Germany: TOP 20 Manufacturing Companies with Highest Sales

According to our database (as of October 2022) out of 5.3M companies registered in Germany less than 5% operate in manufacturing. Companies on the list of top 20 manufacturing companies in Germany work in sectors ranging from automotive and construction, through medical devices and materials, to production of chemicals and pharmaceuticals. All data used in this overview is available in individual companies’ annual reports. All reported financials represent consolidated results.

VOLKSWAGEN AG had the highest sales in 2021

In total, the top 20 companies of Germany’s manufacturing earned EUR 1.15T in 2021. More than 54% of sales were generated by 5 car manufacturing companies (VOLKSWAGEN AG, Mercedes-Benz Group AG, Bayerische Motoren Werke AG, AUDI AG, Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG).

VOLKSWAGEN AG had the highest sales among the companies on our list (EUR 264B in 2021). The company has a share in AUDI AG and Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG (both of these companies are also on the TOP 20 list and hold the 7th and the 12th positions respectively). VOLKSWAGEN AG was founded in 1937 and gradually bought shares in other companies, such as SEAT, Škoda, Lamborghini, Porsche and others. It is currently the world's largest car manufacturer.

Mercedes-Benz Group AG was second with sales of more than EUR 138B. Mercedes-Benz Group AG was founded in 1926.

Bayerische Motoren Werke AG (BMW) was third with EUR 111B in sales in 2021. BMW has been operating since 1916 and is currently the 14th largest car manufacturer in the world. The consortium includes brands such as Rolls-Royce and Mini.

Robert Bosch Gesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung was fourth with more than EUR 78B in sales. Founded in 1886, it is a mechanical engineering company that produces parts for the automotive industry, various tools, and household appliances.

BASF SE was fifth with almost EUR 69.4B in sales. The company, operating since 1865, produces industrial chemicals for the construction, pharmaceutical and automotive industries.

Siemens AG was sixth with sales of more than EUR 62.2B in 2021. This company has been operating since 1876 and focuses on several areas. For example, one of the divisions of Siemens AG is Siemens Healthineers AG (16th on our TOP 20 list), which focuses on the production of medical devices. In addition, Siemens AG also operates in energy and telecommunications.

Bayer AG was seventh with reported sales of over EUR 44B. The company was founded in 1863 and is currently one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in the world. Bayer AG also focuses on biotechnology and agricultural chemistry.

ZF Friedrichshafen AG, a supplier to the automotive industry, was eighth with EUR 38.9B in sales. The company was founded in 1915.

Fresenius SE & Co. KGaA was ninth with sales of EUR 37.9B. The company was founded in 1912 and produces dialysis equipment and other devices used in the healthcare industry.

Continental AG was tenth with over EUR 33.7B in sales in 2021. The company manufactures tires and various parts for the automotive industry.

Adidas AG was eleventh with reported sales of over EUR 21.2B. This manufacturer and seller of sportswear has been operating since 1949.

MERCK KG auf Aktien was twelfth with over EUR 20.2B in sales. It is a pharmaceutical company which has been operating since 1668.

Henkel AG & Co. KGaA was thirteenth with sales of over EUR 20B in 2021. The company was founded in 1876 and currently has several divisions - one focuses on cosmetics, one on detergents, and one on industrial adhesives.

HeidelbergCement AG was seventeenth with almost EUR 18B in sales. The company has focused on the production of building materials since 1873.

Aurubis AG was eighteenth with reported sales of over EUR 16.3B. The company, active since 1866, is one of the largest copper producers in the world.

Covestro AG was nineteenth with EUR 15.9B in sales. It is the youngest company on our list (founded in 2015), which focuses on the production of polyurethane and polycarbonate materials.

The Last Infineon Technologies AG was twentieth with more than EUR 11B in sales in 2021. Founded in 1999, the company is Germany's largest semiconductor manufacturer.

Mercedes-Benz Group AG had the highest profit both before and after tax in 2021

VOLKSWAGEN AG had been the company with the highest profit before tax for a very long time. In 2021 it was surpassed by Mercedes-Benz Group AG, with a profit before tax of EUR 28B, while VOLKSWAGEN AG had more than EUR 20B. In 2021, Bayerische Motoren Werke AG (BMW), was also able to increase its profit before tax from EUR 5.2B in 2020 to EUR 16B in 2021.

Mercedes-Benz Group AG had a profit after tax of EUR 23.3B in 2021. VOLKSWAGEN AG was second with EUR 15.4B. Bayerische Motoren Werke AG (BMW) was third with more than EUR 12.4B.