Siemens

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German multinational technology group serving industry, infrastructure, mobility, and healthcare.

Last updated October 13, 2026

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Overview

Siemens is a German multinational technology and engineering group whose modern activities are concentrated in industrial automation and software, intelligent infrastructure, rail transport, and healthcare technology. The company’s origins lie in Telegraphen-Bauanstalt von Siemens & Halske, established in Berlin on 1 October 1847 by Werner von Siemens and Johann Georg Halske. Its early business was based on telegraph equipment and long-distance communications, but it quickly expanded into electrical generation, lighting, transport, communications, manufacturing, and medical technology. During the nineteenth century, Siemens built telegraph networks in Germany, Russia, and elsewhere, including the long-distance line between Berlin and Frankfurt and the Indo-European Telegraph Line linking London with Calcutta. Werner von Siemens’s work on the dynamo helped establish the company as an electrical engineering enterprise. Siemens later supplied generators, electric lighting systems, electric trains, tramways, and other equipment. International operations developed early: the London agency became a branch in 1858, a St Petersburg branch opened in 1855, and the company established an office in Japan in 1887. Its contract for the Hobart electric tramway, which opened in 1893, gave it an early role in electric urban transport outside Europe. The business expanded through corporate combinations. Siemens & Halske became a corporation in 1897 and combined activities with Schuckert & Co. in 1903 to form Siemens-Schuckert. Siemens-Reiniger-Werke, created in 1932 through the combination of medical-equipment companies, became the third major predecessor of today’s group. In 1966, Siemens & Halske, Siemens-Schuckertwerke, and Siemens-Reiniger-Werke merged to create Siemens AG. The postwar group diversified into computers, semiconductors, household appliances, telecommunications, automation, power engineering, and medical equipment. Siemens became a broad conglomerate during the late twentieth century through acquisitions, joint ventures, and divestments. It participated in nuclear power through Kraftwerk Union, expanded its industrial automation and communications businesses, acquired Nixdorf Computer, bought Westinghouse Power Generation, and built positions in automotive electronics, rail systems, energy technology, and healthcare. Several significant activities were later separated from the group, including Infineon Technologies, the mobile-phone business, Osram-related lighting activities, Siemens Healthineers, and Siemens Energy. These transactions formed part of a long-term effort to focus Siemens on businesses where industrial technology, digital systems, infrastructure, and recurring service capabilities could be combined. The company’s history also includes serious historical and legal controversies. During the Nazi period and the Second World War, Siemens used forced labor, including laborers deported to concentration camps, and operated facilities connected with the camp system. The company’s wartime history has been documented by historians and acknowledged as part of Siemens’s corporate past. From 2005, Siemens became the subject of a major multinational bribery investigation involving alleged off-book payments and improper business practices in several countries. The scandal led to criminal and regulatory proceedings, large settlements, management changes, and a comprehensive compliance overhaul. Today, Siemens organizes its principal industrial activities around Digital Industries, Smart Infrastructure, Mobility, and related financial services. Siemens Mobility develops rail vehicles, signaling, electrification, automation, and transport-management systems. Digital Industries supplies factory automation, industrial control, drives, digital twins, and industrial software. Smart Infrastructure covers building automation, electrification, power distribution, and energy-management systems. Healthcare activities are conducted p…

