WITTE Automotive expands its global presence: Yesterday in the bright sunshine, the foundation stone of a new WITTE Automotive plant was laid down in Ruse.
President Rosen Plevneliev of Bulgaria was personally present at the official ceremony together with Mr. Edvard Rückert, general manager of WITTE Automotive GmbH, and Mr. Tomas Jindra, general manager of WITTE Automotive Bulgaria EOOD.
In his speech President Plevneliev expressed his joy about the WITTE decision to build a new facility in Bulgaria. At the same time he pledged his full support to the company. “Now we are able to start with the implementation of our building project in Ruse”, confirmed Mr. Jindra delighted.
Since May 2010 WITTE Automotive has been residing in a rented industrial building in Ruse. The production started with three machines and six employees. Only a year later, 51 employees were working in the plant. The company doubled the number in May 2012 and was able to welcome its 100th employee. At the same time, the production was increasing with many new products and the turnover of more than 100 million EUR. In accordance with the global growth strategy of the WITTE group, the doubled turnover and the increase in the staff up to 250 people are expected.
“Thanks to the positive results achieved at the first stage of development of the company in Bulgaria, we decided to specify plans and to expand the operations in Ruse by building our own, larger assembly plant,” Edvard Rückert explains the decision of the WITTE Automotive group management. Anticipating this aim, the company bought land in the eastern industrial zone of Ruse at the beginning of 2013 – approx. 100,000 square meters. The new building designed in a modern architectural concept will enrich the Industrial Park of Ruse. The first construction stage shall include an administrative and production building with the total built-up area of approx. 15,000 square meters as well as logistics infrastructure. Construction works should be completed in the middle of 2014 and the urgently needed additional space will be hereby provided for the planned growth of the WITTE group.
By the end of 2015 the total investment of 10 million EUR is estimated. “This step is important for the entire WITTE Group and for our other European plants, too. Herewith we shall increase our competitiveness and ensure a direct contact with our customers in South-Eastern Europe,” continues to explain Mr. Edvard Rückert. Besides the production WITTE Automotive Bulgaria shall act as a development and design plant.