Bosch opens EUR 70 million plant in Cluj

Germany’s Bosch opened its second automotive technology manufacturing plant in Romania Friday, in Jucu, Cluj county, following an investment of over EUR77 million.

“Continuing to expand production in Eastern Europe is vital to increasing our company’s competitiveness. We expect that electrical cars will become more popular and by 2020 their presence to increase by 20 percent. We also want to increase road safety and currently have several projects in development for improving protection for people on the road”, Dirk Hoheisel, board chief, commented at the inaugural press conference.

The board chief added that Bosch is not “the kind of company that comes in and leaves after 2-3 years”

“We came to get involved in the short term but also in the long term. We are investing in research, the ones working for us needn’t concerned that they will see a repeat of what happened a few meters down the road (referring to Nokia – a.n.). This is a long term commitment”.

Bosch initially invested EUR 77 million in Cluj. The new research and development center occupies a total area of some 38,000 sqm. By the end of the year, 750 people will work here, but so far the plant has just 325 employees.

The plant is part of Bosch’s auto-electronics division, which globally is made up of 13 production units with 24,000 employees.

“Selecting Romania is further proof that the country is maintaining its competitiveness for investor. We have ambitious plans for the plant in Cluj. In the new Jucu unit we will produce auto components for the European industry, which will be used in driving systems and security systems, as well as equipment to reduce gas consumption. In Jucu we will also create the heart of the eBike propulsion system for electrical bicycles. Bosch has just enrolled Romania in the school of big industrial producers”, Boldijar said.

Konrad Kashek, general director for the Bosh Jucu factory, noted that the company is waiting on Romanian authorities to fix certain infrastructure issues.

“Romania has several issues with infrastructure, it’s a problem that can’t be hidden and we also are struggling with quality on account of transport and we want a direct connection with highways in Hungary. We are convinced that if we were to stay in Romania, this will become mandatory”, Kashek underlined.