We are committed to supporting our German location on a sustainable economic basis. In order to secure international competitiveness and the future of the MAHLE locations in Germany, we concluded an agreement in spring 2005 after intensive negotiations with the employee representation, trade unions and employers' associations. The agreement will lead to a cost reduction in the medium term through the solidarity contributions of all employee groups. This will also help to preserve jobs in Germany in the longer term. However, our global presence and our strengthened commitment in the growth markets outside Europe remain a prerequisite for further balanced and profitable growth. This will inevitably be combined with an increase in headcount abroad.

Securing jobs

Worldwide networking of experts and know-how

Communication and cooperation worldwide
Our global structure requires global information networks, from sales control and worldwide cooperation in the product development process to an active communications policy through our employee magazine “MAHLE global”. It allows people who work for MAHLE, scattered throughout the globe, to come closer together. The editorial teams of the regional editions for North and South America and the national editions in France, Spain, Poland, Japan and China contribute voluntarily and enthusiastically. Today, through the worldwide exchange of information, our employees are better informed about Group events than ever before.

Knowledge and knowledge management are increasingly becoming the key factor for success. All our employees are linked by an Intranet, which is accessible worldwide and is used as a tool for international project work. This is where our information and work platform “Expert” is set up, allowing employees to access expert knowledge within the Group and to network with each other.

Contact that spans countries and intensive cooperation between our employees are taking on increasing significance for our international competitiveness. This is why, in 2005, we passed a Groupwide guideline for organizing international assignments, in close cooperation with the regional human resources managers. The successful expansion of our activities in Asia has shown how important presence, personal relationships and the exchange of experience within the special economic and cultural conditions of these countries are. For example, we specifically selected the Chinese engineers for our R&D center in Shanghai – currently under construction – according to certain criteria and, as part of an international collaboration lasting several months, trained them intensively and prepared them for their future tasks, primarily in Germany but also in Japan.

We consciously promote employee exchanges and cooperation across national borders in Europe as well as the Far East (e.g., in the integration of our new Group subsidiary, MAHLE Powertrain Ltd. in Great Britain, formerly Cosworth Technology). This is another example of the cooperation that takes place within the Group, fully in line with our management model.