Kromberg & Schubert

What Kromberg & Schubert does

Kromberg & Schubert is a privately held, family-owned German automotive supplier specializing in the design, development, and production of vehicle wiring systems, application-specific cable solutions, and plastics technology. Founded in 1906 (with the firm citing 120+ years of corporate history) and headquartered in Renningen with primary operations in Abensberg, the company serves premium passenger-vehicle OEMs (Mercedes-Benz since 1959, BMW since 1980, VW Group since 1996, Audi since 2003, Porsche since 2016, Mini, Skoda, Seat) as well as commercial-vehicle manufacturers (MAN Trucks & Bus, Daimler Bus). Its core technology stack centers on a proprietary IT platform called KROSY that connects customer-facing workflows through production and delivery, paired with a Kromberg & Schubert Production System (KSPS) emphasizing robotics, driverless transport, and a zero-defect quality strategy with 100% end-of-line testing using image processing and AI-based defect detection.

The business model is B2B enterprise supply of vehicle-specific wiring harnesses and components under multi-year contracts with automotive OEMs. Pricing is negotiated directly with customers and is not publicly disclosed; production is delivered just-in-time and just-in-sequence to OEM assembly lines via approximately 29 plants across 21 countries spanning Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Asia, and the Americas. The company employs over 50,000 people, produces approximately 4,000,000 kilometers of cables and wires annually, and reports €2 billion in annual revenue. Operational differentiation rests on local manufacturing proximity to customer plants, resident engineers at OEM sites, integrated plastics technology, and a continuous-improvement LEAN program; go-to-market is direct OEM field sales with no consumer channel. The company is controlled by the Kromberg family, with founder-descendant Hans-Otto Kromberg on the management board alongside CEO Dr. Zeljko Matijevic, CFO Carsten Meyer, and CDO Dr. Wolfgang Langhoff. Recent strategic emphasis is on automation through the federally funded next2OEM research consortium and capacity expansion in Mexico targeting BMW and Mercedes-Benz North American programs.

Name

Kromberg & Schubert

Legal name

Kromberg & Schubert Automotive GmbH & Co. KG

Website

https://kromberg-schubert.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1906

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Kromberg & Schubert is a family-owned German automotive supplier designing and producing wiring systems, cable solutions, and plastics technology for premium passenger-vehicle OEMs (Mercedes-Benz, BMW, VW Group, Audi, Porsche) and commercial-vehicle manufacturers across 40+ global locations, with ~€2 billion in annual revenue and 50,000+ employees.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Automotive Wiring Systems

NAICS

Motor Vehicle Electrical and Electronic Equipment Manufacturing (336320), Motor Vehicle Electrical and Electronic Equipment Manufacturing (33632), Spring and Wire Product Manufacturing (33261)

SIC

Miscellaneous Transportation Equipment (3790)

akta.pro primary industry

Vehicle Wiring Harnesses & Cable Assemblies Manufacturing (IMACAJAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Passenger Vehicle Electrical & Electronics Manufacturing (ICE) (IMACAAAK)

Keywords

• Automotive wiring systems
• Cable harness manufacturing
• Automotive electrical components
• Wire and cable solutions
• Plastics technology components

Headquarters

HQ city

Krusevac

Offices41 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Automotive Wiring Systems and Components: B2B supplier of wiring systems, cable solutions, and plastics technology to automotive OEMs. Revenue generated through long-term supply contracts with premium passenger car and commercial vehicle manufacturers. Components are delivered just-in-time and just-in-sequence directly to customer production lines.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Kromberg & Schubert develops and produces wiring systems (cable harnesses), application-specific cable solutions, and plastics technology for automotive OEMs serving premium passenger vehicles and commercial vehicles. The company delivers these components just-in-time and just-in-sequence directly to OEM production lines, supported by its proprietary KROSY IT platform, 100% zero-defect quality testing, and global manufacturing presence across 40+ locations.

