Annual Report 2003 2004

32
Market position in
Asia significantly
strengthened.
The largest increase in sales in the Automotive segment in fiscal 2003/2004 was reported by the
Powertrain business unit, which included ThyssenKrupp Presta SteerTec as from December 01, 2003.
The increase was due partly to the trend towards diesel vehicles and partly to business in crankshafts.
Alongside continuing high demand for passenger car crankshafts, demand for truck crankshafts improved
significantly both in Europe and the nafta region. Other positive factors were a strong improvement in
Brazilian export products, the start of production of steering systems for a new model platform, increased
demand for camshafts, and various new program launches and ramp-ups for example in the transmission
and axle components and aluminum castings businesses.
Elevator: Market position in Asia strengthened
Sales million €
Germany/Austria/Switzerland
France/Benelux
Spain/Portugal/Latin America
North America/Australia
Other Countries
Passenger Boarding Bridges
Accessibility
Total
Consolidation
Elevator
2002/2003
In the Elevator segment, demand for new installations remained weak and new orders were subject to
strong price competition. In the service and modernization businesses, on the other hand, we continued
our growth course. Significant factors in this were intensified marketing efforts and acquisitions on
the Triad markets. The largest new acquisition was ThyssenKrupp Dongyang Elevator in Korea which
significantly strengthens our market position in Asia. Despite substantial negative exchange-rate effects,
the segment’s order intake and sales were higher than a year earlier. Order intake increased by 12%
to €3.8 billion, while sales rose by 6% to €3.6 billion. If the euro had remained unchanged against the
us dollar, order intake and sales would have been 16% and 10% higher than a year earlier.
The Germany/Austria/Switzerland business unit achieved growth in both order intake and sales. The
Austrian and Swiss companies in particular significantly increased their volume of business. In Germany,
we solidified our market position despite stiff price competition.
In the France/Benelux business unit, order intake and sales showed pleasing growth. Although the
French service and sales network was impacted by the ongoing restructuring process, business in France
was positive, as it was in the Netherlands. In particular exports of new installations were increased.
603
394
529
1,438
361
77
108
3,510
(145)
3,365
2003/2004
613
416
550
1,295
641
82
119
3,716
(148)
3,568