Velbert, March 3, 2026 – Automotive supplier WITTE Automotive, headquartered in Velbert, Germany, has successfully completed the acquisition of the HELBAKO Group. With this strategic step, the globally active specialist for locking systems is strengthening its electronics expertise and consistently advancing its growth strategy.
HELBAKO, with locations in Heiligenhaus (Germany) and Timișoara (Romania), expands WITTE Automotive’s capabilities in the development, industrialization, and production of electronic systems and control units. In the future, WITTE will manufacture electronics in-house, increasing its independence from external suppliers.
“Our products contain a steadily growing share of electronics. By integrating HELBAKO, we are specifically strengthening our system expertise. This gives us additional flexibility and security for our customers,” explains Rainer Gölz, Managing Director of WITTE Automotive. “Especially in demanding applications, it is a major advantage to offer mechanics, electronics, and system know-how from a single source. “
One example of the added value of expanded electronics expertise is the WITTE Power FRUNK / Trunk System. Complex control units enable the fully automatic opening and closing of the front trunk (frunk) or rear trunk lid – a process that must meet the highest safety requirements. Safety-relevant control units required for such applications have become a key component of nearly all vehicle locking systems. Through the integration of HELBAKO, they can now be even more closely integrated into the overall architecture of WITTE products and manufactured within the company’s own production network.
The two family-owned companies, WITTE Automotive and HELBAKO, have worked together in a trusted partnership for many years and share a similar corporate culture. “That is why I am particularly pleased that we can welcome around 250 new employees to the WITTE family and maintain 70 jobs in the Velbert/Heiligenhaus region,” says Managing Director Rainer Gölz. This shared foundation creates optimal conditions for a successful integration – to the benefit of customers, partners, and employees.
The electronics supplier HELBAKO from Heiligenhaus is now part of the WITTE Group, which is headquartered in the neighboring city of Velbert in Germany.
The WITTE Power FRUNK / Trunk System provides fully automatic control of the front trunk or rear trunk lid. The further development of the system benefits from HELBAKO’s expertise in comfort, safety, and reliability.
About WITTE Automotive
WITTE Automotive – We Open Mobility!
Today, WITTE products can be found in virtually all well-known automotive brands. With innovative solutions and technological expertise, WITTE has inspired its automotive customers around the world for decades. In addition to locking and actuation systems, WITTE develops and manufactures drive systems for lids and doors, seat latches, and camera modules. Specialized competence centers for plastics, stamping, and die-casting technologies ensure top performance in terms of functionality, quality, sustainability, and cost.
The WITOL® tolerance compensation system, invented and established by WITTE Automotive, provides customized fastening solutions that allow manufacturing tolerances to be compensated quickly, accurately, and precisely.
The young business unit WITTE Digital focuses on digital solutions for the mobility of tomorrow. With flinkey, it offers a highly efficient key and data management solution for fleet managers and will continue to develop additional digital business fields.
WITTE Automotive operates its own locations in Germany, the Czech Republic, Bulgaria, and Sweden. Activities in China and Japan are managed through the wholly owned subsidiaries VAST China and VAST Japan. In India, WITTE Automotive is present through the joint venture Minda-VAST. Through cooperation partners in North and South America, the company serves customers in the United States, Mexico, Brazil, and Korea. In addition, the WITOL® brand is represented both in China and in the United States.