The KW automotive Group employs 200 people in five different locations in Europe and North America. 110 employees are working at the headquarters based in Fichtenberg which is located in the Southwest of Germany. Today KW belongs to the leader of innovative sport suspension solutions and performance applications for international motorsports. Specialized in high performance suspensions KW has become a leading company in innovation, quality, functionality and unique customer service.

1992-1995

“KW Tuning“ started selling performance parts successfully out of a 750 sq ft small retail shop in Murrhardt (Germany)

1995

Vision of founder Klaus Wohlfarth: Development of adjustable suspension solutions to meet most of the customer’s lowering requirements instead of using a traditional fixed lowering which resulted in a wedge-shaped vehicle, lower in the front and higher in the rear.

May:
KW received it’s first TUEV homologation for a coilover suspension kit
November:
KW made it’s first presentation of coilover kits at the Essen Motorshow.

1996

January:
The company changed its name to “KW Gewindefahrwerke” and relocated to a 1,600 sq ft storage building (on a small farm).  A team of three people is focused on the R&D of coilover suspension kits.  The company developed a new product line “KW wheels” which encompassed alloy rims in 13”-17” diameter equipped with a specialized adapter system.

1997

The facility was expanded to 5,400 sq ft. and planning for a new 10,800 sq. ft. production plant in Fichtenberg begins with construction starting in August.

1998

January:
Change of corporate form from a one-man-business partnership to the incorporated company KW automotive GmbH.   The company relocates into the 10,800 sq ft warehouse and production plant.
September:
KW celebrates the completion of the 4,800 sq ft administration building and official opening of the new plant.
Oktober:
KW starts the construction of another 6,000 sq ft storage building for the growing “KW Wheels” program.

1999

April:
KW starts in the German Super Production Class with two Honda Integras developed by KW and a two-driver team.  Ellen Lohr, the first and only woman that ever won a German Touring Car Championship race, starts from pole position twice and finished several races on the podium.
May:
KW is a sponsor and technical supplier for the “STW Super Touring Car Championship in Germany with Thomas Stingl starting in the KW Honda Accord.
November:
First presentation of KW products to the North American market at the SEMA Show in Las Vegas in cooperation with our North American importer HPA.

2000

April:
KW competition starts technical partnerships in race suspension technology with several teams in international championships.
Oktober:
KW acquires a 2/3 ownership of another German suspension manufacturer. After restructuring the company the products are offered on the market under the brand WEITEC.

2001

January:
KW begins planning of a new storage and logistic building in Fichtenberg.
February:
KW launches the new product line the “Variant 3” Dampening system with patented 2-way adjustable valve technology and also the new “inox line” stainless steel technology.  KW’s first foreign subsidiary Weitec Fahrwerktechnik AG is founded in Switzerland.
April:
The “KW wheels” program is discontinued after 5 years in order to focus on the R&D of the suspension lines.
September:
The first 12,000 sq ft section of the new storage and logistic building is finished.
Oktober:
IImplementation of the new high bay warehouse with 1,500 storage spots begins.

2002

January:
KW’s sales & distribution department moves into their new offices.
February:
Construction starts on the second section of the new storage and logistic building.
June:
Construction of hall 4 starts where the machine shop and the production of “inox-line” stainless steel coilover struts will be located.
November:
The second section of the new storage and logistic building is finished.
December:
Product production starts in hall 4.
The Swiss subsidiary is renamed in KW Fahrwerktechnik AG and prepares for the distribution of all product lines

2003

January:
All Weitec products are now stocked in the new storage and logistic building. Logistics for all product lines are now managed from the new center of distribution.
March:
The entire KW coilover product line is manufactured exclusively in “inox-line” stainless steel technology. KW automotive Group becomes the first and only manufacturer in the world producing suspension systems in stainless steel.
July:
The first existing building is remodeled and is used exclusively as the administration building
Oktober:
KW celebrates “5 years in Fichtenberg” and the new offices are officially opened with a big event. More than 5,000 guests visited the celebration among them the Secretary of Economy.
November:
A new product idea is born at the SEMA Show in 2003: LSD – Lambo Style Doors!

2004

March:
The completely new developed LSD-Doors solution is first distributed in Germany nationwide and later patented in Europe and the rest of the world.
April:
LSD Doors is presented for the first time on the “Tuning World Friedrichshafen” which was followed by an unexpected media boom.
June:
The newly constructed workshop and R&D department for LSD-Doors starts operating.
August:
KW Suspensions North America Inc. is founded and registered in Vancouver, Canada.
November:
LSD-Doors is displayed at the SEMA Show in Las Vegas to the North American market for the first time. In cooperation with the US magazine DUB, LSD-Doors is featured on Daimler Chrysler 300C´s and Dodge Magnum´s belonging to superstars like Snoop Dog, Nelly, Chingy, Bernhard Hopkins.

2005

January:
KW automotive North America, Inc. is registered in Fresno California
April:
The new established corporation in California purchases all assets of the companies Belltech and Suspension Techniques.  This asset purchase was made to complete the suspensions program and to use the existing structures of these brands guaranteeing an optimal distribution of all brands of the KW automotive Group on the North American market.
July:
Construction begins on Hall 5 in Fichtenberg with a total area of 62,000 sq ft on two levels.  Building was finished for move in on December/January 2005/2006.

2006

Since its last expansion the headquarters in Fichtenberg is now operating on a total area of 245,000 sq ft. Currently the product line encompasses several thousand applications.

April:
The KW colors "yellow" and "purple" were registered as color trade marks within the European Union. From now on the use of these colors is patented. Only very few companies manage to have their colors registered as color trade marks with the EU trade mark agency. Here we are lining up with companies like Telecom, Nivea and Coca Cola.
September:
KW automotive Group celebrates its 10th anniversary of KW coilovers, the inauguration of the Hall 5 and the implementation of the 7-post dynamometer. There are only 15 units of that kind of dynamometer which are currently used by the 9 of the 11 Formula 1 racing teams. The celebration themed “KW Days” was a great opportunity for people that are interested in motorsports as well as all the friends and partners of KW to get a glance behind the scenes and have fun at all of the attractions that were offered to the visitors. KW now can offer racing teams and motorsports partners the use of the 7 post dyno to simulate the diverse requirements of the road.  This is a much more cost effective and time saving procedure than testing on the race track.