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{{Short description|German seating company}}
{{Infobox company
| name = RECARO Holding GmbH
| logo = [[File:Recaro Logo.svg|200px|Recaro Logo]]
| type = [[Gesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung|GmbH]]
| foundation = 
| founder = 
| location = [[Stuttgart]], [[Germany]]
| locations = <!--# of locations-->
| key_people = Shareholder & CEO: Martin Putsch<br>Managing Director: Hartmut Schürg
| area_served = 
| industry = 
| products = 
| services = 
| revenue = >600 Million Euro (2018)
| operating_income = 
| net_income = 
| num_employees = >2700 (2018)
| parent = 
| divisions = 
| subsid = 
| owner = 
| homepage = https://recaro.com
| dissolved = 
| footnotes = 
}}
'''Recaro Holding''', as the parent company of the '''Recaro Group''', owns the Recaro brand and the independently operating companies Recaro Aircraft Seating (aircraft seats) based in [[Schwäbisch Hall]] and Recaro eGaming (gaming seats) based in [[Stuttgart]], [[Germany]]. The business areas Recaro Automotive Seating and Recaro Kids are operated by licensees.

==History==
[[File:Bmw interior1 (8508330245).jpg|thumb|Recaro sports seat, 1969]]
[[File:RECARO Holding in Stuttgart.jpg|thumb|Recaro Headquarter in [[Stuttgart]]]]
[[File:Passenger Experience Week 2018, Hamburg (1X7A3801-resized).jpg|thumb|Recaro Aircraft seats, 2018]]
[[File:RECARO seat in Gemballa GTR 600 Evo.jpg|thumb|Recaro sports seats in a [[Gemballa]] GTR 600 Evo|alt=]]

The company was founded on 1 October 1906 by Wilhelm Reutter as ''Stuttgarter Carosserie und Radfabrik''.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web|url=https://www.hemmings.com/blog/2018/04/22/form-follows-human-recaros-roots-as-coachbuilder-to-the-germans/|title=Form follows human: Recaro's roots as coachbuilder to the Germans|date=2018-04-22|website=Hemmings Daily|access-date=2019-04-12}}</ref><ref name=":5">{{Cite web|url=https://www.hemmings.com/blog/article/recaro/|title=Recaro|last=Shea|first=Terry|date=2012|website=Hemmings Daily|access-date=2019-04-12}}</ref><ref name=":9">{{Cite web|url=https://www.sportsitz-experte.de/historie|title=RECARO Historie|access-date=2019-05-23|archive-date=2019-08-19|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190819120159/https://www.sportsitz-experte.de/historie|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 1909, Wilhelm's brother Albert Reutter joined the company as a partner and commercial manager. There was a change of name to "Stuttgarter Karosseriewerk Reutter & Co.", owner W. & A. Reutter.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.konrad-auwaerter.de/auwaerter_2010/veranstaltung_retro-classics/retro-classics_2006/04-busse/1949_opel_blitz_auwaerter/reuter_geschichte/reuter.html|title=Die Geschichte der Firma Reutter von 1906 bis 1950|access-date=2019-06-05}}</ref> On 24 July 1909, the patent for a "folding roof with canopy, especially for motor vehicles" was filed.<ref name=":10">{{Cite book|title=Stuttgarter Karosseriewerk Reutter|last=Jung|first=Uta|year=206|isbn=9783768818292}}</ref> This so-called "reform body" was a constructive forerunner of the [[convertible]].<ref name=":10" /> The result was bodies including interior fittings for almost all well-known manufacturers of the time, in particular [[Daimler Benz|Daimler-Benz]] (and predecessor) as well as the [[Chemnitz]]er [[Wanderer (company)|Wanderer-Werke]].<ref name=":10" /> In 1919, the gradual conversion from individual production to mass production took place.  During the 1920s, the company became known for building [[limousine]] bodies.<ref name=":4"/> 1930, Reutter entered into a partnership with the Porsche design office. From 1931, Reutter manufactured the first bodies for Porsche types 7, 8, 9, 12 and 32. In 1936, after the capacity limit of the main plant in Augustenstraße had been reached, a second plant was built in Zuffenhausen. A year later in 1937, Reutter received the order to produce the Volkswagen prototype pre-series VW 303. A couple years later in 1939, the company had around 900 employees. In 1944, the main factory in Augustenstraße was severely damaged in an air raid. The workforce shrunk to 94 people. In 1949, [[Porsche]] began engaging the company to build their [[Porsche 356]] [[sports car]] bodies.<ref name=":4" /><ref name=":6">{{cite web |last1=Ramey |first1=Jay |title=Seatmaker Recaro has its roots in building Porsches |url=https://autoweek.com/article/classic-cars/recaro-has-its-roots-building-porsches |website=Autoweek |publisher=Crain Communications |access-date=28 November 2018 |date=24 April 2018}}</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yk7XSnMAx78&t=1118s|title=Der Sitzpionier - Recaro in Stuttgart {{!}} SWR made in Südwest|date=2016-07-25|website=[[YouTube]]|language=de|access-date=2019-04-12}}{{cbignore}}{{Dead YouTube link|date=February 2022}}</ref><ref name=":7">{{Cite web|url=https://journal.classiccars.com/2019/02/09/roots-of-recaro-car-seat-company-traces-to-original-porsches/|title=Roots of Recaro: Car seat company traces to original Porsches|last=Edsall|first=Larry|date=2019-02-09|website=The Classic Cars Journal|access-date=2019-04-12}}</ref>

