Aptiv PLC – March 02, 2023

As the world shifts towards electric vehicles and autonomous driving, demand for advanced safety features and connectivity solutions within the automotive industry has surged.

Aptiv is a global technology company that specializes in developing advanced electrical architecture and integrated software solutions primarily serving the automotive sector.

Delivering end-to-end mobility solutions, that enable major manufacturers to transition to more electrified, software-defined vehicles, the company designs and manufactures vehicle components and provides electronic and active safety technology solutions to the global automotive markets. These solutions create both the software and hardware foundations for vehicle features and functionality, often providing the ‘brain’ and the ‘nervous system’ of increasingly complex vehicles, and enabling a new paradigm of integration for vehicles into their operating environments.

Aptiv’s products enable safer, greener, and more connected vehicles, and their technology is used by many of the world’s leading automotive manufacturers. With its primary markets including Europe, North America, and Asia, Aptiv now has a presence in more than 45 countries.

Heavily focused on growing and improving the profitability of its businesses, Aptiv is strategically focusing its portfolio on high-technology, high-growth spaces to create advanced solutions that provide greater functionality and enhance the overall driving experience, while meeting the evolving needs of the automotive industry.

In addition to key partnerships with industry leaders to develop new technologies and solutions, they are also expanding their geographic footprint by establishing a strong presence in emerging markets such as China, India, and Brazil.

Aptiv was originally established as General Motors’ Automotive Components Group in 1994, although along with several other divisions, GM renamed the group to Delphi Automotive Systems in 1995, as it specialized in the development of automotive electronics and electrical systems. The company focused on developing cutting-edge technologies such as advanced safety systems, airbags, and anti-lock brakes, as well as innovations in fuel injection and emissions control.

In 2017, Delphi spun off its powertrain division and renamed itself Aptiv. The newly independent company continued to focus on developing advanced auto systems and software solutions with a new wave of next-gen technologies such as collision avoidance and lane departure warning systems. As well as connectivity solutions that allow drivers to stay connected to the internet and other devices while on the road.

Over the years, Aptiv has acquired several related technology companies as part of its growth strategy, including KUM, HellermannTyton, and Movimento, among many more. These acquisitions have helped Aptiv to expand its product range, global reach, and market share in the automotive, aerospace, defense, and telecommunications markets. As the automotive industry shifts towards electric vehicles and self-driving cars, there is increasing importance on advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) and autonomous driving technologies.

Chairman and chief executive officer, Kevin Clark, has been with Aptiv since 2010, initially serving as CFO of Delphi before becoming COO in 2014, and CEO in 2018. Under his leadership, Aptiv has focused on developing advanced electrical architecture and integrated software solutions for the automotive industry, as well as expanding its global reach. Before coming to Delphi, he was a founding partner of Liberty Lane Partners, a private equity investment firm focused on investing in and building and improving middle-market companies. Clark has also held several executive roles at Fisher Scientific International and Chrysler Corporation.

While Benjamin Lyon is senior vice president and chief technology officer of Aptiv, a relatively new position he has held since December 2022. Lyon has over two decades of experience in senior engineering, developing technology, commercializing products, and executing program launches at leading technology companies including Apple and Astra Space. He is now responsible for ensuring that Aptiv remains at the forefront of emerging and disruptive technology trends and prioritizing longer-term business model opportunities in mobility and adjacent markets.

As a leading provider of advanced electrical architecture and integrated software solutions for most of the world’s leading automotive manufacturers, Aptiv’s products help to make vehicles safer, greener, and more connected.

The product range includes a variety of technologies and solutions. These include advanced safety systems such as collision avoidance and lane departure warning systems, along with connectivity solutions that allow drivers to stay connected to the internet and other devices while on the road. In addition, autonomous driving technologies are helping to pave the way for the future of transportation and enabling self-driving cars to navigate roads safely and efficiently.

Aptiv’s products and services are organized into three core business units:
– Signal and Power Solutions,
– Advanced Safety and User Experience, and
– Autonomous Mobility.

The Signal and Power Solutions business unit provides electrical systems and components such as advanced wiring, electrical centers, and connectors that improve the efficiency and reliability of vehicles, while also reducing their environmental impact. The Advanced Safety and User Experience business unit provides technologies that improve the safety of vehicles and their passengers, while also making it more intuitive for drivers to interact with their vehicles. Finally, the Autonomous Mobility business unit is focused on developing everything from sensors and software to advanced computing platforms that enable vehicles to operate without a driver.

While it serves several of the world’s top-tier auto manufacturers, one of Aptiv’s major customers and a prime example of the company’s expertise in advanced electrical architecture and integrated software solutions, is BMW. Having worked with the German brand for many years, Aptiv provides an extensive range of ADAS, connectivity, and infotainment solutions including occupant sensing, night vision, blind spot detection, and gesture recognition, among many more.

