In 2014 German Continental in Subotica tripled business scope and headcount

Automotive components plant, ContiTech Fluid Serbia, one of the divisions of German concern, Continental AG, tripled the business scope as well as headcount compared to the same period last year.

As the company which operates in Subotica-based Mali Bajmok business zone said for Tanjug, this year they have tripled the headcount number, plant turnover as well as the customers’ number at the world’s automotive market.

The company currently employs 600 people which is three times more compared to last year and double than planned headcount when the investment started.

- Work is not difficult. Absolutely nothing, neither the components which have to be carried nor the work are difficult. Working conditions in the plant are more than favorable - both heating and air-conditioning, everything runs smoothly. In case of overtime work, everything is paid so I think people do not have a single reason to be dissatisfied- Damir Letovic, Production Line Supervisor who has been with the company since October 2012 said for Tanjug.

The Plant Manager, Zivko Topalovic, said the end of the year will see company’s turnover totaling some EUR 30 m which is the tripled figure compared to last year. Apart from that, headcount number has tripled to 600 as well as the number of customers to whom they deliver as the original equipment manufacturer of components on daily basis.

- The biggest plant’s achievement is the ability to work and supply the biggest players in European as well as in the world automotive industry. As the biggest success of the plant located in Subotica, in Serbia, I personally see the fact that we proved we can play that kind of the match with such strong players. – Topalovic said for Tanjug.

Thus, according to him, components produced in Subotica are assembled at vehicles of Volkswagen Group. Apart from this producer, they also supply Porsche, Audi and Seat, as well as vehicles of Daimler Group and BMW.

According to Topalovic, further plant expansion depends on the ability to comply with customers’ requests and needs.

- All indicators in numbers coming from a number of audits where we are in direct contact with our customers, favor the direction that we will expand our capacities here – Topalovic said.

He mentions they have already expanded production portfolio to components for European truck industry, at rented hall also in Mali Bajmok, so the end of this and start of the next year will see period of profitability calculations of the second and potentially third stage of their investment in Subotica.