In 1953, the company registered a patent for "a hinge fitting for upholstered seats with adjustable backrest", the Reutter reclining seat fitting. Following completion of the 5,000th body for the Porsche 356 in 1954, the "Stuttgarter Karosseriewerk Reutter & Co. GmbH" celebrated its 50th anniversary in 1956. That same year the 10,000th Porsche body left the factory, which by then employed 900 people.<ref name=":10" />

In 1963, Porsche acquired the car body factory.<ref name=":4" /> What remained was renamed to ''Recaro'' (REutter-CAROsserie), and focus was shifted to [[high-end]] seats.<ref name=":4" /> The company began producing both [[original equipment manufacturer|OEM]] seats for Porsche, and a separate line of after-market seats.<ref name=":4" /> In 1965, Recaro presented the first Recaro sports seat at the Frankfurt Motor Show.<ref name=":9" /> In 1967, Recaro started the construction of a production facility in Schwäbisch Hall.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.recaro-as.de/de/recaro-aircraft-seating/standorte.html|title=Recaro Standorte|website=Recaro|access-date=2019-04-12}}</ref> Economic problems led the Reutter family to sell the business in 1969 to three companies, [[Keiper]], Huber & Wagner, and [[Metzeler]]. In 1971, Recaro produced the first aircraft seats under the name ''Recaro Aircomfort'' under license of the American manufacturer Hardman Aerospace. Shortly afterwards, Recaro launched its first aircraft seat, the so-called ''Recaro 2020'', and sold it to Lufthansa, among others. In 1974, the first motorsport seat was based on the Recaro professional full shell seat.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sportsitz-experte.de/recaro/downloads/kataloge-2019/recaro-flyer-pole-position-edition-abe-2019-de.pdf|title=50 JAHRE RECARO SCHALENSITZ|access-date=2019-05-23|archive-date=2019-08-19|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190819120155/https://www.sportsitz-experte.de/recaro/downloads/kataloge-2019/recaro-flyer-pole-position-edition-abe-2019-de.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 1983, [[Keiper]] purchased all shares in Recaro and established ''Keiper Recaro'' in [[Kirchheim (Teck)|Kirchheim]].<ref name=":4" /><ref name=":7" />

After restructuring in 1997, Recaro became an independent company again.<ref name=":11">{{Cite book|title=In Bewegung : der Automobilzulieferer Keiper; Geschichte und Geschichten aus den Jahren 1920 bis 2011|last=Schäfer|first=Tilman|year=2011 |isbn=978-3-00-036573-7|pages=196|language=de}}</ref> This resulted in four legally and economically independent companies, including [[Recaro Aircraft Seating|Recaro Aircraft Seating GmbH & Co. KG]].<ref name=":11" /> A year later, in 1998, Recaro introduced the first ever-growing child seat.<ref name=":11" /> In 2004, Recaro bought the traditional company "Storchenmühle", which concentrates on the production of child seats. In 2006, the company celebrated its 100th anniversary. In June 2011, Recaro sold the automotive seating division to Johnson Controls, a U.S.-based automotive supplier.<ref name=":5" /> The acquisition granted Johnson Controls to be a licensee of the RECARO brand in the automotive industry, as well as the exclusive, unlimited right to market Recaro seats for cars and commercial vehicles.<ref name=":5" /> All other brand companies now belong to RECARO Group Stuttgart, which is the brand owner and licensor of RECARO Automotive Seating.<ref name="Recaro Automotive Seating">[https://www.recaro-automotive.com/us/company/overview/recaro-automotive-seating.html www.recaro-automotive.com/us] Recaro Automotive Seating.</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.recaro.com/us/press/news/news-view/article/keiper-recaro-group-sells-automotive-business-to-johnson-controls/1367.html |title=Keiper Recaro Group sells Automotive Business to Johnson Controls |publisher=Recaro |access-date=2011-06-21 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111003002548/http://www.recaro.com/us/press/news/news-view/article/keiper-recaro-group-sells-automotive-business-to-johnson-controls/1367.html |archive-date=2011-10-03 }}</ref>

