What Koller-Gruppe does

Koller-Gruppe is a privately held German automotive Tier 1 supplier headquartered in Dietfurt, Bavaria, that develops and manufactures custom tools, lightweight composite components, and injection-molded plastic parts for the global automotive industry. Its product portfolio spans composite tools (CF RTM, wet pressing, hybrid, PU press, SMC), injection molding tools, PU-GF honeycomb lightweight interior parts (loadfloors, parcel shelves, sunshades, truckbed carrier boards), CFC/SMC lightweight exterior components, and the proprietary Koller K.I.T. vision technology for thin-walled (3mm) large design components including EV front modules. The group operates six production sites across Germany (Dietfurt/Oberbürg, Lupburg, Schwaig), Hungary (Pécs), Mexico (Puebla), and China (Nanjing), and underpins all serial output with in-house toolmaking.

The company's commercial model is built on direct Tier 1 supply contracts with major OEMs including Volkswagen (since 2004), BMW (since 2013), Audi (since 2014), Jaguar Land Rover (since 2015), and a broader customer reference list spanning Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Rolls-Royce, Mini, Volvo, Ford, Lamborghini, Toyota, and BYD. Notable programs include 1 million load floors per year for the VW Golf VII platform (EU and Mexico), 200,000 CFK wet-pressed parts per year for the BMW i8, and the world's first Tier 1 series production of CFRTP structural components for the BMW IX chassis alongside BMW Landshut. Capacity at the Pécs facility reached 4 million load floor substrates per year by 2016.

Koller's go-to-market is an enterprise field sales motion with dedicated project management and engineering support from concept through component development, industrialization, and serial production. Revenue is generated through one-off tool sales/license contracts and recurring hardware sales of lightweight components and injection-molded parts, with IATF 16949 automotive quality certification held by production entities in Germany, Hungary, Mexico, and China, and additional ISO 9001/14001/50001 certifications across the group. CEO Yanqing Zhao leads the group alongside regional managing directors and a dedicated Head of Innovation Management; the company has remained privately held since its 1994 founding with no disclosed venture capital or private equity backing.

Name

Koller-Gruppe

Legal name

Koller Kunststofftechnik GmbH

Website

https://koller-gruppe.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Koller-Gruppe is a German Tier 1 automotive supplier that designs and manufactures custom tooling, PU-GF honeycomb lightweight interior parts, CFC/SMC exterior composites, and injection-molded components for global OEMs including Volkswagen, BMW, Audi, and Jaguar Land Rover.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Automotive Components Manufacturing

NAICS

Manufacturing (31-33)

akta.pro primary industry

Vehicle Body-in-White & Structural Assemblies Manufacturing (IMACAGAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

Body Panels, Doors, Hoods & Closures Manufacturing (IMACAGAH)

Keywords

• Automotive tooling manufacturing
• Lightweight composite components
• Injection molding services
• Automotive OEM supplier
• Carbon fiber parts

Headquarters

HQ city

Dietfurt

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Tool Manufacturing: Custom tool manufacturing including injection molding tools, composite tools, production lines, equipment and fixtures. All tools are manufactured in-house tailored to customer requirements.
2. Lightweight Components: PUR honeycomb sandwich boards, CFC wet pressed parts, SMC parts, and hybrid lightweight components for automotive interior and exterior applications in small and large series.
3. Injection Molded Parts: Plastic parts manufacturing including multi-component injection molding, gas injection molding, and 2-component injection molding. Thermoplastic types including PP, PA, POM, PMMA, TPE.
4. K.I.T. Vision Technology Components: Ready-to-install components and modules using proprietary K.I.T. vision technology for EVs and large design components.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Koller-Gruppe develops and manufactures tools, PUR honeycomb sandwich panels, lightweight systems, ready-to-install components, and injection-molded parts primarily for the automotive industry. The company operates as a TIER 1 supplier providing the full value chain from initial vision and component development through industrialization to series production at certified global facilities in Germany, Hungary, Mexico, and China.

