The book-to-bill ratio was 1.1. The sector's order backlog as of September 30, 2017 was €6,732 million, and therefore still at a high level. Outlook Sales growth in both sectors Rheinmetall Group expects to continue its growth course in fiscal 2017. In view of the Automotive sector's positive business performance in the first three quarters, the Group is underscoring its growth forecast for this sector and the Group. Based on current expert forecasts regarding trends in global automotive production, which currently anticipate an increase in production of 1.9% this year, Rheinmetall expects to achieve sales growth at the upper end of the forecast range of between 6% and 7% in the Automotive sector. For fiscal 2017 Rheinmetall is forecasting sales growth in the Defence sector at the lower end of the projected range of 5% to 6%. After sales of €5.6 billion in 2016, Rheinmetall still anticipates organic growth of around 6% for the current fiscal year.