The two companies have now signed a letter of intent to this end. The first step involves subsystems for satellite platforms, space hardware and high-frequency and environmental sensors. In the long term, however, there is much more behind it: a European space industry that is becoming more independent - technologically, industrially and geopolitically.

Space becomes an industrial market

Satellites are getting smaller, launches cheaper, constellations larger. At the same time, there is growing concern in Europe about being too dependent on non-European providers for critical infrastructure, such as communications, weather data or defense applications.

This is exactly where the cooperation comes in. Schaeffler brings something to the table that aerospace companies often lack: industrial scaling. Decades of experience in precision manufacturing, established production processes, expertise in motor, bearing and power electronics technologies. Spire, on the other hand, provides the space know-how: platform architecture, on-board software and operational experience in orbit.

By the end of the decade, the companies want to establish an independent European business segment for space hardware and missions: "industrialized in Germany, tested in orbit and deployable on a large scale", as the press release states. The partners see fields of application in defense, weather, civil security and critical infrastructure, among others.

From the car into space

For Schaeffler, the move is strategically logical. The Group has already defined aerospace and defense as growth areas in its "Strategic Ambition 2035". While traditional automotive markets are coming under pressure, the industry is looking for new technological platforms with long-term growth potential.

"As a motion technology company, Schaeffler is ideally positioned to enter the New Space sector. We recognize a strong industrial logic at the core of this cooperation. With our many years of experience in precision manufacturing, motor and bearing technologies as well as our expertise in power electronics, Schaeffler offers the growing European satellite industry exactly what it needs in terms of space-qualified hardware on an industrial scale," said Klaus Rosenfeld, CEO of Schaeffler.

He continues: "Thanks to our industrial expertise, Schaeffler can take a comparable course on the European market with Spire as a partner for aerospace know-how and as a mission enabler."

Europe's space sector to become more independent

Spire is pursuing its own strategic goal: more industrial presence in Europe. The US space company has developed and launched more than 240 satellites since 2013 and claims to have production capacities of 300 to 400 satellites per year in Europe and the USA. Spire only opened a satellite production facility in Munich in 2025.

The cooperation with Schaeffler gives the company access to industrial manufacturing structures and to European defense and government customers.

"We share a long-term vision with Schaeffler for an independent European space industry that is developed, built and operated in Europe," said Theresa Condor, CEO of Spire Global. "This is a significant step towards a pathway for critical dual-use missions and a more self-reliant, reliable European industrial base that can achieve the speed and scale that modern space missions require."

Space travel is no longer a prestige project for government agencies. It is becoming an industrial market of the future. And Schaeffler wants to help build it and earn money in the future.