| Summary of Significant Accounting Policies and Basis of Presentation (Policies) | 12 Months Ended |
| Dec. 31, 2017 |
| Accounting Policies [Abstract] | |
| Consolidation | Consolidation The consolidated financial statements at and for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, reflect the consolidated financial position and consolidated operating results of the Company. Investments in affiliates in which Gentherm does not have control, but does have the ability to exercise significant influence over operating and financial policies, are accounted for under the equity method. Intercompany accounts have been eliminated in consolidation. Certain reclassifications of prior years’ amounts have been made to conform with the current year’s presentation. Specifically, the Company changed its classification of prepayments made during the construction of plant assets from prepaid expenses and other assets to other non-current assets on the consolidated balance sheet. The Company reclassified $4,390 from prepaid expenses and other assets to other non-current assets on the December 31, 2016 consolidated balance sheet in order to conform with the current year’s presentation. |
| Cash and Cash Equivalents | Cash and Cash Equivalents The Company considers all highly liquid investments purchased with original maturities of less than 90 days to be cash equivalents. Cash balances in individual banks may exceed the federally insured limit by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. The Company had cash and cash equivalents of $88,440 and $162,881 held in foreign jurisdictions as of December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively. |
| Disclosures About Fair Value of Financial Instruments | Disclosures About Fair Value of Financial Instruments The carrying amounts of financial instruments comprising cash and cash equivalents, short-term investments and accounts receivable approximate fair value because of the short maturities of these instruments. The carrying amount of the Company’s U.S. Revolving Note approximates its fair value because interest charged on the loan balance is variable. See Note 13 for information about the techniques used to assess the fair value of financial assets and liabilities, including our fixed rate debt instruments. |
| Use of Estimates | Use of Estimates The presentation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. |
| Accrued Warranty Costs | Accrued Warranty Costs The Company accrues warranty obligations for products sold based on management estimates of future failure rates and current claim cost experience, with support from the sales, engineering, quality and legal functions. Using historical information available to the Company, including claims already filed by customers, the warranty accrual is adjusted quarterly to reflect management’s best estimate of future claims. The following is a reconciliation of the changes in accrued warranty costs for the reporting period:
December 31,
2017
2016
Balance at beginning of year
$
5,443
$
4,558
Warranty claims paid or retired
(979
)
(1,096
)
Expense
507
2,053
Adjustment due to currency translation
411
(72
)
Balance at end of year
$
5,382
$
5,443 |
| Concentration of Credit Risk | Concentration of Credit Risk Financial assets, which subject the Company to concentration of credit risk, consist primarily of cash equivalents, short-term investments and accounts receivable. Cash equivalents consist primarily of money market funds managed by major financial services companies. The credit risk for these cash equivalents is considered low. The Company does not require collateral from its customers. As of December 31, 2017, Lear, Adient and Magna comprised 24%, 20% and 7% respectively, of the Company’s accounts receivable balance. As of December 31, 2016, Lear, Adient, and Faurecia comprised 25%, 24% and 7% respectively, of the Company’s accounts receivable balance. These accounts are currently in good standing. |
| Allowance for Doubtful Accounts | Allowance for Doubtful Accounts We record an allowance for doubtful accounts once exposure to collection risk of an accounts receivable is specifically identified. We analyze the length of time an account receivable is outstanding, as well as a customer’s payment history and ability to pay to determine the need to record an allowance for doubtful accounts. |
| Inventory | Inventory The Company’s inventory is measured at the lower of cost or market, with cost being determined using the first-in first-out basis. Raw materials, consumables and commodities are measured at cost of purchase and unfinished and finished goods are measured at cost of production, using the weighted average method. If the net realizable value expected on the reporting date is below cost, a write-down is recorded to adjust inventory to its net realizable value. We recognize a reserve for obsolete and slow moving inventories based on estimates of future sales and an inventory item’s capacity to be repurposed for a different use. We consider the number of months supply on hand based on current planned requirements, uncommitted future projections and historical usage in estimating the inventory reserve. Additional provisions are made for supplier claims for obsolete materials, prototype inventory, spare or customer service inventory and, for all periods other than at year-end, estimates for physical inventory adjustments. Note 2 — Summary of Significant Accounting Policies and Basis of Presentation (Continued) The following is a reconciliation of the changes in the inventory reserve:
