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With innovative system solutions to enable sustainable mobility and responsible action, Knorr‑Bremse strives to create added value for its customers and at the same time make a positive contribution to society. Sustainability is therefore firmly integrated in our corporate organization and strategy. With the aim of providing transparent and objective information, we have summarized our sustainability management, measures and their results in our Sustainability Report 2023.

Dear Reader,

As the Executive Board of Knorr‑Bremse, we are united in our commitment to taking sustainable action. In 2023, we stuck to our sustainability strategy unswervingly and improved our sustainability performance. We thus live up to our corporate responsibility, while strengthening our innovativeness and business success. Read how we are increasingly integrating sustainability into our business processes.

Foreword

About Knorr‑Bremse

Knorr‑Bremse is the global market and technology leader for braking systems and a leading supplier of other rail and commercial vehicle systems. Knorr‑Bremse’s products make a decisive contribution to greater safety and energy efficiency in rail and road traffic around the world. Thanks to its innovativeness, Knorr‑Bremse is able to play a role in global megatrends such as urbanization, sustainability, digitalization, and mobility. These trends are key aspects of the mobility transition and offer long-lasting growth opportunities for rail and commercial vehicle markets.

A high degree of innovativeness is required to keep on developing powerful products. At Group level, we invested € 544.1 million (2022: € 466.1 million, 2021: € 431.4 million) in our R&D activities in fiscal year 2023. At 6.9%, the ratio of research and development expenses to Group revenue in 2023 was again above that of the previous year (2022: 6.5%; 2021: 6.4%). At the end of the fiscal year, the company employed 4,588 people in research and development (2022: 4,216, 2021: 3,980).

Selected key figures for 2023

€ 7,926 million

We generated revenue of € 7,926 million in our two divisions in 2023

33,319 employees

The Group had 33,319 employees as of December 31, 2023

6.9 %

We invested 6.9% of revenue in R&D activities in 2023

€ 7,082 million

The order book totaled € 7,082 million as of December 31, 2023

Knorr‑Bremse has two strong pillars in the shape of its Rail Vehicle Systems (RVS) and Commercial Vehicle Systems (CVS) divisions. We always seek to inspire customers with our products and system solutions and their quality and reliability. In both divisions, the company has been at the cutting edge of its industries, driving innovation in mobility and transportation technologies with a leading edge in connected system solutions.

Rail Vehicle Systems (RVS)

The Rail Vehicle Systems division supplies highly advanced, safety-critical products and systems for equipping mass transit vehicles such as commuter trains, metro cars and light rail vehicles as well as freight cars, locomotives and high-speed trains. Knorr‑Bremse is the world market leader in the global market for rail vehicle braking systems. Knorr‑Bremse is also a leading market player in entrance systems and HVAC systems.

Commercial Vehicle Systems (CVS)

Our Commercial Vehicle Systems division supplies products and systems for trucks, buses, trailers, and agricultural machinery. Knorr‑Bremse is the world market leader in the global market for disk brakes as well as pneumatic braking systems for commercial vehicles. The division is also a leading supplier of products for braking systems and vehicle dynamics (including steering systems), energy supply and distribution, and fuel efficiency.

Environment
Highlights 2023
  • CDP climate rating rates Knorr‑Bremse with “A-

  • Revised climate protection targets (Scopes 1 to 3) validated by SBTi

  • Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions reduced by 70% from baseline level

  • Internal carbon price introduced

  • EcoDesign criteria implemented in product development

  • Revenue from remanufactured/overhauled products increased to 11%

  • Photovoltaic systems installed at further locations

Governance
Highlights 2023
  • Management STI and LTI remuneration linked to ESG criteria

  • Organizational structure for compliance expanded

  • BOOST 2026 company strategy emphasizes the importance of sustainability

  • 66% of financing instruments tied to sustainability criteria

  • Sustainability assessments and audits of suppliers carried out more frequently

  • 61% of the direct purchasing volume goes to ISO 14001 suppliers

Magazine

An international sustainability strategy implemented locally

How can the central sustainability strategy be successfully implemented at Knorr‑Bremse’s locations? Marcus Hoffmann, Munich, and Maria Gutierrez, Bendix North America, discuss this topic.

Corporate culture in transition

Why is a meaningful corporate culture important to commercial success? Dr. Claudia Mayfeld speaks about the exciting process of cultural change at Knorr‑Bremse.

Smart minds for sustainable mobility

Knorr-Bremse’s experts work worldwide on high-tech products to ensure safe and sustainable mobility. Get to know some of these personalities and their specialist knowledge.

With hearts and hands for social commitment

Knorr-Bremse is deeply rooted in the social fabric at its sites thanks to its Local Care projects. What motivates our employees to do voluntary work?