{
  "id": 16716072,
  "title": "Interview: \"Stihl will be the 'last man standing'\"",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/27/interview-stihl-wird-der-last-man-standing-sein",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-10-27T06:21:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Handelsblatt",
    "slug": "handelsblatt",
    "url": "https://www.handelsblatt.com/unternehmen/mittelstand/familienunternehmer/stihl-chef-neue-fertigung-in-deutschland-da-fehlt-mir-derzeit-die-fantasie-02/100262271.html"
  },
  "original_language": "de",
  "account": "Stihl, a 100-year-old family-owned company, has successfully transitioned to electric devices, with sales of battery-powered tools nearly doubling those of gasoline-powered ones in Germany. Unlike the auto industry, Stihl's strategy focuses on meeting customer demand, with a goal of dual technological leadership in both combustion engine and battery-powered devices. The company has seen significant growth in electric device sales, particularly in Europe, where 50% of its sales are battery-powered, and in Germany, where the figure is over 60%. Stihl's new battery factory is being built in Romania due to lower labor costs, and the company is also investing in robotics development in China.",
  "summary": "The chainsaw global brand is switching to electric. Combustion engine technology will continue to be produced domestically, but Stihl sees the future elsewhere. Because Germany has a problem, says Michael Traub.",
  "key_points": [
    "Stihl sells nearly twice as many battery-powered tools as gas-powered ones in Germany.",
    "Company aims for dual technology leadership in both combustion and battery-powered tools.",
    "Stihl expects to remain the last man standing in technology leadership in the coming decades."
  ],
  "editors_take": "Prioritizing customer demand over regulatory mandates allows the family-owned manufacturer to maintain dual leadership in both battery and combustion technologies while navigating global production shifts and potential trade barriers.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}