The main goal of the association is to support the automotive companies in Bulgaria and to encourage the further setting-up of automobile production in the country.
The „Automotive Cluster Bulgaria“ aspires to a drastic and long-term change of the current situation in the automotive sector in Bulgaria. Automotive manufacturers, producers of special vehicles and leading international suppliers should be won over to the Bulgarian market. The location advantages of Bulgaria should be demonstrated compared to the other Eastern European countries, the Middle East and North Africa. The main goal is to set-up a sustainable automotive manufacturing in Bulgaria. The association will support companies in the automotive sector which operate on the Bulgarian market. The interests of the cluster members will be brought together in order to improve their position on the Bulgarian and international markets. The development of science, technology and innovation in this sector will be promoted. The projects will be organized and implemented more efficiently in order to enhance the competitiveness of the members.
On July 10th 2012 the “Automotive Cluster Bulgaria” was founded.
Mr. Dеlian Dobrev, Minister of Economy, Energy and Tourism, highlighted the significance of the objectives and activities of the Automotive Cluster Bulgaria during his designation to the founders on July 10th 2012 In Sofia. The founders employ about 5.000 qualified staffs in Bulgaria. It is expected that other leading companies will join the cluster.
Dr. Till W. Truckenmüller, Director of the consulting company IMACOS Group and Truckenmüller & Company GmbH: „ The government and the administration have already supported the initiative in the beginning stage. “
Board members:
1. Frederic FloryGrammer AG
2. ixetic GmbH
3. Lyubomir StanislavovS Media Team
4. Jutta SchiffersJohnson Controls Electronics Bulgaria EOOD
5. Till TruckenmüllerIMACOS Group, Truckenmüller & Company
Founders of the “Automotive Cluster Bulgaria”:
1. Grammer AD
An international company specialized in the development and manufacturing of interior components and seats for cars, trucks, buses and trains. The company is represented worldwide by more than 30 manufacturing and sales locations in 18 countries. This includes the plant in Trudovets, Botevgrad, with a staff of more than 750 employees.
2. Würth Elektronik IBE BG EOOD
With its 16 production units located around the world, Würth Elektronik is one of the most successful companies of the Würth Group. Würth Elektronik is specialized in the manufacturing of electromechanical and passive components. The factory in Bulgaria is located in Belozem, near Plovdiv, and has more than 250 employees, steadily growing.
3. Ixetic Plovdiv EOOD
Manufacturer of components for vacuum pumps – rotor parts, hydraulic pumps for power steering and vacuum pumps for brake systems. The company is a subsidiary of Ixetic GmbH, Bad Homburg, Germany, which owns two production plants in the Frankfurt am Main and Cologne region, and also owning sales and service points in Japan, the USA, China and India. The plant in Bulgaria is located in ‘Rakovski’ industrial zone near Plovdiv. More than 400 employees are budgeted.
4. Johnson Controls Electronics Bulgaria EOOD
The company, which employs 600 staffs in Sofia, is specialized in the field of automotive electronics. The Bulgarian subsidiary of Johnson Controls is one of the nine technology centers of the company in the world, with entities located in Germany, France, the USA, Japan and Slovakia. Globally, the company is one of the leading automotive suppliers with more than 250 enterprises in more than 30 countries. Among its largest customers are BMW, Ford, Renault, GM, Opel, Volkswagen.
5. Industrial Commerce Ltd.
Exclusive dealer of Hyundai Motor Company in Bulgaria with a market share of about 7%. In the high end segment the company deals with the brand Infiniti.
6. S Media Team
The leading media group in the automotive field in Bulgaria, publisher of: AUTO BILD Bulgaria (Axel Springer), BBC TopGear Bulgaria, Motor Show and the automotive web agency Speed-Press, as well as of BBC GoodFood Bulgaria, BBC Knowledge Bulgaria, F1 Racing Bulgaria, HELLO Bulgaria, Yachting&Lifestyle, Prime_Time.
7. Leschke Design
The company act in the field of automobile design, development of prototypes driven by classic drives and electric drives. The owner of the company, Prof, Harald Leschke, worked many years as a top-manager of the “Advanced Design / Corporate Design” department at Daimler AG.
8. Truckenmüller & Company Bulgaria EOOD
A company of the 1998 founded IMACOS Group with headquarter in Stuttgart. The Group focuses on turnaround and interim management in the automotive industry. The company has more than 20 years of experience.
At the end of 2010 the company opened an office in Bulgaria – today 5 professionals support the Bulgarian and international clients. Main activities: streamlining administrative and production processes; holistic support to set-up plants, development sites or sales offices (e.g. evaluation of locations, negotiations with the administration or about subsidies, recruiting staff and management, providing the project manager or interim managers); exclusive trade partner for Bulgarian enterprises.