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Integral Nature of Basque Automotive Industry

We call the industry integral because, in a relatively small area, it has the entire value chain available, with everything from steel workers, capital goods’ manufacturers and machine-tool producers to die- and mould makers and machiners, not forgetting universities, research centres, consultants, engineering firms and the like.

• 8 million tons of steel produced
• 80 machine-tool manufacturers
• 70 machiners
• 4 universities
• 11 technology centres
• Etc.

Furthermore, the Basque automotive industry works on all vehicle functions: drivetrain (44%), powertrain (28%), interior features and trimmings (26%), structural and bodywork features (19%), external features (7%), electronics (7%) and wheel hubs and rims (3%).

Although the Basque automotive component industry makes a broad range of products, it tends mostly to concentrate on modules like suspension (19%), internal combustion engine (18%), transmission (15%), brakes (15%) and steering (13%), seats (13%), passive safety features (10%), instrument panels (7%), exhaust systems (7%), air input (6%), internal embellishments (6%), pedals (4%), opening and locking mechanisms (4%), lighting and indicators (4%).

Machining, done by 65% of the companies in the industry, is the main manufacturing process, followed by injection (28%), cold stamping (21%), folding and shaping (16%), hot forging (11%) and casting (11%).

Firms in the industry prefer to use mechanical joints (32%), followed by bead welding (24%) and friction welding (13%).

Forty-six per cent of businesses in the industry use some kind of surface finish processes on their products, with 33% using heat treatments.

At 78%, ferrous materials are the most frequently used, with aluminum (28%) next, thermoplastics (22%) third and thermosetting polymers and elastomers (16%).