The world's largest maker of automotive airbags and seatbelts saw its stock surge as demand for its products rose in sync with a rebound in global car production. Autoliv emerged from 2010 with what CEO Jan Carlson called the "strongest balance sheet we've ever had."
Flush with capital, the company bought parts of Delphi's automotive safety business in Korea and China. Carlson is looking to do more acquisitions in the year ahead, particularly in Japan.
The company is particularly bullish on its growth prospects in Brazil, which will require that all cars sold from 2014 onward be equipped with front airbags. Autoliv currently has a 40% to 45% share in the Brazilian market and in November it announced it had begun construction of an airbag inflator factory near Sao Paulo.
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