History

Siemens began in Berlin in 1847 as a telegraph workshop founded by Werner von Siemens and Johann Georg Halske. Its first major achievement was the construction of a 500-kilometre telegraph line between Berlin and Frankfurt in 1848. International expansion followed through branches and projects in London, Russia, Japan, and across the growing global telegraph network. The company’s work on dynamos, generators, electric lighting, and railway equipment moved it beyond communications into the broader electrical industry. In 1867, Werner von Siemens described a dynamo based on the self-excited generation of electricity. Siemens subsequently supplied electrical equipment for lighting and transport projects, including a water-powered alternator used for street lighting in Godalming, England, and the Hobart electric tramway in Tasmania. By the early twentieth century, the company had become a substantial German industrial enterprise. Siemens & Halske incorporated in 1897, while its combination with Schuckert & Co. in 1903 created Siemens-Schuckert. Its medical activities were consolidated through Siemens-Reiniger-Werke in 1932. The Nazi and wartime period is a major and troubling part of Siemens history. Siemens companies used forced laborers, including people deported from concentration camps, and operated production facilities associated with the camp system. Wartime factories were dispersed across alternative locations as Allied bombing destroyed plants in Berlin and other cities. After 1945, Siemens rebuilt from Bavaria and expanded into computers, semiconductors, telecommunications, consumer appliances, automation, medical technology, and power engineering. The present corporate structure emerged in 1966, when Siemens & Halske, Siemens-Schuckertwerke, and Siemens-Reiniger-Werke merged into Siemens AG. The group pursued extensive acquisitions and alliances during the following decades. It participated in nuclear power through Kraftwerk Union, entered computing through Nixdorf, expanded power generation through Westinghouse Power Generation, and developed industrial automation through acquisitions and internal growth. At the same time, several businesses were divested or spun off, including Infineon Technologies, the mobile-phone business, lighting activities, Siemens Healthineers, and Siemens Energy. Beginning in 2005, Siemens faced a broad bribery scandal involving alleged illicit payments, inadequate internal controls, and investigations across several jurisdictions. The consequences included legal settlements, management disruption, and one of the most extensive corporate compliance reforms in modern German business history. Siemens subsequently repositioned itself around industrial digitalization, smart infrastructure, mobility, and healthcare technology. Its current strategy links automation hardware, industrial software, electrification, buildings, rail systems, and services, while major former divisions operate as independent public companies or separate businesses.

2025
Altair acquisition completed
[6]Siemens completes Altair acquisitionjiemian.com
Siemens completed its acquisition of Altair to expand industrial simulation, AI and high-performance computing capabilities. Siemens completed the acquisition of Dotmatics and expanded its digital-software portfolio into life-sciences research.
2021
Varian acquisition completed
[5]Siemens Healthineers completes acquisition of Variansiemens-healthineers.cn
Siemens Healthineers completed its acquisition of Varian Medical Systems, strengthening oncology and radiation therapy.
2020
Siemens Energy spin-off
[3]Siemens Energyen.wikipedia.org
Siemens completed the separation of its energy business into Siemens Energy AG, which was established as an independent company separate from Siemens AG.
2018
Siemens Healthineers IPO
[4]Siemens company reference articlezh.wikipedia.org
Siemens Healthineers began trading as a separately listed healthcare company in Frankfurt.
2017
Siemens Healthineers listed
[2]Siemens Healthineersen.wikipedia.org
The healthcare technology business was separated into Siemens Healthineers AG.
2005
Mobile business transferred to BenQ
[1]Siemensen.wikipedia.org
Siemens transferred its mobile-phone business to BenQ, forming the BenQ-Siemens venture.
2005
Bribery scandal emerges
[1]Siemensen.wikipedia.org
Siemens became the subject of multinational investigations into alleged bribery and improper payments.
1999
Infineon separation
[1]Siemensen.wikipedia.org
Siemens spun off its semiconductor operations into Infineon Technologies.
1991
Nixdorf acquired
[1]Siemensen.wikipedia.org
Siemens acquired Nixdorf Computer and created Siemens Nixdorf Informationssysteme.
1966
Siemens AG created
[1]Siemensen.wikipedia.org
Siemens & Halske, Siemens-Schuckertwerke, and Siemens-Reiniger-Werke merged into Siemens AG, which adopted Siemens AG as its formal corporate identity.
1966
Siemens name adopted in modern corporate form
[4]Siemens company reference articlezh.wikipedia.org
The company adopted Siemens AG as its formal corporate identity.
1932
Medical predecessor established
[1]Siemensen.wikipedia.org
Several medical-equipment businesses combined to form Siemens-Reiniger-Werke.
1903
Siemens-Schuckert formed
[1]Siemensen.wikipedia.org
Siemens combined activities with Schuckert & Co. to create Siemens-Schuckert.
1897
Corporate conversion to a stock company
[4]Siemens company reference articlezh.wikipedia.org
The enterprise was reorganized as a stock corporation.
1893
Hobart electric tramway opens
[1]Siemensen.wikipedia.org
A Siemens-built system opened in Hobart, Tasmania, and became an early complete electric tram network in the Southern Hemisphere.
1867
Dynamo principle described
[1]Siemensen.wikipedia.org
Werner von Siemens described a self-excited dynamo, supporting the company’s expansion into electrical generation.
1848
Berlin–Frankfurt telegraph line
[1]Siemensen.wikipedia.org
Siemens built one of Europe’s earliest long-distance telegraph lines, connecting Berlin and Frankfurt over roughly 500 kilometres.
1848
Long-distance telegraph line completed
[4]Siemens company reference articlezh.wikipedia.org
Siemens built a roughly 500-kilometre telegraph connection between Berlin and Frankfurt.
1847
Telegraph company founded
[1]Siemensen.wikipedia.org
Werner von Siemens and Johann Georg Halske established Telegraphen-Bauanstalt von Siemens & Halske in Berlin.

