The future since 1968

VALMET AUTOMOTIVE. SERVICE PROVIDER TO THE AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY

Valmet Automotive has been known as a top-tier service provider in the automotive industry since its establishment in 1968. Over the course of our history, we have manufactured more than 1.9 million vehicles in Uusikaupunki, Finland, for leading industry players such as Mercedes-Benz, Saab, and Porsche. Flexibility, quality, and cost-efficiency are at the core of our operations. This is why we are a sought-after partner.

We have also made significant investments in electric mobility since we began manufacturing electric vehicles in 2009. Whether the product is a well-established one or the most innovative newcomer to the market, we are the partner who, thanks to our extensive experience and expertise, is capable of meeting production challenges.

Our business area focused on kinematic solutions covers roof and kinematic systems. We have top-level expertise in developing convertible roof systems, active air management systems, and other kinematic solutions. In this field, too, we are a Tier 1 system supplier and one of the world’s leading service providers.

Hooked on quality,
keen on innovation

Our starting point is the success of our customers. Our role as a strategic partner is based on customer-centricity. A service-oriented approach is a key part of our company culture and customer relationships.

This philosophy is deeply rooted in every one of our employees. We share a passion for the industry, regardless of the workplace or role – from vehicle production in Finland to the design of kinematic systems in Poland, for example. This service is complemented by our unwavering commitment to quality.

Flexible PARTNER
FOR dynamic needs

Change has been the new normal in the automotive industry for years. The electrification of transport and the growing importance of related solutions and kinematic systems are evident in the design and implementation of our operations.

The faster the change, the more clearly partners like Valmet Automotive stand out.

Valmet Automotive is a partner who can address customers’ rapidly changing needs – quickly, flexibly, and expertly.

Volatile markets –
stable foundation

The more volatile a market within the automotive industry is, the more stable the players have to be who want to stand out. With a history of success going back for more than 50 years, with strong shareholders and a future-driven management, Valmet Automotive is standing on secure, stable and smart ground.

FACTS & FIGURES

Key Commitments of
a global player

Our company culture is based on five commitments that represent Valmet Automotive’s optimistic, forward-looking attitude. In recent years, we have worked to create a functional and future-proof, straightforward and genuine corporate culture for our increasingly global operations, where respect is at the center of everything. Get to know the company’s key commitments.

COMMITMENTS

Our history.

The history of Valmet Automotive goes back to 1968, in Uusikaupunki, Finland. Here is where the joint venture Saab-Valmet was founded. Just a year later, the first Saab passenger cars left the factory – in such a high manufacturing quality from day one that the doors to the export market quickly opened. A small session in our history …

1969: The first car made under contract vehicle manufacturing, the Saab 96, is delivered. The successful relations with Saab continue nonstop for over 30 years.

1986: Manufacturing of the Saab convertible begins, also marking a story of success like no other: each third vehicle manufactured in Uusikaupunki is a convertible – “designed, engineered and manufactured in Finland.”

1995: The company changes its name to Valmet Automotive. Four years later, the Finnish technology group, Metso, becomes sole owner.

1997: The building of the Porsche Boxster begins in Uusikaupunki, and the Porsche Cayman is added in 2005. The company is growing as fast as both of these German sports cars can drive.

2008: Valmet Automotive consistently focuses its strategy on expanding in the direction of future mobility. The range of engineering services on offer grows bit by bit.

2009: Engineering and manufacturing of the battery-powered city car THINK City. A total of 3,000 units are manufactured.

2010: The Finnish investment companies Pontos Group and Tesi come aboard as shareholders. The strategic goal is to further transform the company toward e-mobility. In 2015, they also purchase the remaining Metso shares.

2010: Valmet Automotive buys out the legendary convertible expert Karmann to become the world’s largest manufacturer of roof systems.

2013: Manufacturing of the Mercedes-Benz A-Class begins on our assembly line in Uusikaupunki, with 200 robots for body in white work alone. Four years later, the GLC is added. Valmet Automotive goes Daimler.

2017: Valmet Automotive and Contemporary Amperex Technology Limited (CATL), China’s leading manufacturer of electric vehicle battery cells, begin a strategic partnership. Owners are now Tesi (44,96%), Pontos Group (34,40%),  and CATL (20,64%).

2017: Valmet Automotive takes over the German automobile technology locations of Semcon Automotive. This division is then passed on to Mutares in 2020. The engineering competencies gained in these years have been seamlessly integrated into our development, testing and manufacturing locations.

2019: Valmet Automotive starts up its first own high-volume manufacturing line in Salo, Finland for the series production of batteries. The focus is on high-voltage battery systems with a power output of 400 to planned 800 volts.

2020: Valmet Automotive publishes the company’s first Sustainability Report.

2021: Valmet Automotive begins production at its Uusikaupunki battery plant the company’s second large-scale battery production facility. In the same year, we also introduced our own range of battery products.

2022: As of January 1, 2022, Valmet Automotive Group is carbon neutral in all its own operations, confirmed by DNV.

2022: Valmet Automotive quickly becomes one of the leading European battery system providers for the automotive industry – in 2022, the company reaches the milestone of 1 million delivered battery systems.

2023: Valmet Automotive opens an Innovation Center at the Uusikaupunki car plant to develop, test and pilot solutions for the car plant of the future.

2023: Valmet Automotive goes electric with the opening of its third high-volume battery plant, this time in Kirchardt, Germany.

2023: Valmet Automotive continues to expand its production network and opens its third high-volume battery plant in Kirchardt, Germany. The company reaches the milestone of 2 million battery systems produced and delivered since 2019; gross sales from the battery systems business exceed 1 billion euros for the first time.

2024: Valmet Automotive presents the Energy Pack concept to complement the Modular Battery Platform product family. The novelty reflects the company’s growing focus on electrification of truck, bus, and off-highway segments.

2024: Valmet Automotive spins off its Electric Vehicle Systems (EVS) business into a fully independent company. The new entity, focused on battery solutions, is named IONCOR. Collaboration between Valmet Automotive and IONCOR will continue to thrive.

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Our locations

Nine strong hubs across Europe: The Uusikaupunki car plant (MANUFACTURING). Roof and kinematic systems (KINEMATICS) in Osnabrück, Germany and Zary, Poland. IONCOR operates at seven locations in Finland (Salo, Turku, Uusikaupunki) and Germany (Bad Friedrichshall, Kirchardt, Munich, Weihenbronn). Our locations form a European network for the development and production of future mobility. Welcome!

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VALMET AUTOMOTIVE

For some of our customers, we may be a new name. For others, we have been a trusted partner for over 55 years. Regardless, both are equally important to us.