Hella

Hella KGaA Hueck & Co. (stylized as HELLA) is an internationally operating German automotive part supplier with headquarters in Lippstadt, North Rhine-Westphalia. The company develops and manufactures lighting, electronic components, and systems for the automotive industry. It also has one of the largest trade organizations for automotive parts, accessories, diagnosis, and services within Europe.

Hella is one of the top 50 global automotive suppliers, and one of the 100 largest industrial companies in Germany. Worldwide, it employs about 40,000 people in more than 100 locations in over 35 countries. More than 5,800 engineers and technicians work in research and development within the company.

Sally Windmüller founded the company in 1899 under the name Westfälische Metall-Industrie Aktien-Gesellschaft (WMI) to produce ball horns, candles, and kerosene lamps for carriages. Hella's name first appeared in 1908 as a trademark for acetylene headlights. In 1923, the manufacturing family Lüdenscheider Hueck took over the majority of the shares. The name “Hella” was included in the company name in 1986. The most likely explanation for the Hella brand is attributed to Sally Windmüller: He wanted to honour his wife, Helen, in short Hella, and also wanted to use the playful association between this name and the German word heller (brighter).