Germany’s most important companies are ones you cannot name. A case study of the hidden champion model, why it concentrated here, and the four pressures now testing it.
Startup · Topic
Germany Company Stories — Page 5
Expert guides, analysis and tool comparisons on Germany Company Stories from the kurums.com Startup desk — written for business decision-makers and updated as the market moves.
- 55 guides
- 11 subtopics
- Updated Aug 4, 2026
Automotive & Mobility 5
Family Ownership, Foundations & Codetermination 5
Media, Telecom & Data Infrastructure 5
Logistics, Transport & Infrastructure 5
Retail, Consumer & Discount Empires 5
Software, Tech & Digital Platforms 5
Energy, Utilities & the Energiewende 5
Banking, Insurance & Finance 5
Chemicals, Pharma & Life Sciences 5
Industrial Engineering & the Mittelstand 5
Startups, Scaleups & the Funding Ecosystem 5
All guides · page 5
Siemens: How Breaking Itself Apart Made the Conglomerate More Valuable
Siemens dismantled itself over two decades and became more valuable. A case study in sequenced spin-offs, the Healthineers deconsolidation and conglomerate discounts.
Bosch, ZF and Continental: Anatomy of the German Supplier Crisis
Germany’s Tier-1 suppliers are absorbing most of the industry’s adjustment. A case study of Bosch, ZF, Continental and the structural reasons the supply chain is hit hardest.
Porsche, Porsche SE and Volkswagen: Germany’s Strangest Ownership Structure
Porsche AG is owned by Volkswagen, which is controlled by Porsche SE, which is controlled by two families. A case study in circular ownership and non-voting listings.
BMW’s Technology-Open Strategy: Hedge or Indecision?
BMW refused to commit to one drivetrain and built flexible plants instead. A case study of strategic optionality, anchor ownership and the price of not guessing.
Mercedes-Benz and the Retreat to Luxury: Did Value Over Volume Work?
Mercedes-Benz restructured itself around top-end vehicles and record margins followed, until the luxury cycle turned. A case study in premium repositioning and its costs.
Volkswagen: Inside the Biggest Restructuring in German Industry
Volkswagen is running the largest restructuring in German industrial history. A case study of overcapacity, the loss of Chinese profit and the governance limits on change.