Aptiv’s business is diversified across end markets, regions, customers, vehicle platforms, and products. Its customer base includes the 25 largest automotive original equipment manufacturers (OEM) in the world, and in 2022, 30% of its net sales came from the Asia Pacific region, which the company has identified as a key market likely to experience substantial long-term growth. In addition, in 2022, Aptiv’s products were found in 18 of the 20 top-selling vehicle models in both the U.S. and Europe and 12 of the 20 top-selling vehicle models in China.

The company has established a worldwide design and manufacturing footprint with a regional service model that enables it to efficiently and effectively serve global customers from the best-cost countries within each continent. This model makes it possible for Aptiv to engineer globally and execute regionally to serve the largest OEMs, which are seeking suppliers that can serve them on a worldwide basis. The large footprint also enables the company to adapt to the regional design variations that the global OEMs require, while also serving key growth markets.

In 2022, the automotive industry experienced increased global customer sales and production schedules, despite the ongoing adverse impacts of global supply chain disruptions and increased inflationary pressures. Global vehicle production increased by 5% from 2021 to 2022, albeit with variations across regions. And while OEM demand is tied to actual vehicle production, Aptiv has had the opportunity to grow through increasing product content per vehicle by further penetrating business with existing customers and in existing markets, gaining new customers, and increasing their presence in global markets.

Furthermore, with evolving entrants into the global transportation industry including mobility providers, electric vehicle developers, and smart cities, these new players are expected to provide additional markets for Aptiv’s advanced technologies. As a company with a global presence and advanced technology, engineering, manufacturing, and customer support capabilities, Aptiv is well-positioned to benefit from these opportunities.

Aptiv believes the automotive industry is being shaped by rapidly increasing consumer demand for new mobility solutions, and advanced technologies, including software-defined vehicles, and vehicle connectivity, as well as increasing government regulation related to vehicle safety, fuel efficiency, and emissions control. These societal demands have created three “mega-trends” that serve as the basis for the next wave of market-driven automotive technology advancement. The need to be “Safe,” “Green” and “Connected,” is driving higher growth in products that address these trends, when compared to growth in the automotive industry overall.

Consequently, Aptiv is aiming to continue developing leading-edge technology focused on addressing these trends, and apply that technology toward products with sustainable margins that enable its customers to produce distinctive market-leading products. To achieve this, the company is continuing to invest heavily in research and development, while also partnering with other companies to develop solutions. In addition, it sees an increasing need for full system optimization through next-gen hardware architectures, cloud-native software architectures, and edge-to-cloud platforms, while also expanding into relevant adjacent markets.

After a modest dip through the covid pandemic, Aptiv’s revenue has continued to improve and exceed 2019 highs. While global automotive production increased by only 5%, the company’s overall volumes increased far more impressively. For the year ended December 31, 2022, the company reported revenue of $17.5 billion, an increase of 12% from the prior year.

It also successfully created a competitive cost structure, while still growing product offerings aligned with the high-growth mega-trends, and re-aligning its manufacturing footprint into an efficient, low-cost regional service model, focused on increasing profit margins. Despite the volatility caused by the global supply chain disruptions throughout 2022, this overall lean cost structure, along with continued above-market sales growth in all regions, enabled Aptiv to achieve strong levels of operating income, while continuing to strategically invest in the future. As a result, for the full 2022 year, the company reported a net income of $531 million.

Looking ahead, management is forecasting to close out FY23 with total revenue of $18.8 billion to $19.3 billion, slightly more conservative than consensus expectations at $19.4 billion, which represents year-over-year growth of 11%. Analysts are also expecting full-year earnings per share to come in at $4.42, for a solid 30% improvement, up from $3.41 in 2022.

The automotive industry is highly competitive, with several major players vying for market share. As a leading provider of advanced electrical architecture and integrated software, Aptiv faces competition from some of the biggest automotive brands in the world including German giants, Bosch and Continental. Both of which have a broad range of products, like Aptiv, including everything from power systems, driver assistance systems, and electronic components.

While product quality, cost, and customer service are key competitive factors, as the automotive industry continues to evolve and new technologies emerge, companies that can develop and produce cutting-edge solutions will have a competitive advantage. As a result, Aptiv appears well-placed to continue its growth and success, thanks to its expertise in advanced technologies and its commitment to innovation.

The automotive industry is witnessing a surge in demand for advanced safety features and connectivity solutions as it moves towards electric vehicles and autonomous driving. Consequently, Aptiv’s products which enable safer, greener, and more connected vehicles, have allowed the company to successfully take advantage of these trends and put it on a long-term trajectory of continued growth.