In 2013, after restructuring, Recaro Holding relocated its registered office back to Stuttgart, Germany.<ref>{{cite web|title=Neuausrichtung und Neupositionierung in Stuttgart|publisher=Recaro|url=http://de.recaro.com/presse/group/details/neuausrichtung-und-neupositionierung-in-stuttgart.html|access-date=2013-07-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160911173824/http://de.recaro.com/presse/group/details/neuausrichtung-und-neupositionierung-in-stuttgart.html|archive-date=2016-09-11|date=2013-04-29}} Pressemitteilung</ref> After it spun off from [[Johnson Controls]] in 2016, Recaro Automotive Seating is now owned by automotive supplier [[Adient]]. The Recaro Group continues to act as licensor. In 2018, Recaro Child Safety ceased business operations (including Storchenmühle),<ref name=":12">{{cite web|title=Recaro Child Safety stellt Geschäftsbetrieb Ende Juli 2018 ein - RECARO Child Safety|url=https://de.recaro-cs.com/recaro-child-safety/presse/pressemitteilung/recaro-child-safety-stellt-geschaeftsbetrieb-ende-juli-2018-ein.html|access-date=2018-07-04|language=de|archive-date=2018-07-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180704213029/https://de.recaro-cs.com/recaro-child-safety/presse/pressemitteilung/recaro-child-safety-stellt-geschaeftsbetrieb-ende-juli-2018-ein.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> and Recaro Holding entered into a global licensing agreement with Artsana Group, which, following the cessation of Recaro Child Safety's operations (including Storchenmühle), will continue to develop, manufacture, and distribute premium child seats and strollers under the Recaro Kids brand name.<ref name=":22">{{cite web|title=Recaro und Artsana schließen Lizenzvereinbarung über Premium-Kindersitze und -Kinderwagen|periodical=Recaro.de|url=https://www.recaro.de/recaro-group/presse/pressemitteilungen/pressemitteilung/recaro-und-artsana-schlie%C3%9Fen-lizenzvereinbarung-%C3%BCber-premium-kindersitze-und-kinderwagen.html|access-date=2019-02-17}}</ref> Also in 2018, Recaro established a division called ''Recaro eGaming'', which markets gaming chairs. In 2019, Recaro Gaming Seats became available for purchase.

In July 2024, news reports surfaced that Recaro Automotive GmbH (Germany) had filed for bankruptcy and was subsequently approved for self-administration by a German court.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sports seat manufacturer Recaro files for bankruptcy {{!}} Autocar |url=https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/business-corporate/sports-seat-manufacturer-recaro-files-bankruptcy |access-date=2024-07-31 |website=www.autocar.co.uk |language=en}}</ref> The insolvency proceedings affect RECARO Automotive GmbH (Germany) exclusively and not any of the other automotive or commercial vehicle units such as RECARO Automotive North America, RECARO Automotive Japan and Joint Ventures in China. The bankruptcy also doesn't affect the aircraft, train and gaming chair divisions.

== Recaro Group ==
The Recaro Group comprises the divisions Recaro Aircraft Seating, Recaro eGaming and Recaro Holding itself.<ref name=":8">{{Cite web|url=https://brandblog.biesalski-company.com/integrierte-markenfuehrung-bei-recaro-von-der-strategie-bis-zur-umsetzung/|title=Integrierte Markenführung bei RECARO: Von der Strategie bis zur Umsetzung|last=Gevelmann|first=Patrick|date=2017-05-08|website=Brand Blog|language=de|access-date=2019-04-12}}</ref>

=== Recaro Holding ===
Recaro Holding acts as the holding company of the Recaro Group and comprises the areas of strategy, finance, human resources and law as well as design, brand, communication and innovation management. The headquarter of Recaro Holding has been located in Stuttgart since May 2013.<ref name="Zeitungsartikel">{{cite web|title=Recaro kehrt in die Heimat Stuttgart zurück|periodical=[[Stuttgarter Zeitung]]|url=http://www.stuttgarter-zeitung.de/inhalt.verlagerung-RECARO-kehrt-in-die-heimat-stuttgart-zurueck.213660c0-25ba-43f7-8093-373de1ff3f56.html|access-date=2014-11-19|last=Michael Heller|date=2013-04-29}}</ref>