December 31,
2017
2016
Balance at beginning of year
$
4,790
$
4,308
Expense
3,521
876
Inventory write off
(726
)
(326
)
Adjustment due to currency translation
302
(68
)
Balance at end of year
$
7,887
$
4,790 |
| Property and Equipment | Property and Equipment Property and equipment, including additions and improvements, are recorded at cost less accumulated depreciation. Expenditures for repairs and maintenance are charged to expense as incurred. When property or equipment is retired or otherwise disposed of, the related cost and accumulated depreciation are removed from the accounts. Gains or losses from retirements and disposals are recorded as operating income or expense. Depreciation and amortization are computed using the straight-line method. The estimated useful lives of the Company’s property and equipment are as follows:
Asset Category
Useful Life
Buildings and building improvements
5 to 50 years
Plant and Equipment
1 to 20 years
Production tooling
2 to 7 years
Leasehold improvements
Term of lease
Computer equipment and software
1 to 10 years
Capital Leases
Term of lease The Company recognized depreciation expense of $32,224, $24,873 and $18,399 for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively. |
| Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets | Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets Goodwill and other intangible assets recorded in conjunction with business combinations are based on the Company’s estimate of fair value, as of the date of acquisition. A roll forward of goodwill from December 31, 2015 to December 31, 2017 is as follows:
December 31, 2015
$
27,765
Goodwill arising from the acquisition of CSZ
24,622
Exchange rate impact
(652
)
December 31, 2016
$
51,735
Goodwill arising from the acquisition of Etratech
14,866
Exchange rate impact
3,084
December 31, 2017
$
69,685
Note 2 — Summary of Significant Accounting Policies and Basis of Presentation (Continued) The fair value and corresponding useful lives for acquired intangible assets are listed below as follows:
Asset Category
Useful Life
Customer relationships
8-15 years
Technology
5-10 years
Production Development Costs
4 years Our business strategy largely centers on designing products based upon internally developed and purchased technology. When possible, we protect these technologies with patents. Our policy is to expense all costs associated with the development and issuance of new patents as incurred. Such costs are classified as research and development expenses in our consolidation statements of income. Patents purchased as part of a business combination are capitalized based on their fair values. Periodically, we review the recoverability and remaining lives of our capitalized patents, and if necessary, make adjustments to reported amounts, based upon unfavorable impacts from market conditions, the emergence of competitive technologies and changes in our projected business plans. A total of $12,425, $12,675 and $12,751 in other intangible assets, including capitalized patent costs, were amortized in 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively. An estimate of intangible asset amortization by year, is as follows:
2018
$
12,968
2019
10,041
2020
8,230
2021
10,762
2022
10,334
Thereafter
30,950
Goodwill Impairment In January, 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-04, “Intangibles – Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment.” ASU 2017-04 modified the concept of impairment of goodwill to be a condition that exists when the carrying value of a reporting unit that includes goodwill exceeds its fair value. An entity should recognize an impairment charge for the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds the reporting unit’s fair value, limited to the total amount of goodwill allocated to that reporting unit. Entities no longer will determine goodwill impairment by calculating the implied fair value of goodwill by assigning the fair value of a reporting unit to all of its assets and liabilities as if the reporting unit had been acquired in a business combination. ASU 2017-04 is effective for annual and any interim goodwill impairment tests in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019. Early adoption of the amendments in this update is permitted. The amendments in ASU 2017-04 must be applied on a prospective basis and in the initial period of adoption, entities must disclose the nature of and reason for the change in accounting principle. The Company expects adoption of ASU 2017-04 will reduce the complexity of evaluating goodwill for impairment. |
| Impairments of Long-Lived Assets, Other Intangible Assets and Goodwill | Impairments of Long-Lived Assets, Other Intangible Assets and Goodwill Whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that an asset’s carrying amount may not be recoverable, the Company will compare the carrying amount of the asset to the recoverable amount of the asset. The recoverable amount is defined as the greater of the asset’s fair value less costs to sell or its value in use. An impairment loss is recognized if the carrying amount of an asset exceeds the recoverable or fair value amount. An assessment of fair value could utilize quoted market prices, fair value appraisals, management forecasts or discounted cash flow analyses. Annually on December 31 st |
