Hessen - your engine for success

Automobiles "made in Hessen" have enjoyed an excellent international reputation for many years. Recognizing early on the potential of Germany's most centrally-located state, industry pioneers such as Adam Opel established Hessen as the cornerstone of a flourishing industry with a high level of innovation.

With around 44,000 employees and an annual turnover of 21.1 billion Euros in 2023, the automotive sector is one of the key industries in Hessen. Certainly, the state's most well-known carmaker is Opel in Rüsselsheim, which has one of the world's most cutting edge production facilities. In the Kassel area in the north of Hessen, both Daimler and Volkswagen have production facilities.

But it's not just the large automakers Opel, Volkswagen, and Daimler that are active in Hessen – many suppliers and engineering services providers are, too. Well-known names include Continental, EDAG Engineering, Federal-Mogul/Tenneco, Fritz Winter, GKN Driveline, Goodyear Dunlop and Pirelli.

The export ratio for the automotive industry in 2023 was 68.2 percent, with foreign sales amounting to 14.4 billion Euros. Direct foreign investment in the automotive industry in Hessen was 1.5 billion Euros at the end of 2021.

Success story

Man in suit against building, city skyline

The Koi in the Shark Tank

A Hessian-Japanese success story

How did a global player from Japan find a home away from home in Hessen? Donald Schaffer, Director Sales & Marketing Europe and Head of Dexerials’ Automotive Solution Business Unit Europe, talks to us about finding the right location, his experience in Frankfurt and coping with the coronavirus pandemic.

Aerial view of curved Lotus office building

Lotus Growing Near Frankfurt Airport

A company with a global workforce of 120,000 that sold 2.1 million vehicles last year, and that has five development centers in China, Sweden, the United Kingdom – and now Hessen. Who are we talking about? Chinese automaking group Geely.