Magna International Inc. is a Canadian parts manufacturer for automakers. It is one of the largest companies in Canada and was recognized on the 2020 Forbes Global 2000.[3] The company is the largest automobile parts manufacturer in North America by sales of original equipment parts; it has ranked consistently in the Fortune Global 500 list for 20 years in a row since 2001.[4][5] It produces automotive systems, assemblies, modules, and components,[6] which are supplied to General Motors, Ford and Stellantis,[7] as well as BMW, Mercedes, Volkswagen, Toyota, Tesla, and Tata Motors, among others.[8][9]

Magna International Inc.
Company typePublic
NYSEMGA
TSXMG
IndustryAutomotive
Founded1957; 67 years ago (1957)
FounderFrank Stronach
Headquarters,
Area served
Worldwide
Key people
  • Swamy Kotagiri, CEO
  • Tommy J. Skudutis, Executive VP & COO
  • Vincent J. Galifi, Executive VP & CF
ProductsAutomotive
RevenueIncreaseUS$42.797 billion (2023)[1]
US$1.606 billion (2023)[1]
US$1.213 billion (2023)[1]
Total assetsUS$ 32.255 billion (2023)[2]
Total equityUS$13.234 billion (2023)[1]
Number of employees
179,000 (2023)[1]
Subsidiaries
Websitewww.magna.com

The company is headquartered in Aurora, Ontario, and its chief executive officer is Swamy Kotagiri. It has 158,000 employees in 342 manufacturing operations and 91 product development, engineering and sales centres in 27 countries.[10] Magna is governed under a corporate constitution which calls for distribution of profits to employees and shareholders. The terms of this contract are a "fair enterprise system" according to company founder Frank Stronach.[11]

History

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In 1957, Frank Stronach founded Multimatic Investments Ltd in a tool-and-die rented garage out of Toronto.[11] Its first automotive industry contract for metal sun visor brackets was with General Motors in 1959.[12]

By the late 1960s, the company was operating in eight plants. Stronach took Multimatic Investments public in 1969 through a merger with Magna Electronics Corporation, an aerospace, defence and industrial components company, and became known as Magna International in 1973.[11]

The company developed an employee equity participation and profit-sharing program in 1974. By 1981, Magna had sold its aerospace and defence operations to focus on the automotive industry. It began decentralizing major systems into independent, publicly traded companies during the 1990s, while expanding into Asia.[13]

Magna began designing automotive rearview cameras for Hummers in 2005 on its production line in Michigan, US, which were not a federal requirement at the time. It was one of the first to develop rearview cameras for automakers, and had a 350,000 unit contract by 2007. The company has produced more than 46 million components and opened a $66.5 million plant to produce cameras and driver-assistance components.[14][15]

In February 2015, Samsung SDI agreed to purchase the battery pack business from Magna Steyr, an Austrian operating unit of Magna International, for $120 million.[16] Magna International partnered with Argus Cyber Security after joining in a 2015 Series B funding round to access the company's security technology.[17] The company sold its interiors business, which includes door and instrument panels, overhead systems and cargo management parts, to Grupo Antolin in August 2015. The sale to Grupo Antolin included 36 plants and 12,000 employees in Europe, North America and Asia, about 10 percent of the Magna's global workforce at the time. The operations generated sales of $2.4 billion in 2014.[18]

In March 2018, Magna announced they will work together with the ride-share company Lyft to supply high-tech kits that turn vehicles into self-driving cars. The company invested $200 million into the project and both parties will jointly own the intellectual property developed. It was also noted that Magna will be Lyft's exclusive supplier of self-driving kits.[19] Magna announced a partnership with BAIC Group in June 2018 to develop "next-generation" smart electric vehicles for Chinese consumers.[13] Walker retired as CEO at the end of 2020, with Swamy Kotagiri replacing him in January 2021.[20]

In February 2021, the office of the governor of the state of Michigan announced that Magna plans to open a facility in the city of St. Clair to build battery enclosures for the 2022 GMC Hummer electric pickup. The battery enclosures will be produced at General Motors' facility in Detroit and Hamtramck. The new facility is expected to cost $70 million and to create over 300 jobs for the state.[21] An electric version of the Ineos Grenadier off-road utility vehicle is to be developed by Ineos and Magna, scheduled to enter production in Graz, Austria in 2026.[22]