Products and positioning

Global industrial technology company focused on digitalization, automation, electrification, mobility, healthcare, and more efficient infrastructure.

Industrial automation and software
Digital Industries
Digital Industries supplies factory automation hardware, programmable control systems, motion-control equipment, industrial communications, manufacturing software, and digital-twin capabilities. Its portfolio connects production machinery with engineering, operational, and lifecycle data.
Building and electrical infrastructure
Smart Infrastructure
Smart Infrastructure provides building-management systems, fire and security technologies, electrical distribution, medium-voltage equipment, energy-management platforms, and infrastructure controls for commercial, industrial, and public facilities.
Rail transport
Siemens Mobility
Siemens Mobility develops locomotives, passenger trains, metros, tramways, rail electrification, signaling, control systems, and digital transport-management solutions. The business serves both urban transit and mainline rail operators.
Healthcare technology
Siemens Healthineers
Siemens Healthineers develops medical imaging, laboratory diagnostics, cancer-care, point-of-care, and digital-health technologies. It operates as a separately listed company with Siemens AG as its principal strategic shareholder.
Energy engineering
Power and energy technology
Siemens historically supplied generators, turbines, power-plant equipment, grid technology, and energy services. Much of the former energy portfolio was separated into Siemens Energy, although Siemens continues to serve infrastructure and electrification markets.
Industrial automation
SIMATIC and industrial automation systems
SIMATIC-related controllers, automation hardware, industrial networking and control technologies support factory automation and process operations. They are commonly combined with engineering software, drives, sensors and industrial communication systems to connect production equipment with higher-level manufacturing and operational systems.
Industrial software platform
Siemens Xcelerator
Xcelerator is Siemens' digital-business platform for connecting industrial hardware, software and digital services. It supports a wider digital-twin strategy in which engineering, simulation, manufacturing and operational data can be linked across the product and asset lifecycle.
Infrastructure technology
Building and smart-infrastructure solutions
Siemens supplies building automation, security, fire-safety, electrification, low-voltage distribution and energy-management systems. These offerings are intended to improve the efficiency, resilience and controllability of buildings, campuses, factories and wider infrastructure networks.
Transportation technology
Mobility and rail systems
The mobility portfolio includes rail vehicles, locomotives, railway electrification, signaling, train-control systems and traffic-management technologies. Siemens also provides integrated project and lifecycle services for urban transit, mainline rail and transport infrastructure.
Medical technology
Siemens Healthineers imaging and diagnostics
Through Siemens Healthineers, the broader Siemens brand ecosystem includes medical imaging, laboratory diagnostics, artificial-intelligence-assisted clinical workflows and treatment technologies. The separately listed company serves hospitals, laboratories and healthcare providers rather than operating as a conventional Siemens AG product division.
Consumer appliances
Siemens household appliances
The Siemens appliance name is used on refrigerators, washing machines, washer-dryers, ovens, hobs, ventilation products, dishwashers and related kitchen appliances. These products are operated by BSH Hausgeräte and should be distinguished from Siemens AG's industrial and infrastructure businesses.

