Recaro

Lore & Background

The company was founded on 1 October 1906 by Wilhelm Reutter as Stuttgarter Carosserie und Radfabrik. In 1909, Wilhelm's brother Albert Reutter joined as partner and commercial manager, and the name changed to Stuttgarter Karosseriewerk Reutter & Co. That same year, a patent was filed for a folding roof with canopy, a forerunner of the convertible. The company built bodies for Daimler-Benz and Wanderer-Werke, and in 1930 entered a partnership with the Porsche design office, manufacturing bodies for early Porsche types. In 1936, a second plant was built in Zuffenhausen, and in 1937 Reutter received the order to produce the Volkswagen prototype pre-series VW 303. By 1939, the company had around 900 employees. After severe damage in a 1944 air raid, the workforce shrank to 94 people. In 1949, Porsche engaged Reutter to build Porsche 356 bodies. In 1953, a patent was registered for a hinge fitting for upholstered seats with adjustable backrest, the Reutter reclining seat fitting. In 1963, Porsche acquired the car body factory, and the remaining company was renamed Recaro (REutter-CAROsserie), shifting focus to high-end seats. The first Recaro sports seat was presented in 1965. In 1971, Recaro produced its first aircraft seats under license from Hardman Aerospace. In 1983, Keiper purchased all shares, and after restructuring in 1997, Recaro became independent again, resulting in four legally independent companies including Recaro Aircraft Seating. In 2011, the automotive seating division was sold to Johnson Controls, which became a licensee. In 2018, Recaro Child Safety ceased operations, and a licensing agreement with Artsana Group created the Recaro Kids brand. In July 2024, Recaro Automotive GmbH filed for bankruptcy and was approved for self-administration, affecting only that German entity.

Reader's Guide

Recaro's significance lies in its evolution from a coachbuilder for early automotive pioneers like Daimler-Benz and Porsche into a specialized seating manufacturer for multiple transport sectors. The company's 1953 patent for a reclining seat fitting marked a key innovation in seat adjustability. Its shift to aircraft seating in 1971 under license from Hardman Aerospace established a new business line that continues today, with the Recaro CL3710 becoming a widely used long-haul economy-class seat on over 50 airlines. The 2011 sale of the automotive seating division to Johnson Controls, and later ownership by Adient, separated the automotive brand from the Recaro Group, which retained the licensor role. The 2018 establishment of Recaro eGaming expanded the brand into gaming chairs. The July 2024 bankruptcy filing of Recaro Automotive GmbH exclusively affected the German automotive unit, not other divisions or international operations. Recaro's legacy is that of a brand that transitioned from bodywork to specialized seating, maintaining a presence in aviation, gaming, and licensed automotive products.

Did You Know?

• The company was originally founded as Stuttgarter Carosserie und Radfabrik in 1906.
• Recaro produced the first aircraft seats in 1971 under license from Hardman Aerospace.
• The Recaro CL3710 is a long-haul economy-class seat used on more than 50 airlines worldwide.
• In July 2024, Recaro Automotive GmbH filed for bankruptcy, but the aircraft, train, and gaming divisions were not affected.