FORVIA, the French automotive supplier, maintained its 2026 financial targets after third-quarter sales fell 0.6% organically, as currency movements lifted reported revenue and growth outside China softened the decline.
Revenue reached €5.079 billion, up 1% from €5.029 billion a year earlier. FORVIA said a positive 1.6% currency effect offset the organic decrease. Global auto production fell 1.6% to 22.7 million vehicles, and the company said its sales outperformed that market by 100 basis points.
Regional results varied. Organic sales rose 4.1% in Europe, 0.4% in North America and 13.6% in Asia excluding China, while they dropped 17.2% in China. FORVIA attributed the decline to weak production by international automakers in China and cited progress with Chinese manufacturers BYD and Chery.
Electronics sales increased 7% organically, while Clarion sales rose 22%. Seating sales fell 4.4%, although FORVIA said the decline had narrowed from the first half. In the first nine months of 2026, sales declined 2.7% as reported and 1.5% organically.
FORVIA said all regulatory approvals, including competition clearances, had been obtained for its planned sale of the Interiors business to Apollo Funds. The deal is expected to close in the fourth quarter. The April agreement set the business’s enterprise value at €1.82 billion; FORVIA expects the sale to reduce net debt by more than €1 billion and gross debt by more than €1.4 billion, with proceeds going entirely toward debt reduction.
The company kept its 2026 sales target at €20 billion to €21 billion at constant exchange rates. Its other targets include an operating margin of 6% to 6.5% of sales, net cash flow of at least 3% of sales and a year-end net debt-to-adjusted EBITDA ratio of 1.5 times. The outlook assumes global light-vehicle production of 91.6 million units in 2026 and no significant worsening in tariffs, trade restrictions, economic conditions or supply chains. FORVIA also cited an October S&P Global Mobility forecast for a 4.2% decline in global auto production in the fourth quarter.
FORVIA is scheduled to report its 2026 annual results on Feb. 26, 2027, before markets open.
