History
Our story started 40 years ago, giving the fact that IVM performed the first assignments for the automotive manufacturers in Munich during 1968. Semcon and Caran initiated their business during the wave of booming industrial corporations originated from Sweden in the early eighties. With focus on organically grow into new competence areas and abilities together with the customers, such as ABB, Volvo, BMW, Audi, Scania and Volkswagen 2007 initiated a new era in Semcon history. Three former competitors joined forces to create an engineering partner prepared for future challenges in the automotive and transportation industries.
1968 IVM Engineering is founded in Munich, Germany, as
engineering service provider for the automobile
industry.
1979 The company is expanding and sets up locations in
Wolfsburg and Stuttgart.
1980 Semcon is founded in Västerås, Sweden.
1981 Caran is founded in Gothenburg, Sweden.
1982 Semcon open new location in Gothenburg, Sweden.
1983-1991 Semcon, Caran and IVM expands with new locations
and competence areas. Testing, electronic and quality
management new services included during the period.
Caran includes production of models & prototypes.
1992 Semcon open the first branch inside Volvo Car ground.
1994 New service area of technical information introduced in
Semcon.
1995 Both Semcon and Caran expands with new operations
in United Kingdom.
Caran listed on the Stockholm Stock Exchange.
1996 First testing laboratory opens.
1997 Concept study of an Audi A8 converted into a coupé by
IVM Automotive is presented at the Geneva Motor
Show.
1998 IVM Automotive demonstrates its complete vehicle
competence: the C12 Coupé – a sports car developed
and built by IVM Automotive on the basis of a
Chevrolet Corvette with Callaway engine – is shown in
Geneva and later manufactured in a small run.
Semcon exceed 100 employees.
1999 Semcon Informatic, a new business area, is created.
Acquisition of BAUR Karosserie- und Fahrzeugbau,
known not only for the Baur-TOP convertibles of BMW
in the 1970s, but also as manufacturer of legendary
cars like the Auto Union SP 1000 or the bodyshell
of the Porsche 959 and BMW Z1.
IVM Automotive receives its first customer order for
development of a complete vehicle: the stretched
A-Class of Mercedes-Benz.
2000 Semcon expands in geography and competences.
WM-data acquires Caran.
2001 IVM wins a new, large complete vehicle development
contract with an overall volume in the upper
double-digit millions range.
2002 Caran acquires A2acoutstics.
Edscha AG acquires the German locations of
IVM Automotive in June. IVM Automotive becomes the
Vehicle Design division within the Edscha Group.
Ericsson outsource PROPS development to Semcon.
2004 Semcon starts Zound by Semcon and acquires ComTest.
With the launch of the Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class
IVM Automotive successfully concludes one of the
biggest complete vehicle development projects in the
Company's history. Together with DaimlerChrysler,
IVM Automotive developed the four-door coupé to
production standard.
2005 Semcon opens in China and Hungary.
2006 Caran opens engineering office in Bangalore, India.
IVM and Semcon joined forces and won one of the
largest automotive projects in Europe 2006, from
GM Europe.
2007 Caran acquire EIS.
Semcon acquire IVM from Edscha and Caran from
JCI Group.