=== Recaro Aircraft Seating ===
Recaro Aircraft Seating is a developer and manufacturer of aircraft seats.<ref name=":3" /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2010/12/28/351370/demand-for-aircraft-seats-prompts-recaro-to-increase.html|access-date=2011-01-02|title=Demand for aircraft seats prompts Recaro to increase production}}</ref> The Aircraft seat production began in 1971 under license under the name Recaro Aircomfort, initially in Stuttgart. From 1983 the entire production takes place in Schwäbisch Hall.<ref name=":3" /> Recaro Aircraft Seating GmbH & Co. KG also has production plants in [[Poland]], South Africa, the [[United States|USA]] and [[China]] in addition to its headquarter in Schwäbisch Hall.<ref name=":3" /> Recaro is the producer of the Recaro CL3710, one of the most renowned and popular long haul economy-class seat used on more than 50 airlines worldwide.

In 2004, Recaro Aircraft Seating took over the majority of AAT Composites in South Africa - a company that manufactures products for the aviation industry from fibre composites.<ref name=":3" /><ref name="Artikel">{{cite web|title=AAT Composits|periodical=[[LinkedIn]]|url=https://www.linkedin.com/company/aat-composites|access-date=2014-11-19|last=Pressemitteilung}}</ref>

=== Recaro Gaming ===
Since the beginning of 2018, Recaro Gaming GmbH & Co. KG, based in Stuttgart, has been part of the Recaro Group.<ref>{{cite web|title=Recaro Group gründet neue Sparte: Recaro eGaming|periodical=Recaro|url=https://www.recaro.de/recaro-group/presse/pressemitteilungen/pressemitteilung/recaro-group-grundet-neue-sparte-recaro-egaming.html|access-date=2019-02-17}}</ref> The company presented the first gaming seat prototype at Gamescom 2018 in Cologne.<ref>{{cite web|title=Recaro eGaming: Neuer Gaming-Chair-Hersteller zeigt Prototypen auf der Gamescom 2018|url=http://www.pcgameshardware.de/Gaming-Chair-Hardware-265715/News/Neuer-Gaming-Chair-Hersteller-zeigt-Prototypen-auf-der-Gamescom-2018-1263223/|access-date=2019-02-20|date=2018-08-23|language=de}}</ref>

==Recaro as Licensor==

=== Recaro Automotive Seating ===
The Recaro Automotive Seating division, a manufacturer of car seats, was sold to US automotive supplier [[Johnson Controls]] in 2011.<ref name=":3" /> In 2016, Recaro Automotive Seating evolved to ownership under automotive supplier [[Adient]] following the spin-off from Johnson Controls. In 2020, Adient sold RECARO Automotive to a privately held entity and is headquartered in [[Clinton Township, Macomb County, Michigan|Clinton Township]], [[Michigan|MI]], [[United States|USA]].

=== Recaro Kids ===
The Recaro Child Safety GmbH & Co. KG, headquartered in [[Marktleugast]], which merged with the long-established Storchenmühle company in 2004, ended its business operations on 31 July 2018.<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":1">{{cite web|title=Recaro Child Safety stellt Geschäftsbetrieb Ende Juli 2018 ein - RECARO Child Safety|url=https://de.recaro-cs.com/recaro-child-safety/presse/pressemitteilung/recaro-child-safety-stellt-geschaeftsbetrieb-ende-juli-2018-ein.html|access-date=2018-07-04|language=de|archive-date=2018-07-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180704213029/https://de.recaro-cs.com/recaro-child-safety/presse/pressemitteilung/recaro-child-safety-stellt-geschaeftsbetrieb-ende-juli-2018-ein.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> At the end of October 2018, Recaro Holding and Artsana Group signed a global license agreement. The agreement covers the development, production and distribution of premium children's seats and prams under the Recaro Kids brand name.<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":22"/>

== Literature ==
* Frank Jung: Porsche 356 - made by Reutter. Delius Klasing, Bielefeld 2011, {{ISBN|978-3-7688-3270-0}}.
* Uta & Helmut Jung: Stuttgarter Karosseriewerk Reutter ‒ von der Reform-Karosserie zum Porsche 356. Delius Klasing, Bielefeld 2006, {{ISBN|3-7688-1829-2}}.
*Frank Jung: RECARO: Seating in Motion. Delius Klasing, 2016, {{ISBN|978-3-667-10313-0}}.

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Aircraft seat manufacturers}}

[[Category:Auto parts suppliers of Germany]]
[[Category:Aircraft component manufacturers]]
[[Category:Seats]]
[[Category:Airliner seating]]
[[Category:Automotive motorsports and performance companies]]
[[Category:Manufacturing companies based in Stuttgart]]
[[Category:Manufacturing companies established in 1906]]
[[Category:1906 establishments in Germany]]