| Product Revenues | Product Revenues The Company sells its products under long term supply or purchase order contracts issued by its customers. These contracts involve the sale of goods and services at fixed prices and provide for related transfer of ownership risk to the customer upon shipment from the Company’s warehouse location or in some cases upon receipt of the goods at the customer’s facility, or completion of services. Shipping and handling costs are recognized in cost of sales. With only a few minor exceptions, payment terms for these contracts range from 30 to 120 days from the date of shipment. Cash discounts for early payment are extended to customer purchases recognized within the Industrial reporting segment. Unless the payment is for a distinct good or service, any consideration paid to a customer is recognized directly against the revenue earned from that customer. For construction-type contract revenues recognized in our Industrial segment, the completed-contract method is used to determine revenue and the cost of earned revenue. The transfer of ownership upon shipment is used to determine substantial completion and the recognition of revenue for these construction-type contracts. For 2017, our revenues from sales to our three largest customers, Lear, Adient and Bosch Automotive were $192,756, $173,964 and $75,370, respectively, representing 20%, 18% and 8% of our total revenues, respectively. |
| Tooling | Tooling The Company incurs costs related to tooling used in the manufacture of products sold to its customers. In some cases, the Company enters into contracts with its customers whereby the Company incurs the costs to design, develop and purchase tooling and is then reimbursed by the customer under a reimbursement contract. Tooling costs that will be reimbursed by customers are included in prepaid expenses and other current assets at the lower of accumulated cost or the customer reimbursable amount. Approximately $6,994 and $5,604 of reimbursable tooling was capitalized within prepaid expenses and other current assets as of December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively. Company-owned tooling is included in property and equipment and depreciated over its expected useful life, generally two to seven years. Management periodically evaluates the recoverability of tooling costs, based on estimated future cash flows, and makes provisions, where appropriate, for tooling costs that will not be recovered. |
| Research and Development Expenses | Research and Development Expenses Research and development activities are expensed as incurred. The Company groups development and prototype costs and related reimbursements in research and development. The Company recognizes amounts due as reimbursements for expenses as these expenses are incurred. |
| Income Taxes | Income Taxes The Company records income tax expense using the liability method which specifies that deferred tax assets and liabilities be measured each year based on the difference between the financial statement and tax base of assets and liabilities at the applicable enacted tax rates. A valuation allowance is provided for deferred tax assets when management considers it more likely than not that the asset will not be realized. At December 31, 2017 and 2016, a valuation allowance has been provided for certain deferred tax assets which the Company has concluded are more likely than not to not be realized. If future annual taxable income were to be significantly less than current and projected levels, there is a risk that certain of our deferred tax assets not already provided for by the valuation allowance would expire prior to utilization. The Company recognize the financial statement benefit of a tax position only after determining that the relevant tax authority would more likely than not sustain the position following an audit. For tax positions meeting the more-likely-than-not threshold, the amount recognized in the financial statements is the largest benefit that has a greater than 50 percent likelihood of being realized upon ultimate settlement with the relevant tax authority. The Company recognizes interest and penalties related to income tax matters in income tax expense. In October, 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-16, “Income Taxes (Topic 740): Intra-Entity Transfers of Assets Other Than Inventory.” ASU 2016-16 modifies the current prohibition to recognize deferred income taxes from differences between the tax basis of assets in the buyer’s tax jurisdiction and their cost resulting from an intra-entity transfer from one tax-paying component to another tax-paying component of the same consolidated group. Under current GAAP, deferred income taxes for intra-entity asset transfers are not recognized until the asset is sold to an outside party. ASU 2016-16 allows entities to recognize the income tax consequences of an intra-entity transfer of an asset other than inventory when the transfer occurs. ASU 2016-16 is effective for fiscal years and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2017. For entities that issue interim financial statements and whose current fiscal year end date is December 31, 2016, early adoption can be made during the three month period ending March 31, 2017. The amendments in ASU 2016-16 should be applied on a modified retrospective basis through a cumulative-effect adjustment directly to retained earnings as of the beginning of the period of adoption. We have evaluated the impact the amendments in ASU 2016-16 will have on the Company's consolidated financial statements and determined that a favorable adjustment of approximately $27,771 will be recorded directly to retained earnings during the three month period ending March 31, 2018. |
