Preliminary 2024 Results and 2025 Outlook for FORVIA HELLA
Fiscal Year 2024 Performance
FORVIA HELLA GmbH & Co. KGaA reported that currency‑adjusted sales for the period 1 January – 31 December 2024 increased by 1.3 % to €8.1 billion. Reported sales remained at the previous year’s level of €8.0 billion.
Operating income fell to €446 million, translating into an operating income margin of 5.6 %. Net cash flow as a percentage of reported sales was 2.4 %.
Key drivers of the results included:
- Growth in the Lighting segment driven by the full consolidation of the joint venture Beijing Hella BHAP Automotive Lighting.
- A decline in the Electronics and Lifecycle Solutions segment, which contributed to the reduction in operating income.
2025 Outlook
FORVIA HELLA provided a forecast for fiscal year 2025:
| Metric | Forecast Range | Commentary |
|---|---|---|
| Adjusted sales | €7.6 billion – €8.0 billion | Sales expected to remain flat to slightly lower than 2024, reflecting ongoing market challenges. |
| Operating income margin | 5.3 % – 6.0 % | Margin anticipated to improve modestly, but still below 2024 levels due to competitive pressures. |
| Net cash flow | Minimum €200 million | Cash flow expected to remain positive, though at a lower absolute level than in 2024. |
These estimates are presented in the context of a challenging macro‑economic environment, with continued volatility in currency markets and supply‑chain constraints.
Market Context
A separate report from Finanznachrichten.de indicates that the Hella segment, a subsidiary of the French supplier Forvia, is projecting sales between €7.4 billion and €7.9 billion for the new year, below the 2024 figure of €8.0 billion. The operative margin is projected to range from 5.4 % to 6.0 %, suggesting a further decline. In 2024, the electronics division maintained sales at a currency‑adjusted basis of €8.0 billion, with an overall 2.1 % decline in revenue when currency effects are included. The operating margin increased by about half a percentage point to 6.0 %. Order intake for the year stood at approximately €10 billion, with more than half of orders originating outside Europe.
Conclusion
FORVIA HELLA’s preliminary 2024 results show stable top line performance but a contraction in profitability. The 2025 outlook reflects expectations of continued market softness, with sales and margins projected to remain at or below 2024 levels. The company’s ability to maintain cash flow while navigating a complex global environment will be critical to its performance in the coming year.
