The Romanian branch of the Continental group, one of the largest German investors in the automotive parts industry, will hire 500 people within the next few months and plans to hire a further 1,000 by the end of 2008.
"The Romanian divisions of Continental AG are expanding. Which is why around 500 staff will be hired for our plants in Timisoara, Sibiu, Carei and Arad," said Ildiko Kovacs, PR coordinator of Continental Romania.
The company plans to recruit a further 1,000 individuals next year. Under the circumstances, Continental, which currently has 3,500 employees, will reach 5,000 employees on the domestic market, within a year and a half.
The industry of automotive components and accessories is one of the largest private employers on the market, with over 50,000 staff.
The largest employer on the automotive market is Draxlmaier, which registered 150 million-euro business in 2006, and has approximately 18,500 staff working in its five Romanian plants.
Delphi Packard holds the second position, with over 9,000 employees in its two plants in Sannicolau Mare and Ineu, and recently announced a 100 million-euro investment for its third plant in Iasi, which will employ a further 1,000 people.
The Romanian Agency for Foreign Investment has put the total value of foreign investments in the Romanian automotive industry, for the remaining months of 2007, at over one billion euros, with the immediate effect being the creation of approximately 8,000 new jobs.
Continental has six plants in Romania - two in Timisoara, two in Sibiu, one in Carei and one Arad. The German-based firm also has an engineering centre in Sibiu, a joint-venture with Pirelli in Slatina, where it manufactures metallic cord, and an Eastern European tyre distribution centre in Sacalaz, Timis county.
Most of the recruited individuals will be employed in the
