 |
UNITED KINGDOM
New
|
- France attracts strategic truck/automotive investment
London - 12/12/07,
France attracts strategic truck/automotive investment
12 December 2007 – The world’s leading truck manufacturing and automotive supply companies are continuing to make big investments in France in order to take advantage of its vast network of specialised research centres and gain access to key partners and clients already in the area.
“France’s central location and its known automotive expertise – French companies PSA Peugeot Citroën and Renault are world leaders in the industry – are important draws for international investors,” says Philippe Favre, President of the Invest in France Agency.
The industry’s key international players are gathering in France to exchange cutting-edge strategies and technical information at the Truck and Bus World Forum, which is taking place in Lyons, France’s second-largest city, from 12 to 14 December 2007. Invest in France is present to highlight the nation’s attractiveness and the strengths of its automotive sector.
A major investment of €57 million is being made into Renault Trucks, which runs the Swedish Volvo Group’s truck-cab production facility in Calvados (in north-western France). Spread over three years, the investment will help increase cab production capacity and allow Renault Trucks to switch over to environmentally friendly water-based paints. The changes at the plant are expected to be completed by 2009.
Another industry giant, General Motors of the United States, is also expanding its business in France by leasing a new 27,400m2 distribution centre in Paris to enhance the logistics process of its Opel spare-parts operations.
Two top German automotive parts manufacturing companies have also chosen France: Reichhart Logistik set up in the north of France at the start of 2007, where it is investing €2 million to assemble and weld exhaust lines, and Pierburg – a subsidiary of Kolbenschmidt Pierburg AG – is investing nearly €6 million to start new water-pump production lines in its factory in Moselle (in eastern France).
France is also drawing international investors with its expertise in diesel engines, electric vehicles, automotive electronics, materials and surface coatings. Many innovative project partnerships involving non-French companies are being launched within the nation’s dedicated competitive clusters, including Mov’eo (the international cluster for automobiles, public transport and road safety), Véhicules du futur (vehicles of the future), Automobile de haute gamme (luxury vehicles and on-board systems), Lyon Urban Truck & Bus 2015 (urban transport), Mobilité et transports avancés (mobility and advanced transport) and Viameca (automotive mechanics).
About Invest in France
Invest in France Agency (IFA) promotes and facilitates international investment in France. The IFA network operates worldwide, with offices in France, as well as in North America, Asia and Europe.
For more information, please go to: www.investinfrance.org
For further information about this press release, please contact: martin.hedges@investinfrance.org
12 December 2007 – The world’s leading truck manufacturing and automotive supply companies are continuing to make big investments in France in order to take advantage of its vast network of specialised research centres and gain access to key partners and clients already in the area.
“France’s central location and its known automotive expertise – French companies PSA Peugeot Citroën and Renault are world leaders in the industry – are important draws for international investors,” says Philippe Favre, President of the Invest in France Agency.
The industry’s key international players are gathering in France to exchange cutting-edge strategies and technical information at the Truck and Bus World Forum, which is taking place in Lyons, France’s second-largest city, from 12 to 14 December 2007. Invest in France is present to highlight the nation’s attractiveness and the strengths of its automotive sector.
A major investment of €57 million is being made into Renault Trucks, which runs the Swedish Volvo Group’s truck-cab production facility in Calvados (in north-western France). Spread over three years, the investment will help increase cab production capacity and allow Renault Trucks to switch over to environmentally friendly water-based paints. The changes at the plant are expected to be completed by 2009.
Another industry giant, General Motors of the United States, is also expanding its business in France by leasing a new 27,400m2 distribution centre in Paris to enhance the logistics process of its Opel spare-parts operations.
Two top German automotive parts manufacturing companies have also chosen France: Reichhart Logistik set up in the north of France at the start of 2007, where it is investing €2 million to assemble and weld exhaust lines, and Pierburg – a subsidiary of Kolbenschmidt Pierburg AG – is investing nearly €6 million to start new water-pump production lines in its factory in Moselle (in eastern France).
France is also drawing international investors with its expertise in diesel engines, electric vehicles, automotive electronics, materials and surface coatings. Many innovative project partnerships involving non-French companies are being launched within the nation’s dedicated competitive clusters, including Mov’eo (the international cluster for automobiles, public transport and road safety), Véhicules du futur (vehicles of the future), Automobile de haute gamme (luxury vehicles and on-board systems), Lyon Urban Truck & Bus 2015 (urban transport), Mobilité et transports avancés (mobility and advanced transport) and Viameca (automotive mechanics).
About Invest in France Invest in France Agency (IFA) promotes and facilitates international investment in France. The IFA network operates worldwide, with offices in France, as well as in North America, Asia and Europe.
For more information, please go to: www.investinfrance.org
For further information about this press release, please contact: martin.hedges@investinfrance.org
FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Kate AMBLER – Press Officer
French Technology Press Bureau (FTPB)
21, Grosvenor Place
London, SW1X 7TB (United Kingdom)
Telephone: 020-7235-5330