Controversies

2005
Multinational bribery scandal
Siemens faced investigations in Germany and other countries concerning alleged bribery, improper payments, hidden accounts, and weaknesses in corporate controls. The proceedings covered multiple business areas and jurisdictions, including allegations connected with Greece and other international operations. The matter resulted in legal settlements, management changes, and a major redesign of Siemens’s compliance organization.
Source

1997Siemens 150th-anniversary national promotion
China
For the brand's 150th anniversary, Siemens appliance marketers used a nationwide promotion to encourage early adoption of higher-end European-style washing machines. The approach targeted affluent consumers who prioritized quality and design, using anniversary symbolism and incentives to build trial and word-of-mouth. The campaign is described in the supplied reference as an early example of Siemens appliance marketing in China that combined premium positioning with consumer activation.
Outcome. The campaign is described in the supplied reference as an early example of Siemens appliance marketing in China that combined premium positioning with consumer activation.
Source
I Don't Want to Wash Dishes
China
Siemens appliances turned a social-media complaint about washing dishes into a participation campaign. Users were invited to create messages on plates and share photographs through Weibo, WeChat and offline channels, with dishwashers offered as prizes. The campaign framed the dishwasher as a solution to a familiar household chore rather than simply presenting technical specifications. The campaign reportedly generated thousands of user submissions, more than 100,000 Weibo reposts, over 50,000 comments and media exposure exceeding 100 million impressions by early September of the campaign period. The source does not provide a reliable year.
Outcome. The campaign reportedly generated thousands of user submissions, more than 100,000 Weibo reposts, over 50,000 comments and media exposure exceeding 100 million impressions by early September of the campaign period. The source does not provide a reliable year.
Source
Moonlight Gold · Chef's Mid-Autumn Festival
China
Siemens appliances collaborated with Chef's Creative on a limited Mid-Autumn Festival gift box and social-media interaction. The activation used hashtag participation, prize draws and unboxing content to extend the appliance brand beyond product advertising and encourage consumer-generated discussion. The supplied reference describes the campaign as a brand-awareness and engagement effort, but does not provide independently verified performance figures.
Outcome. The supplied reference describes the campaign as a brand-awareness and engagement effort, but does not provide independently verified performance figures.
Source
Fresh Life and Capture Freshness
China
Siemens refrigerator marketing used the idea of a fresher, more engaging home life, including discussion around vacuum-compartment refrigeration and interactive activities such as showing refrigerator contents and decorating refrigerator magnets. The campaign sought to make refrigerator features more memorable through domestic scenes and online participation. The supplied material does not identify a reliable year or audited results.
Outcome. The campaign sought to make refrigerator features more memorable through domestic scenes and online participation. The supplied material does not identify a reliable year or audited results.
Source
This Step Removes Bacteria
China
A health-oriented appliance campaign presented hygiene and household care as central benefits. The activation included an advertising film with actress Yang Mi and a related social topic encouraging users to share stories about clothing and personal memories. The campaign connected product performance with health and emotional storytelling, although the supplied material does not establish a reliable year or measurable outcome.
Outcome. The campaign connected product performance with health and emotional storytelling, although the supplied material does not establish a reliable year or measurable outcome.
Source

