“They were here [in Arad], conducted an audit, and left for Cugir, where they are already making gearboxes for A-Klasse,” said on Saturday Manfred Engelmann, quoted by the Romanian public radio station. He said that in Arad Daimler wants to manufacture “auto parts for engines”.
Last week ZF wrote that Daimler could open an auto parts plant in Romania, citing market sources.
On Friday and Saturday the German-Romanian economic forum was held in Arad, with participants including representatives of the German-Romanian economic association, as well as officials of the Daimler group.
Romanian Prime Minister Victor Ponta said at the end of last month he had approved a “memorandum of understanding” with “one of the largest and most prestigious companies in Germany, which will open a plant in Romania,” without giving the investor’s name.
Although investor names such as that of ball bearings manufacturer Ina Schaeffler were thrown around on the market, sources close to the project said Daimler was interested in investing in Romania.
“German economic clubs expect new investments in the western part of Romania. Information according to which a major producer in the German auto industry is set to invest in Romania is not pure speculation, it is based on economic realities,” Manfred Engelmann said in a release issued on Thursday by the German-Romanian Economic Association.
Daimler currently controls two plants in Romania through Star Transmission Cugir, in the towns of Cugir and Sebes. The German company holds 75% in Star Transmission Cugir.
(English version by Daniela Stoican)