Since 2009’s downturn, Schaeffler has hired 3,800 new employees (including 400 engineers), increased content per vehicle 55% and filed some 600 patents. Times are good. A top executive sees no dark clouds on the horizon.
Among midsize luxury CUVs, the Lincoln MKX has trailed big sellers from BMW, Cadillac and Mercedes. But the new model arrives this fall with fresh styling, a clean interior, high-end audio and numerous active-safety technologies.
While Cadillac’s president sees a need to address a product gap below the ATS compact sports sedan with a vehicles the size of the Audi A3 or BMW 1-Series, he suggests the top of the market will draw attention first.