The Company	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Disclosure Company Additional Information [Abstract]
The Company	Note 1 — The Company Gentherm Incorporated is a global technology and industry leader in the design, development, and manufacturing of innovative thermal management technologies. Unless the context otherwise requires, the terms “Company”, “we”, “us” and “our” used herein refer to Gentherm Incorporated and its consolidated subsidiaries. Our products can be found on the vehicles of nearly all major automotive manufacturers, spanning all major automotive markets. We operate in locations aligned with our major customers’ product strategies in order to provide locally enhanced design, integration and production capabilities and to identify future thermal technology product opportunities in both automotive and other markets. We concentrate our research on the development of new technologies that will improve overall product effectiveness and customer satisfaction. We also focus on developing new design applications from our existing technologies to create new products and market opportunities for thermal comfort solutions. Buyout of Joint Venture Partner In February, 2014, we acquired all of the previously unowned shares in our North American electronics manufacturing joint venture which had previously been accounted for under the equity method. The purchase was accounted for using the acquisition method and resulted in a gain of $785. Gentherm Global Power Technologies In April, 2014, we acquired all of the stock of privately-held Global Thermoelectric Inc., now known as Gentherm Global Power Technologies (“GPT”), in an all-cash transaction. GPT is the global market leader and developer of thermoelectric generators. GPT’s operations are located in Alberta, Canada. See Note 3 for additional information regarding the acquisition of GPT. The Company has two reportable segments for financial reporting purposes: Automotive and Industrial. Automotive The Automotive reporting segment represents the aggregated results from Gentherm’s three geographic operating segments: North America, Europe and Asia. Results from our automotive seat comfort systems, specialized automotive cable systems and other automotive and non-automotive thermal convenience products are reported in the automotive segment. Automotive seat comfort systems include seat heaters, variable temperature climate control seats (“CCS”) designed to provide individualized thermal comfort to automobile passengers, and integrated electronic components, such as blowers and electronic control units. Specialized automotive cable system products include ready-made wire harnesses and related wiring products. Thermal convenience products, such as the automotive steering wheel heater, heated and cooled cup holder and heated and cooled storage bin, are reported within the automotive segment because revenues from such products individually are not currently significant to our business. Our customers include light vehicle OEMs, commercial vehicle OEMs, and Tier 1 suppliers to the automotive OEMs, including automotive seat manufacturers. Non-automotive thermal convenience product customers include companies in the telecommunications, information technology, furniture and medical equipment industries. Industrial The Industrial reporting segment represents the combined results from GPT and Gentherm’s advanced research and product development division. The advanced research and product development division is engaged in projects to improve the efficiency of thermal management technologies and to develop, market, and distribute products based on these new technologies. The operating results of GPT and the advanced research and development division are presented together as one reporting segment due to the complementary set of technologies and high concentration of thermoelectric technologies being researched. See Item 1: Business section of this report for a description of significant research and development activities. See Note 11 for information regarding segment revenues, including geographic composition, and operating income from external customers.

Note 1 — The Company

Gentherm Incorporated is a global technology and industry leader in the design, development, and manufacturing of innovative thermal management technologies. Unless the context otherwise requires, the terms “Company”, “we”, “us” and “our” used herein refer to Gentherm Incorporated and its consolidated subsidiaries. Our products can be found on the vehicles of nearly all major automotive manufacturers, spanning all major automotive markets. We operate in locations aligned with our major customers’ product strategies in order to provide locally enhanced design, integration and production capabilities and to identify future thermal technology product opportunities in both automotive and other markets. We concentrate our research on the development of new technologies that will improve overall product effectiveness and customer satisfaction. We also focus on developing new design applications from our existing technologies to create new products and market opportunities for thermal comfort solutions.

Buyout of Joint Venture Partner

In February, 2014, we acquired all of the previously unowned shares in our North American electronics manufacturing joint venture which had previously been accounted for under the equity method. The purchase was accounted for using the acquisition method and resulted in a gain of $785.

Gentherm Global Power Technologies

In April, 2014, we acquired all of the stock of privately-held Global Thermoelectric Inc., now known as Gentherm Global Power Technologies (“GPT”), in an all-cash transaction. GPT is the global market leader and developer of thermoelectric generators. GPT’s operations are located in Alberta, Canada. See Note 3 for additional information regarding the acquisition of GPT.

The Company has two reportable segments for financial reporting purposes: Automotive and Industrial.

Automotive

The Automotive reporting segment represents the aggregated results from Gentherm’s three geographic operating segments: North America, Europe and Asia. Results from our automotive seat comfort systems, specialized automotive cable systems and other automotive and non-automotive thermal convenience products are reported in the automotive segment.

Automotive seat comfort systems include seat heaters, variable temperature climate control seats (“CCS”) designed to provide individualized thermal comfort to automobile passengers, and integrated electronic components, such as blowers and electronic control units. Specialized automotive cable system products include ready-made wire harnesses and related wiring products. Thermal convenience products, such as the automotive steering wheel heater, heated and cooled cup holder and heated and cooled storage bin, are reported within the automotive segment because revenues from such products individually are not currently significant to our business.

Our customers include light vehicle OEMs, commercial vehicle OEMs, and Tier 1 suppliers to the automotive OEMs, including automotive seat manufacturers. Non-automotive thermal convenience product customers include companies in the telecommunications, information technology, furniture and medical equipment industries.

Industrial

The Industrial reporting segment represents the combined results from GPT and Gentherm’s advanced research and product development division. The advanced research and product development division is engaged in projects to improve the efficiency of thermal management technologies and to develop, market, and distribute products based on these new technologies. The operating results of GPT and the advanced research and development division are presented together as one reporting segment due to the complementary set of technologies and high concentration of thermoelectric technologies being researched. See Item 1: Business section of this report for a description of significant research and development activities.

See Note 11 for information regarding segment revenues, including geographic composition, and operating income from external customers.