Brand decisions

2025
Acquisition of Dotmatics completedM&A
Background
Siemens sought to extend its product-lifecycle and digital-thread strategy into scientific research and life-sciences workflows.
Action taken
Siemens completed its acquisition of Dotmatics and incorporated the company into its digital-software activities.
Aftermath
The acquisition expanded Siemens' target market in digital industrial software toward life-sciences research and connected scientific data management.
Transaction value. Approximately $5.1 billion (Completed 1 July 2025)
Source
2024
Agreement to acquire Altair EngineeringM&A
Background
Siemens identified industrial software, simulation, artificial intelligence and digital twins as strategic growth areas and sought to broaden its engineering-software capabilities.
Action taken
Siemens agreed to acquire Altair for approximately $10.6 billion in equity value, with a reported cash offer of $113 per share.
Aftermath
The acquisition was completed in March 2025 and integrated Altair's simulation, high-performance computing, data-science and AI capabilities into Siemens' digital strategy.
Equity transaction value. Approximately $10.6 billion (Agreement announced 30 October 2024; completion reported 26 March 2025)
- Synopsys — The deal was discussed alongside Synopsys' proposed acquisition of Ansys as part of a broader consolidation of simulation and engineering software.
Source
2023
Portfolio focus on digitalization and core industrial technologyStrategy
Background
Siemens had spent years separating or selling activities such as household appliances, energy-related operations and large-motor businesses in order to sharpen its focus.
Action taken
The group continued emphasizing industrial digitalization, infrastructure, mobility, software, AI and the integration of physical assets with digital systems.
Aftermath
The portfolio strategy increased the importance of software acquisitions and platforms such as Xcelerator while reducing the role of traditional conglomerate breadth.
Source
2020
Energy business spun offM&A
Background
Energy generation and related markets had distinct capital requirements and cyclical exposure compared with Siemens’s industrial technology activities.
Action taken
Siemens completed the spin-off of Siemens Energy.
Aftermath
Siemens became more focused on Digital Industries, Smart Infrastructure, Mobility, and related services, while Siemens Energy operated independently.
Source
2020
Agreement to acquire Varian Medical SystemsM&A
Background
Siemens Healthineers sought to strengthen its clinical-treatment portfolio and expand beyond imaging and diagnostics into oncology and radiation therapy.
Action taken
Siemens Healthineers announced an agreement to acquire Varian Medical Systems in an all-share transaction valued at approximately $16.4 billion, according to the supplied reporting.
Aftermath
The transaction closed on 15 April 2021. Varian retained its brand, while the combined portfolio was intended to support integrated cancer diagnosis, treatment and follow-up.
Transaction value. Approximately $16.4 billion (Announced 2020; completed 15 April 2021)
Source
2017
Healthcare business separated into Siemens HealthineersM&A
Background
Healthcare technology had developed into a large specialist business with its own investment needs and market identity.
Action taken
Siemens listed Siemens Healthineers as a separate public company while retaining a major ownership stake.
Aftermath
The separation gave the healthcare business an independent capital-market profile while preserving its strategic relationship with Siemens.
Source
2005
Mobile-phone business transferred to BenQM&A
Background
Siemens' mobile-phone business faced increasing competitive pressure in a rapidly consolidating handset market, while the group was reassessing its consumer-electronics portfolio.
Action taken
Siemens transferred the mobile-phone manufacturing business to BenQ, forming the BenQ-Siemens arrangement. Siemens transferred the division to BenQ, creating the BenQ-Siemens joint venture.
Aftermath
Siemens exited direct handset manufacturing and concentrated more heavily on industrial, infrastructure, and professional technology businesses. The venture ended in 2006 after BenQ declared the business unsuccessful and entered insolvency proceedings for the German handset operation.
Source
1999
Semiconductor business spun offM&A
Background
Semiconductors had become a specialized and capital-intensive business with different competitive dynamics from Siemens’s industrial divisions.
Action taken
Siemens separated its semiconductor operations into Infineon Technologies.
Aftermath
The transaction reduced Siemens’s direct exposure to semiconductor manufacturing while creating an independent technology company.
Source
1966
Creation of Siemens AGStrategy
Background
The group’s principal predecessor companies had developed separate identities across communications, power engineering, and medical technology.
Action taken
Siemens & Halske, Siemens-Schuckertwerke, and Siemens-Reiniger-Werke were merged into a single corporation.
Aftermath
The merger created the modern Siemens group and provided a unified structure for international expansion and diversification.
Source

