In 2007, sales generated by our Automotive Technology business sector rose by 4.5 % to 28.4 billion euros. Worldwide automobile production increased in the same period by around 6 % to 72.5 million vehicles. While production in Europe grew by around 6 %, the market stagnated in Japan and even shrank in North America. By contrast, South America and especially Asia, with its Chinese and Indian markets, once again stood out with high rates of growth. The number of vehicles produced in 2007 in China, for example, climbed by a good 20 % to almost nine million.

This development bears out our policy of driving forward our activities in Asia, and we plan to continue along this path in the future. To continue to garner an above-average share in this growth, we offer innovative products not only for conventional vehicle classes but also for the growing number of low-price vehicles.