Because you all put your heart and soul into this company day after day with our customers and suppliers, you constantly push the boundaries of what is technically possible and spend a considerable amount of your time with us, with the FORVIA HELLA family. Thank you very much for that!

For me, this family is the third great strength of our company. We are united by common values, a shared passion for the automotive industry and for the automotive technology of the future. We are united by team spirit, which is particularly evident in challenging times, but also very visible on days like these. This is impressively demonstrated not least by the many birthday videos of you celebrating our 125th anniversary. It is overwhelming to see how many of you took part and sent your birthday greetings.

It is a great pleasure and honor for me to be part of this family, part of this company, for eight years now. Our products and the exchange with you inspire me every day and give me energy and passion for the daily challenges.

So, let's celebrate this remarkable anniversary together and be proud of what we have jointly achieved. Here's to another 125 successful years!

By the way: We have recorded what my Management Board colleagues admire about this company, what we wish for FORVIA HELLA and how we imagine the future in a humorous joint video to mark this anniversary. Feel free to take a look.

Yours
Bernard Schäferbarthold