German automotive parts manufacturer Brose has completed the negotiations with the representatives of Arad City Hall, regarding the acquisition of over 50 hectares of land in South Industrial Zone (Zona Industriala Sud), an investment put at some 40 million euros. Brose will bring to Arad part of its suppliers, with one of the names mentioned in this regard being Webasto company. Thus, the total investment will amount to some 50 million euros.
"At the moment, all the negotiations up to us have been completed. Brose will now discuss the contracts for electricity and gas and, as soon as the negotiations are completed, the works will begin. The project should be developed over a two-year period," Valer Marginean, the Arad City Hall's spokesman told ZF Transilvania. According to him, Brose's investment should ensure at least 1,000 new jobs.
Before starting the negotiations with the Arad City Hall, Brose had expressed its interest in the Cluj area, as well, but it gave up due to the difficulties it faced in finding a suitable plot of land. The German company's project will be developed in the South Industrial Zone and will turn Brose into the largest investor in the area, according to the City Hall's officials. Brose is one of the world's major producers of automotive door, window and seat systems, with a client portfolio including Audi, BMW, Chrysler, Citr?en, Fiat, Ford, GM, Jaguar etc. Besides Germany, the company also holds production facilities in North America, Belgium, France, the UK, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Italy, Portugal, Turkey, as well as in Asia. The company numbers approximately 8,600 employees and last year derived turnover worth 2 billion euros. Webasto AG is one of the worldwide producers of automotive heaters, air conditioners and sunroofs. The German group posted in 2005 sales amounting to some 1.4 billion euros and esti