Product overview

Kromberg & Schubert is a German automotive supplier specializing in the development and production of wiring systems, application-specific cable solutions, and plastics technology. The company operates a unified product portfolio built around its core expertise in automotive electrical architectures. The main product lines include Wiring Systems (automotive cable harnesses), Cable Solutions (application-specific wires including high-voltage configurations for electric vehicles), and Plastics Technology. Supporting these core offerings are proprietary digital solutions (KROSY), comprehensive quality assurance services with AI-based defect detection, global logistics with just-in-time delivery capabilities, and on-site resident engineer support. The company also participates in the Next2OEM research initiative for automated wiring harness production. Kromberg & Schubert serves premium automotive manufacturers including Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Volkswagen, Audi, Porsche, and commercial vehicle makers, with over 50,000 employees across more than 40 global locations producing approximately 4 million kilometers of cables annually.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• 100% testing of every cable set prior to delivery - zero-defect strategy
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• AudicoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAudi coordinates the next2OEM research project and provides OEM background. Kromberg & Schubert develops wiring harness design as part of this initiative to create fully automated production and assembly of wiring harnesses, funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection.
• Komax (Taping and Testing)coreTechnology or IntegrationProvides solutions for automation and testing as part of the next2OEM consortium working on automated wiring harness production.
• TE ConnectivitycoreTechnology or IntegrationContributes expertise in connector systems as part of the next2OEM research consortium for automated wiring harness manufacturing.
• KOSTALcoreTechnology or IntegrationContributes connector systems expertise to the next2OEM automated wiring harness production project.
• Bär AutomationcoreTechnology or IntegrationProvides efficient logistics solutions with driverless transport systems as part of the next2OEM consortium.
• ArtiMinds RoboticscoreTechnology or IntegrationSupplies robot programming software for the automated wiring harness production project.
• Semantic PDMcoreTechnology or IntegrationIntegrates an innovative graph-based database as a higher-level system in the next2OEM automated production project.
• FAPS at Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-NurembergcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides scientific support for the next2OEM automated wiring harness production research project.
• Schanzer Racing Electric (TH Ingolstadt)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKromberg & Schubert sponsors the Formula Student team as a wiring harness expert, providing materials, know-how, and expertise in electrical systems development. Collaboration enables students to gain practical experience while company benefits from fresh ideas and innovative solutions.
• OHA! Sustainability Heroes InitiativeminorOthersTrainees participate in the OHA! Sustainability Heroes project, developing innovative ideas to make operations more environmentally friendly through resource-saving processes, energy-saving measures, and recycling strategies.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Nexans Auto-Electrical (formerly LEONI):
• TE Connectivity: Global leader in connectors and sensors for automotive and industrial applications. While K&S's competitor in connectors, TE is also a Next2OEM consortium partner and a broader incumbent across the full automotive electrical architecture stack.

Direct peers

• Dräxlmaier Group: German family-owned automotive supplier specializing in wiring harnesses, interiors, and electrical systems. Closest direct peer — comparable premium-OEM customer base (BMW, Porsche, Audi, Mercedes-Benz), similar product focus on wiring systems, similar family-ownership governance, and similar labor-intensive European footprint.
• Yazaki Corporation: World's largest automotive wiring harness manufacturer by volume, supplying virtually every major OEM globally. Direct competitor in the same product category, with comparable just-in-time delivery model and similar cable-harness product portfolio.
• Sumitomo Wiring Systems: Japanese wire harness specialist and major Tier 1 supplier to global OEMs including Toyota, Honda, and others. Direct peer in the same automotive wiring category, with overlapping high-voltage cable expertise relevant to the EV transition.
• Aptiv plc: Global automotive technology company formed from Delphi, supplying wiring harnesses, connectors, and advanced electrical architecture. Direct competitor in vehicle electrical systems with a comparable portfolio spanning wiring, connectors, and signal-power solutions.
• Lear Corporation: Global automotive supplier with a significant Electrical business segment producing wiring harnesses and connection systems, alongside its seating business. Comparable as a major Tier 1 supplier of vehicle wiring with overlapping premium-OEM relationships.
• Furukawa Electric: Japanese wire and cable manufacturer with a substantial automotive harness business serving Japanese and global OEMs. Direct peer in wiring harnesses and specialty automotive cables with comparable high-voltage and high-temperature cable expertise.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/kssrkr
• LinkedInde.linkedin.com/company/kromberg-&-schubert_2
• Instagraminstagram.com/kroschu.de

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Kromberg & Schubert