Product overview

Koller-Gruppe is a global technology company that develops and manufactures tools, PUR honeycomb sandwich boards, lightweight systems, ready-to-install components, and injection-molded parts primarily for the automotive industry. The company operates a unified portfolio consisting of Composite Werkzeuge (composite tooling for CF RTM, wet pressing, hybrid, PU press, and SMC applications), Spritzguss Werkzeuge (injection molding tools), Leichtbauteile Interior and Exterior (lightweight structural components), Kunststoffteile (plastic injection-molded parts), and the specialized Koller K.I.T. vision technology for large design components and EV front modules. From vision through component development to industrialization and series production, Koller-Gruppe provides the entire value chain for automotive customers globally.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Koller K.I.T. vision: Koller innovative technologies vision - unique technology for large design components and exterior components with function integration, such as front modules for EVs, featuring low-pressure injection molding process with associated molds for novel applications
• CFRTP Technology
• Leichtbau-Zentrum Lupburg
• Koller Leichtbau Zentrum Lupburg

Products and services

• Composite Werkzeuge (Composite Tools)

Quantifiable outcome

• Thin-walled components with wall thicknesses as thin as 3mm
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers17 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature8 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• TGM Lightweight SolutionscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-development partner in lightweight battery concept project for LiFePO4 battery demonstrator in collaboration with National Manufacturing Institute Scotland (NMIS).
• National Manufacturing Institute Scotland (NMIS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration partner in lightweight battery concept project with TGM Lightweight Solutions for LiFePO4 battery demonstrator development.
• BMW LandshutcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerClose cooperation with BMW Landshut in industrialization of CFRTP-Heckfensterrahmen for BMW IX chassis. World's first TIER1 series production of automotive structural components in this technology.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves14 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Benteler International: Austrian-headquartered Tier 1 supplier of chassis, body, and powertrain components with growing composites activity. Comparable European footprint and OEM base, competing for lightweight structural contracts.
• Faurecia (FORVIA): One of the world's largest automotive suppliers (now FORVIA group), with extensive interior, seating, and clean mobility portfolios. Sits in Koller's customer references and competes indirectly across lightweight interior and EV structural components.
• Magna International: Canadian Tier 1 mega-supplier with deep capabilities in body exteriors, structures, and powertrain. A much larger incumbent competing for the same EV structural and lightweight exterior programs Koller targets.
• Autoneum: Swiss-listed specialist in acoustic and thermal management for vehicles, producing lightweight carpet systems, underbody components, and trunk trims. Listed as a Koller customer reference and adjacent competitor in automotive lightweight interior.

Direct peers

• Mubea Group: German family-owned automotive supplier specializing in lightweight body and chassis components (springs, stabilizers, composite structural parts). Most direct functional peer to Koller's lightweight structural and composite business, with comparable TIER 1 OEM relationships and similar European manufacturing footprint.
• SGL Carbon: German carbon-fiber specialist (now part of SK Group) supplying composite materials and components to automotive and industrial customers. Comparable upstream to Koller's carbon fiber wet-pressing and CFRTP capabilities, with overlapping OEM customer base.
• Röchling Group: German industrial group with a major Automotive division producing plastic and composite components for interior, exterior, and underbody applications. Highly comparable to Koller's PU-GF honeycomb, SMC, and injection-molded component portfolio and shares the German mid-cap supplier profile.
• Plastic Omnium (OPmobility): French-listed automotive supplier focused on plastic exterior body parts (bumpers, tailgates, fenders) and clean energy systems. Directly comparable to Koller's exterior lightweight components business and serves many of the same European OEM customers.
• Gestamp: Spanish-listed Tier 1 supplier of metal and composite automotive components, with growing capability in lightweight chassis and body-in-white structures. Closely comparable to Koller's structural and CFRTP ambitions for EV architectures.
• IAC Group (International Automotive Components): Global Tier 1 supplier of interior automotive components (instrument panels, door panels, flooring systems). Listed in Koller's customer references and serves as a functional competitor in lightweight interior trim and load floor systems.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/koller-gruppe

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries7 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 Koller-Gruppe