Recent events

Unconfirmed
Siemens opens electrification and automation factory in Egypt[13]西门子在埃及开设电气化与自动化工厂africanreview.com
Reported: 2026-10-27
Siemens officially opened a new Electrification and Automation factory in Egypt. The plant will manufacture power-sector technologies locally, including switchgear, substation control and monitoring equipment, and protection systems.
2026-10-22
Siemens expands agentic AI capabilities for 3D IC design[14]西门子扩展用于 3D IC 设计的智能体 AI 能力design-reuse.com
Siemens announced an expansion of its EDA agentic AI portfolio, adding an autonomous workflow for electrothermal codesign of 3D integrated circuits. The capability was developed in collaboration with NVIDIA and orchestrates Siemens tools to evaluate design alternatives.
Unconfirmed
Siemens and NVIDIA unveil AI solutions for autonomous manufacturing[15]西门子与英伟达发布自主制造人工智能解决方案webwire.com
Siemens unveiled new AI solutions at its Electronics Factory in Erlangen, developed with NVIDIA to support AI-driven, autonomous manufacturing. The applications use AI and digital twins for production ramp-up and production planning.
2026-10-19
Siemens and Nvidia agree to collaborate on AI-operated factories[16]西门子与英伟达同意合作开发 AI 工厂thenextweb.com
Reported: 2026-10-20
Siemens and Nvidia agreed to collaborate on AI-operated factories at the Berlin investment summit.
2026-10-19
Siemens announces wider partnership with Nvidia on autonomous factories[17]Siemens宣布与Nvidia扩大合作以推进自主工厂cnbc.com
Reported: 2026-10-20
Siemens announced a wider partnership with Nvidia to advance AI-driven autonomous factories. The article also reports that Siemens announced new AI solutions developed with Nvidia at its Erlangen factory.
Unconfirmed
Siemens unveils over 20 new products at CIIF 2026[18]西门子在2026年中国国际工业博览会展出20余款新产品chinamoneynetwork.com
Reported: 2026-10-12
Siemens unveiled more than 20 new products at the 26th China International Industry Fair (CIIF 2026), focusing on industrial AI, local innovation, and in-factory smart scenarios.
2026-10-12
Siemens opens six embodied AI factory application scenarios across five China plants[19]西门子首次开放6类具身智能工厂应用场景prnasia.com
Reported: 2026-10-12
At CIIF 2026, Siemens announced for the first time the opening of six categories of embodied-intelligence factory application scenarios, including intelligent sorting and precise feeding of loose bulk material, autonomous container handling, intelligent depalletizing and palletizing, process operation and quality inspection, high-precision screw tightening, and flexible packaging of finished products, through real production environments at five of its plants in China for joint testing, iteration and data accumulation with ecosystem partners.
2026-10-12
Siemens releases over 20 new products at CIIF 2026, including 13 China local-innovation products[19]西门子首次开放6类具身智能工厂应用场景prnasia.com
Reported: 2026-10-12
At the 26th China International Industry Fair (CIIF 2026) in Shanghai on October 12, 2026, Siemens released more than 20 new products covering PLC, servo, SCADA, edge AI solutions and DC power distribution categories, of which 13 are China-developed local innovation products.
2026-10-12
Siemens and research institute jointly release China national standard GB/T 47859—2026 on reconfigurable modeling of smart factory production systems[19]西门子首次开放6类具身智能工厂应用场景prnasia.com
Reported: 2026-10-12
During CIIF 2026, Siemens jointly released with the Machinery Industry Instrumentation Comprehensive Technology and Economic Research Institute the Chinese national standard GB/T 47859—2026 'Modeling rules for reconfigurable smart factory production systems', with Siemens as a core participant in the standard's development.
2026-10-12
Siemens Eigen engineering agent receives core function update at CIIF 2026[19]西门子首次开放6类具身智能工厂应用场景prnasia.com
Reported: 2026-10-12
At CIIF 2026, Siemens announced a core function update to its Eigen engineering agent, adding automated generation of standards-compliant project structures that cuts program development time by up to 50%, and new multi-axis drive configuration capability.

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