Founded in June of 1899, Forvia Hella is marking 125 years in business. The German company began as a specialized manufacturer of lamps, lanterns and ball horns for carriages, bicycles and the first automobiles. Today, it is a global automotive supplier with approximately 37,500 employees at over 125 locations worldwide, the company said.

“125 years of Forvia Hella is something we can be very proud of together. We are very grateful to all current and former employees for allowing us to celebrate this milestone in our company’s history. They have all played a key role in supporting, shaping and developing the company,” says Bernard Schäferbarthold, CEO of Forvia Hella. ” At the same time, the anniversary is an obligation for the future and motivation for us to remain at the forefront of mobility in the coming years and to shape it from a leading position.”

Company Milestones

A news release from the company details Forvia Hella’s evolution from the late 19th Century to today. It started with the introduction of Westfälische Metall-Industrie Aktien-Gesellschaft (WMI) on June 11, 1899. Other company milestones include the innovation of the “System Hella” acetylene lamp in 1908, the company’s entrance into the electronics business in 1965 and the acquisition of a majority stake in Forvia Hella that was finalized in early 2022.

“Two things have always characterized Forvia Hella,” Schäferbarthold added. “First, our innovative strength is the common thread that links the WMI of the past with the company of today. Secondly, we are constantly adapting to changes in our industry environment. This has always made us strong, and only in this way have we been able to become what we are today: a leading supplier in automotive lighting technology and vehicle electronics.”

Today, Forvia Hella is the world’s seventh largest supplier of automotive technologies with more than 150,000 employees across the globe, according to the company.