Company development

Ideas and innovations
A focus on customer needs
Rooted in Stuttgart
Research and development

Ideas and innovations
What started as a small workshop for car radiators in the rear building of Neue Weinsteige 8 in Stuttgart has, more than 100 years later, turned into a global company that is one of the industry leaders. In 1905, Julius Friedrich Behr laid the cornerstone for an successful company history by founding his workshop for car radiators.

Today, Behr is one of the world’s leaders in innovations for air conditioning and engine cooling in passenger and commercial vehicles and is currently number three globally. With approximately 17,300 staff at 38 production locations and regional R&D centers worldwide we are an important partner for the international automotive industry.

A focus on customer needs
We took the step from the premium segment towards high-volume production in the 1990s. Behr has become the market leader for commercial vehicles in the meantime,but will not rest on its laurels.

Now, the focus is on expanding our leadership in innovations and also becoming number one in customer service. In 2000, Behr fulfilled the necessary conditions to be able to approach the needs of customers even more individually and support worldwide growth with the introduction of global product lines and customer centers.

Rooted in Stuttgart
Despite our great involvement abroad, we are still clearly committed to maintaining a focus on Germany and our headquarters in Stuttgart. Behr will remain true to its heritage and roots in Stuttgart - just as in the past 100 years.

Research and development
Strategic research and development work for climate control and engine cooling Research and development is an essential factor for Behr’s success. Company founder Julius Friedrich Behr placed great importance on maintaining the technological lead right from the start. Manfred Behr built on his father’s successful strategy and firmly anchored inventive talent and an orientation to customer benefits in the Behr company culture. A further extension of our leadership in innovations is one of Behr’s most important strategic goals for today and the future. We have access to two fully equipped technical centers in Stuttgart and Troy, Michigan. Modern performance, stability, and acoustics test benches, including wind tunnels, enable economically viable development of high-quality, reliable products for passenger cars and commercial vehicles that always comply with rising demands for comfort, environmental protection, and integration. In doing so, we place great value on close and trusting cooperations with our customers and locally adapt our developments for them.