Corporate affairs

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Magna International Inc. (full name as certified under the Ontario Business Corporations Act)[23] is headquartered in Aurora, Ontario, and has 342 manufacturing operations and 91 product development, engineering and sales centres in 27 countries. Its United States operations are headed out of Troy, Michigan with its European head office in Vienna, Austria.[24] Donald J. Walker was its chief executive officer and was working with Magna since 1987 until 2021.[25]

Magna is governed under a corporate constitution, and requires consensus from management, shareholders and employees to make any changes. The company shares 10 percent of pretax profits with its employees.[11] As of 2019, the company has 158,000 employees.[10]

Acquisitions

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In 2002, Magna International announced that it had reached an agreement with DaimlerChrysler to acquire its Austrian-based Eurostar Automobilwerk operation.[26]

Magna acquired 80% of New Venture Gear, once a joint venture between General Motors and Chrysler, in September 2004, and combined it into Magna Powertrain. It assumed full ownership in 2007, closing the operation in August 2012.[27]

In October 2004, Magna announced its intention to unwind the legacy public offerings it had made of three divisions that it spun off as standalone companies in past years: Tesma International Inc. (initial public offering (IPO) in 1995), Decoma International Inc. (IPO in 1997) and Intier Automotive Inc. (IPO in 2001).[28] Magna made offers to the boards of the three companies, with an expected total cost to Magna of CA$1.3 billion (equivalent to $2 billion in 2023) in cash and Magna shares, to privatize the companies within Magna International.[28] The three privatizations were completed in February (Tesma and Decoma)[29][30] and April (Intier) of 2005.[31]

Magna purchased CTS Fahrzeug-Dachsysteme, a supplier of convertible roofs, from Porsche in November 2005.

In July 2015, Magna bought the German company Getrag, which was one of the largest suppliers of automotive transmissions worldwide for $1.9 billion. The acquisition worked to increase growth potential in the Chinese market.[32][33]

In 2018, the company acquired Haptronik GmbH, a German motion control software developer,[34] OLSA S.p.A., an Italian automotive lighting manufacturer,[35] and Viza Geca SL, a Spanish automotive seating company.[36] It partnered with Innoviz Technologies to produce solid-state lidar for autonomous vehicles for BMW Group.[37]

Magna acquired Boston startup Optimus Ride and its >120 employees in January 2022.[38]

In December 2022, it was announced Magna has acquired the Stockholm-headquartered Veoneer Active Safety business from SSW Partners for US$1.52 billion.[39]

Groups

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As of 2024, Magna International consists of seven groups, which hold further corporate subsidiaries and subdivisions:[40]

Technology

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During its history, Magna International has worked with automakers to advance vehicle safety and technology such as smart mobility seating systems including stow-into-floor minivan seats, exterior systems including reaction injection moulding (RIM) bumpers, advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), blind-spot detection and lane departure warning systems.[41] The company is the largest automobile parts supplier in North America and the third largest worldwide.[42]

