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In 2024, the automotive sales industry was 28.41 billion euros. Compared to 2023 (31.3 billion euros), this corresponds to a decline of 9.2 %.
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At the end of 2024 the number of employees was 76,900. These are around 5,000 less than 2023.
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The industry indirectly secures 192,000 jobs and generates a domestic added value of almost 15.8 billion euros.
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A current location analysis shows that Austria continues to fall back in the international comparison of locations in the automotive industry.
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Potentials are available. To use this, a more decisive economic policy is required.
The automotive supply industry is one of the strongest industrial sectors in Austria. But the industry is increasingly under pressure. The transformation of mobility, high energy and raw material prices, a weak internal economy and global trade conflicts ensure uncertainty. There are also homemade problems at the Austria location. These influencing factors are increasingly noticeable in the numbers. In 2024, sales in the automotive supply industry was around 28.4 billion euros. That is 9.2 % less than in 2023. Employment has declined for the first time in many years: In 2024, around 5,000 jobs (including temporary workers) were dismantled.
Dietmar Schäfer, the chairman of the ARGE Automotive supplier industry, says: “The current figures in our industry are a loud wake -up call to location policy in Austria. In 2025, positions are continuously dismantled. And it is to be feared that this is sustainable. Our industry has been contributing to the prosperity in Austria for decades. Workplaces and generated 15.8 billion euros in added value.
In a highly competitive international environment, the availability of attractive location conditions becomes a decisive competitive factor. An ongoing analysis of the industrial science institute (IWI) again shows how urgently the need for action at the Austria location is. Study author Herwig Schneider, head of the IWI, says: “Austria basically convinces with high product quality, precision in mechanical production, strong research and innovation base as well as excellent training and further education. At the same time, however, we have significantly fallen back in the“ Location Factor World Championship ”- an international benchmark for 28 indicators. In the location barometer, which measures the distance to the top group, the deficit increased, and Austria’s values also decrease in the EU comparison. This trend reflects a creeping but constant deterioration in Austria’s competitive position. “
The study identifies a number of homemade problems as central weaknesses in the Austria location: high non-wage and wage costs, rising energy costs and an increasing shortage of skilled workers- especially with highly qualified workers. Many target countries offer lower profit tax rates, larger workforce pools and cheaper energy prices. “These structural disadvantages reduce willingness to invest in the Austria location and endanger entire value chains,” said Herwig Schneider.
At the same time, the industry offers opportunities: According to surveys by the foreign trade organization (Advantage Austria), an increased need for (pre) products and services from Austria is expected in India, Mexico, Brazil, Sweden and Korea. The main reasons why target countries are generally opted for Austria are the high product quality and precision as well as the geographical proximity. In several target markets, there is increased demand for components for electromobility, lightweight construction, driving assistance systems and innovative drive technologies. Shortened supply chains and nearshoring trends offer opportunities for Austrian providers, especially in terms of short-term availability and loyalty to delivery.
“Despite the difficult circumstances, the automotive supplier industry has potential. In order to raise this, it also needs a corresponding political will and, above all, decided political action that supports the companies. The pressure points are clear: a tax burden is too high, the scope is limited to investments in comparison in comparison – see, for example A variety of reporting obligations – bind too many resources in the company.
Further information and the entire study “International Comparison of Locations in the Automotive Economy” are available https://www.arge-auto.at/publikationen/ ready for download.
About the ARGE automotive
The ARGE automotive supply industry is the Austria -wide industry representative for the approximately 900 companies represented in the WKO from the automotive value creation area and thus combines all the essential players of this sector under their roof. The WKO, represented by the federal division industry, and the AWAADVANTAGE Austria /Foreign Management Austria as well as six industrial specialist associations (FV-NE-METALL, FV Bergwerke & Stahl, FV Metallechnic Industry FMTI, FV Chemical Industry, FV Elektro and Electronic Industry and FV Textile, clothing, shoe and leather industry) are include their members. The primary goal is to create an improved public perception of car delivery companies in order to optimize the industrial policy framework. By integrating into the WKO, optimal coordination is also particularly well taken care of with the specialist association of the vehicle industry as the advocacy group of the manufacturer’s side.
About the IWI (www.iwi.ac.at)
The Industrial Science Institute (IWI) is a non-profit association and is financed by national and international basic and order research. The institute was founded in 1986 and is characterized by an integrated and comprehensive analysis approach.
Questions & contact:
ARGE automotive supply industry
Chairman Dipl.Ing. Dietmar Schäfer
GF Clemens Zinkl, MSc
A-1045 Vienna, Wiedner Hauptstraße 63
Telephone: +43 (0) 5 90 900 3482
Email: autozulieferer@fmti.at
www.arge-auto.at