| Derivative Financial Instruments - Hedge Accounting | Derivative Financial Instruments – Hedge Accounting The Company accounts for some of its derivative financial instruments as cash flow hedges as defined in Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 815. For derivative contracts which can be classified as a cash flow hedge, the effective potion of the change in the fair value of the derivative is recorded to accumulated other comprehensive income in the consolidated balance sheet. When the underlying hedge transaction is realized, the gain or loss included in accumulated other comprehensive income is recorded in earnings in the consolidated statement of income on the same line as the gain or loss on the hedged item attributable to the hedged risk. Any ineffective portion of the gain or loss is recognized in the income statement under foreign currency (loss) gain or revaluation of derivatives gain (loss). These hedging transactions and the respective correlations meet the requirements for hedge accounting. Derivatives and Hedging In August, 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-12, “Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815): Targeted Improvements to Accounting for Hedging Activities.” ASU 2017-12 expands the number and type of nonfinancial and interest rate risk components an entity has the ability to designate as the hedged risk in a qualifying hedging relationship. ASU 2017-12 requires entities to present the earnings effect of the hedging instrument in the same income statement line item in which the earnings effect of the hedge item is reported. This approach simplifies the financial statement reporting for qualifying hedging relationships by eliminating the requirement to separately report the portion of the hedge deemed to be ineffective. For cash flow hedges, the entire change in the fair value of the hedging instrument included in the assessment of hedge effectiveness is recorded in other comprehensive income and reclassified to earnings when the hedged item affects earnings. Furthermore, income statement effects from fair value and cash flow hedges are to be presented in tabular disclosure. ASU 2017-12 is effective for annual and any interim periods beginning after December 15, 2018. Early adoption of the amendments in this update are permitted. For cash flow hedges existing at the date of adoption, an entity should apply a cumulative catch-up adjustment related to eliminating the separate measurement of ineffectiveness to accumulative other comprehensive income with a corresponding adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings as of the beginning of the fiscal year that an entity adopts the amendments in this update. We are currently in the process of determining the impact the implementation of ASU 2017-12 will have on the Company’s financial statements. |
| Earnings Per Share | Earnings per Share Basic earnings per share is computed by dividing net income by the weighted average number of shares of Common Stock outstanding during the respective period. The Company’s diluted earnings per common share give effect to all potential shares of Common Stock outstanding during a period that are not anti-dilutive. In computing the number of diluted shares outstanding, the treasury stock method is used in order to arrive at a net number of shares created upon the conversion of Common Stock equivalents. |
| Stock Based Compensation | Stock Based Compensation Share based payments that involve the issuance of Common Stock to employees, including grants of employee stock options and restricted stock, are recognized in the financial statements as compensation expense based upon the fair value on the date of grant. Share based payments that are satisfied only by the payment of cash, such as stock appreciation rights, are accounted for as liabilities. The liability is reported at market value of the vested portion of the underlying units. During each period, the change in the liability is recorded as compensation expense during periods when the liability increases or income during periods in which the liability decreases. The Company’s stock based compensation expense and related deferred tax benefit were $12,727 and $4,339, respectively, for the year ended December 31, 2017, $8,147 and $2,891, respectively, for the year ended December 31, 2016, and $12,316 and $3,787, respectively, for the year ended December 31, 2015. Share-Based Payment Awards In May, 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-09, “Compensation – Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Scope of Modification Accounting.” ASU 2017-09 clarifies which changes to the terms or conditions of a share-based payment award require an entity to apply modification accounting, in accordance with Topic 718. An entity should account for the effect of a modification unless all of the following are met:
1)
The fair value of the modified award is the same as the fair value of the original award immediately before the original award is modified. If the modification does not affect any of the inputs of the valuation technique that the entity uses to value the award, the entity is not required to estimate the value immediately before and after the modification.
