Detroit based Gentherm, the global market leader and developer of innovative thermal management technologies, has opened a new production site in Prilep, Macedonia. Buck Consultants International assisted Gentherm’s European management with the site selection process: from a blank sheet covering Europe and Africa, to the exact location in the Technological Industrial Development Zone Prilep.

Gentherm, an $ 850 mln dollar company, employs over 10,000 employees in facilities all over the world. Growing sales for customers such as Ferrari, Bentley, Renault, BMW, Porsche, Daimler, VW supported the importance for the company to continue to grow its global footprint. “The availability of educated workforce and excellent investment opportunities were the main reasons why we chose Macedonia”, says Jörg Evers, Vice President Automotive Europe at Gentherm. He noted that in the final selection new sites in Romania, Bulgaria, Serbia, Morocco, Macedonia and Hungary were considered. “The reason for the decision to invest in Macedonia were the qualifications of the people our project team interviewed and the professionalism of the representatives of the Government of Macedonia”. The Macedonia location now employs nearly 400 employees, a number which is expected to grow to 2,000 people.

(Former) Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski and Mayor of Prilep Marjan Ristevski are enthusiastic about Gentherms’ investment. “We believe that other investors will follow the example of Gentherm. When seeking access to the European market, good infrastructure, good business conditions, quality of the human resources and a government as a willing partner, the choice will fall to Macedonia”.

Source: a.o. Kurir

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