It uses mobility technology to develop customized computing for fully automated driving systems.[42] In 2018, it introduced an Icon radar system to help automakers reach Level 5 autonomy as well as automatic emergency braking systems.[43] Magna has partnered with BMW on electrification to produce electric cars on a contract basis.[44] The company is also known for using new materials for "lightweighting" vehicles.[45] In 2017 Goldman Sachs has reported that automated features developed by suppliers such as Magna will produce a 42 percent compound annual growth rate in global revenue over the next decade.[41]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e {{Cite web|title=Magna International Inc. (MGA)|website=Magna International Report 2023|url=https://www.magna.com/docs/default-source/2024-news---press-releases/magna-2023-q4-pr.pdf?sfvrsn=86563d2c_1}
  2. ^ "Magna International Inc. (MGA)". Yahoo Finance.
  3. ^ "#427 Magna International". Forbes.
  4. ^ "Automotive News Top 150 Suppliers 2014" (PDF). Diamts.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 26, 2012. Retrieved June 6, 2012.
  5. ^ "Magna International". Fortune.
  6. ^ Magna International to open local plant at Rockmill Industrial Park
  7. ^ "Samsung Acquires Magna International's EV Battery-pack". Guru Focus.
  8. ^ "Magna International: A Short SWOT Analysis". Value Line.
  9. ^ "Tesla could escape 'production hell' for its Model 3 — but it would require a huge leap". Business Insider.
  10. ^ a b "Magna Continues to Expand in Morocco With New Mirrors Facility". GlobalNewswire (Press release). April 23, 2019.
  11. ^ a b c d English, Bob (December 1, 1998). "All's Fair (And All's Well) At Magna". Automotive News. Archived from the original on September 5, 2019. Retrieved February 2, 2023.
  12. ^ Thomas H. Klier; James M. Rubenstein (2008). Who Really Made Your Car?: Restructuring and Geographic Change in the Auto Industry.
  13. ^ a b "Magna announces partnership to build electric vehicles in China". The Globe and Mail. June 18, 2018. Archived from the original on April 22, 2023.
  14. ^ At Magna, the future focuses on cameras
  15. ^ Magna opens $50 million Michigan factory geared toward cameras
  16. ^ Samsung SDI to Acquire Magna International’s Battery Pack Business
  17. ^ How Magna International Inc is looking to startups for the next big thing in the auto industry
  18. ^ Irwin, John (August 31, 2015). "Grupo Antolin completes purchase of Magna interiors unit". Retrieved February 24, 2018.
  19. ^ "Magna to supply Lyft with kits to make self-driving autos". Reuters. March 15, 2018. Retrieved March 15, 2018.
  20. ^ "New Year Brings New CEO for Magna" (Press release). Magna International. January 4, 2021 – via Globe Newswire.
  21. ^ "Magna International to open facility, invest $70.1M in St. Clair". Detroit Free Press. February 23, 2021. Retrieved February 24, 2021.
  22. ^ Jolly, Jasper (April 17, 2023). "Brexit backer Jim Ratcliffe's Ineos to build electric Grenadier in Austria". The Guardian.
  23. ^ "Ontario Corporation Number 1982928 | Restated Articles of Incorporation" (PDF). Ontario Ministry of Government and Consumer Services. December 31, 2017. Archived (PDF) from the original on January 19, 2024. Retrieved May 7, 2024.
  24. ^ Magna International moving headquarters to King City, Ont
  25. ^ "Canada's outstanding CEO of the year: Magna's Donald Walker leads auto parts maker to the top". Financial Post.
  26. ^ Magna International Unit to Buy Daimler's Eurostar Operations
  27. ^ New Process Gear stops production this week after 124 years
  28. ^ a b Keenan, Greg (October 26, 2004). "Magna reverses strategy, plans to take parts subsidiaries private". The Globe and Mail. Archived from the original on December 11, 2021. Retrieved May 7, 2024.
  29. ^ "Tesma shareholders vote for Magna privatization". CBC News. February 1, 2005. Archived from the original on May 7, 2024. Retrieved May 7, 2024.
  30. ^ "Magna Pays $37 Million, Issues 2.85 Million Shares in Absorbing Decoma International". aftermarketnews.com. Canadian Press. February 4, 2005. Archived from the original on November 29, 2022. Retrieved May 7, 2024.
  31. ^ "Intier approves takeover by Magna as it swallows last parts division". The Globe and Mail. March 31, 2005. Archived from the original on May 7, 2024. Retrieved May 7, 2024.
  32. ^ Rocha, Euan (July 16, 2015). "Canadian auto parts maker Magna to buy Germany's Getrag for $1.9 billion". Reuters. Retrieved April 8, 2016.
  33. ^ Magna International to Buy Getrag of Germany for $1.9 Billion
  34. ^ Magna signs deal to acquire motion control specialist Haptronik
  35. ^ Magna International to buy lighting products maker Olsa for $267 million
  36. ^ Magna agrees to buy Spanish auto seat maker Viza Geca
  37. ^ "BMW's self-driving cars of the future will have 3D vision". Digital Trends. April 30, 2018.
  38. ^ Korosec, Kirsten (January 11, 2022). "Magna acquires tech, hires engineers of autonomous vehicle startup Optimus Ride". TechCrunch. Archived from the original on January 11, 2022.
  39. ^ "Evertiq - Magna to acquire Veoneer's active safety business". evertiq.com. Retrieved December 20, 2022.
  40. ^ "Magna Groups". Magna International. Archived from the original on April 5, 2024. Retrieved May 7, 2024.
  41. ^ a b "Magna International Inc gears up for 42% revenue boom over the next decade as cars get more complicated". Financial Post.
  42. ^ a b "Magna International joins team developing automated driving systems". The Star. October 10, 2017.
  43. ^ "Magna takes 'significant step' in enabling fully autonomous vehicles". Automotive News. January 15, 2018.
  44. ^ "Magna International Inc to build BMW's new hybrid as the world's only contract auto manufacturer". Financial Post.
  45. ^ "Magna To Share Its Vision Of Future Mobility At IAA Frankfurt". StartUs Magazine. September 2, 2019.
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