2)
The vesting conditions of the modified award are the same as the vesting conditions of the original award immediately before the original award is modified.
3)
The classification of the modified award as an equity instrument or a liability instrument is the same as the classification of the original award immediately before the original award is modified. ASU 2017-09 is effective for annual and any interim periods beginning after December 15, 2017. Early adoption of the amendments in this update is permitted. The amendments in ASU 2017-09 should be applied on a prospective basis and in the initial period of adoption, entities must disclose the nature of and reason for the change in accounting principle. The Company has not historically made changes to the terms or conditions of shared-based payment awards and does not expect adoption of ASU 2017-09 to have a material impact the consolidated financial statements when it is adopted in the first quarter of 2018. Stock Compensation In March, 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-09, “Compensation – Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting.” ASU 2016-09 involves several aspects of the accounting for share-based payment transactions, including the income tax consequences, classification of awards as either equity or liabilities, and classification on the statement of cash flows. Under the new standard, income tax benefits and deficiencies are to be recognized as income tax expense or benefit in the income statement and the tax effects of exercised or vested awards should be treated as discrete items in the reporting period in which they occur. An entity should also recognize excess tax benefits regardless of whether the benefit reduces taxes payable in the current period. ASU 2016-09 requires excess tax benefits to be classified along with other income tax cash flows as an operating activity and clarifies that cash paid by an employer when directly withholding shares for tax-withholding purposes should be classified as a financing activity. ASU 2016-09 is effective for fiscal years and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2016. The Company adopted ASU 2016-09 the first quarter of 2017 and recognized a $1,496 adjustment to the beginning balance of retained earnings for previously unrecognized excess tax benefits on share-based payment awards. Amendments related to the presentation of employee taxes paid on the statements of cash flows when an employer withholds shares to meet the minimum statutory withholding requirement were applied retrospectively to all periods presented. Amendments requiring recognition of excess tax payments in the income statement and the classification of those excess tax benefits on the statement of cash flows were applied prospectively, beginning with the three month period ended March 31, 2017. Excess tax benefits on share-based payment awards in the statement of cash flows in prior years have not been adjusted. |
| Pension Plans | Pension Plans The Company’s obligations and expenses for its pension plans are dependent on the Company’s selection of discount rate, expected long-term rate of return on plan assets and other assumptions used by actuaries to calculate these amounts. |
| Subsequent Events | Subsequent Events We have evaluated subsequent events through the date that our consolidated financial statements are issued. No events have occurred that would require adjustment to or disclosure in the consolidated financial statements. |
| Statement of Cash Flows | Statement of Cash Flows In August, 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-15, “Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments.” ASU 2016-15 provides guidance on the classification of eight specific cash receipt and cash payment transactions in the statement of cash flows. The Company focused its evaluation on the following transactions to determine the effect ASU 2016-15 will have on the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows:
1)
Debt extinguishment payments and debt prepayments are to be shown as cash outflows for financing activities. Presently, Gentherm classifies debt extinguishment payments within operating activities.
