By Richard Higgs, Plastics News correspondent
Nanterre, France - Automotive supplier Faurecia is planning to invest around Euro 11.5 million ($156 million) to expand production of plastic car parts at its plant in Hlohovec, Slovakia.
Already, the Slovakian subsidiary has separate production units in Hlohovec turning out a range of vehicle interior systems and exterior parts, including bumpers.
The latest Faurecia Automotive Slovakia project includes the construction of a new parts assembly hall, administrative building and storage space for paint and other flammable liquids, according to local press reports.
The extension will allow increased output of dashboard and door panels and centre consoles. The enlarged facility will eventually be capable of producing up to 631 000 dashboard panels and 1.44 million door panels annually, the reports say.
Faurecia's expansion plan, which was submitted to the Slovakian authorities for environmental impact assessment, is scheduled to begin taking shape this year and be completed in 2011. It will mean the creation of 400 new jobs.
Faurecia is responding to growing demand and aims to satisfy the needs of a number of vehicle projects planned by car manufacturers in Slovakia. The French firm is already due to provide Volkswagen Slovakia with components for the Audi T7 and is well placed also to supply the German group's 'new small family' model.
In addition, the supplier is hopeful of winning new business from PSA Peugeot Citroen for its Peugeot 207 project expected to take off in Trnava, Slovakia next year.
The Nanterre-based group, which has other Slovakian plants in Trnava, Kosice and Bratislava, also makes vehicle seating at several national plants.
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