Continental opens second Novi Sad plant, Vucic at ceremony: "That's my Jerry, and he calls me wild Serb"

A Continental Automotive Serbia plant opened today in Kac, near Novi Sad, its second, which will be one of the largest Continental factories in the world, and President Aleksandar Vucic said that it is very important for the Serbian economy, as and that Continental plans to invest an additional 150 million euros and create another 1,500 jobs.

Continental has invested around 140 million euros in its "mega" factory, with an area of 30,000 square meters of production, office and warehouse space. Vucic toured the new factory and the director told him that Continental plans to invest another 150 million euros and create 1,500 additional jobs in the next four years.

As the company's representatives said during the tour of the plant, they came here "not for cheap labor, but for brains."

"79,000 workers are now employed in German factories in Serbia, and the number of German companies has increased to 124," said Vucic and added that Germany is our top foreign trade partner.

Continental will reach the figure of three billion exports, it will be the largest exporter in two years, and we are working on opening a factory in Nis as well, he said.

As Vucic joked, the owner of the company and he exchange compliments: "That's my Jerry (he used the Serbian nickname for Germans, "Svaba") and he tells me, 'that's my wild Serb."

"In 2025, exports will reach as much as three billion. The greatest success for Serbia," said Vucic.

"Continental is one of the two largest factories for parts. And without them, none of this would have worked. We had people from the German government, and companies. We showed ourselves to be efficient and fulfilled everything on time. They come here to stay, I hope, forever".

During the tour, Vucic wished the workers happy work and asked if they were satisfied with their salaries, to which the answer was positive.

Head of the Vojvodina provincial government Igor Mirovic and Defense Minister Milos Vucevic attended the opening of the factory.

German Continental was founded in 1871

Work on the construction of the factory in Kac began in June 2021. The company stressed that it focuses above all on innovation and the production of top technological solutions for displays. Production has already started in the "mega" factory in Kac, and serial production is planned for the middle of this year.

As early as 2024, it is planned to produce and export more than one million solutions for displays and digital dashboards and deliver them to premium automotive manufacturers around the world. Continental currently employs around 1,300 people in Novi Sad, mostly highly qualified - software, system testing, mechanical, electrical and industrial engineers.

In March 2021, the company opened its first production facility in the Novi Sad Sever 4 Industrial Zone, where advanced and complex electronic systems for vehicle management are produced.

Continental Automotive Serbia has been operating in Novi Sad for about five years, when it first established a research and development center.

German company itself was established in 1871, operates in around 60 countries and employs around 250,000 people. It manufactures braking systems, electronics, safety equipment, engine and chassis parts, tachographs, tires and other parts for automotive and transportation industries.

(Telegraf Biznis)