According to the Automobile Industry Association (ZAP), around 40,000 new jobs should be created in this sector over the next three-four years. The Association also predicts that by 2012, Slovakia should be manufacturing over 840,000 vehicles per year, a figure that in proportion to the country’s population (5.4 million) is the highest in the world.
According to Volkswagen Slovakia‘s board member for personnel matters Jaroslav Holecek, the strong position of the car industry in the Slovak economy is likely to continue in the years ahead. “Foreign companies in Slovakia haven’t come here to invest for a year or two. Volkswagen has been running its plant in Slovakia for 17 years now, and is further expanding its activities.”
VW Slovakia’s plant in Bratislava plans to become VW’s number one facility worldwide. The Bratislava plant rolled out 240,000 vehicles in 2006, while according to a preliminary estimate, production rose to 250,000 in 2007.
South-Korean Kia Motors, another car manufacturer operating in Slovakia, began a trial production run at its facility in Teplicka nad Vahom near Zilina in June 2006. The production capacity of the 166-hectare facility is now 300,000 cars per year.
PSA Peugeot-Citroen Slovakia views the almost two-year period since it began production at its plant in Trnava as highly positive. Serial production at the facility was launched in June 2006, with the company’s strategic investment in Slovakia amounting to €700 million. (tasr)
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