2)
Payments made to settle contingent consideration liabilities not made soon after the acquisition date of a business combination should be recognized as cash outflows for financing activities up to the amount of the liability recognized at the acquisition date. Payments, or the portion of a payment, to settle contingent consideration liabilities that exceed the amount of the liability recognized at the acquisition date will be recognized as cash outflows for operating activities.
3)
Cash receipts from the settlement of insurance claims, excluding those related to corporate-owned life insurance policies shall be classified on the basis of the related insurance coverage. For example, proceeds received to cover claims issued under product recall liability insurance would be classified as cash inflows from operating activities. Note 15 — New Accounting Pronouncements (Continued)
4)
Cash receipts from the settlement of corporate-owned life insurance policies shall be classified as cash inflows from investing activities. For public companies, ASU 2016-15 is effective for fiscal years and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2017 and must be applied retrospectively to all periods presented. Early adoption of the amendments in this update is permitted. None of the cash receipt and cash payment transactions, including those that were not the focus of management’s evaluation, addressed by the update are transactions that are typical or customary to Gentherm business. According, management does not expect the amendments in this update have a material impact to the Company. Gentherm will adopt the amendments in ASU 2016-15 during the three-month period ending March 31, 2018. |
| Leases | Leases In February, 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, “Leases (Topic 842).” ASU 2016-02 requires lessees to recognize on their balance sheet a liability to make lease payments and a right-of-use asset representing its right to use the underlying asset for the lease term. Payments to be made in optional periods should be included in the measurement of lease assets and liabilities if the lessee is reasonably certain it will exercise an option to extend the lease or not exercise an option to terminate the lease. While ASU 2016-02 continues to differentiate between finance or capital leases and operating leases, the principal change from current lease accounting guidance is that lease assets and liabilities arising from operating leases should be recognized on the balance sheet. ASU 2016-02 is effective for fiscal years and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2018. Early adoption of the amendments in this update are permitted. Lessees are required to recognize and measure leases at the beginning of the earliest period presented using a modified retrospective approach which includes a number of practical expedients, including the ability to use hindsight in evaluating lessee options to extend or terminate a lease. An entity that elects to apply the practical expedients will be required to recognize a right-of-use asset and lease liability for all operating leases at each reporting date based on the present value of the remaining minimum rental payment that were tracked and disclosed under previous GAAP. We are currently in the process of determining the impact the implementation of ASU 2016-02 will have on the Company’s financial statements. |
| Revenue from Contracts with Customers | Revenue from Contracts with Customers. In May, 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued ASU 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers.” ASU 2014-09 was developed to enable financial statement users to better understand the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from contracts with customers. The update’s core principle is that an entity should recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. Companies are to use a five-step contract review model to ensure revenue gets recognized, measured and disclosed in accordance with this principle. The FASB issued several amendments to the new standard, including a one-year deferral of the original effective date, and new methods for identifying performance obligation aimed at reducing the cost and complexity or compliance. This update permits two methods of adoption: retrospectively to each prior reporting period presented (full retrospective method), or retrospectively with the cumulative effect of initially applying the guidance recognized at the date of initial application (the cumulative catch-up transition method). We have chosen to use the cumulative catch-up transition method. Gentherm is substantially complete in performing the five-step contract review process for all existing contracts with customers, across all business units. While we continue to assess all potential impacts from the update, we currently believe the most significant impact relates to our accounting for options that give customers the right to purchase additional goods under long-term supply agreements in the future. Due to the complexity of certain of our automotive supply contracts, the actual revenue recognition treatment for customer purchase options will depend on contract-specific terms and could vary from other contracts that are similar in nature. An unfavorable adjustment will be recorded directly to retained earnings during the three month period ending March 31, 2018. Our current estimate for the adjustment approximates $3,600. We are not aware of any impacts to revenue from contracts with customers at Etratech as a result of our assessment of potential impacts from the update. |
