Mahle Romania expects 18m-euro turnover in 2009

Mahle Romania, Romanian branch of German automotive components manufacturer Mahle, expects a 110% turnover growth rate next year, to 18 million euros, on the strength of orders from new clients, and in the wake of a new production line. “The new projects in 2009 have to do with clients such as Renault, PSA, Fiat and Volkswagen. The bulk of production will go to these clients. We will also have new manufacturing processes. 20% of the new processes will be transferred from Brazil and Austria, but the rest are greenfield projects,” said Catalin Tischer, general manager of Mahle Componente de Motor. The turnover estimated by the company for 2008 is 8.5 million euros, up 136% against the 3.6 million euros recorded in 2007. The company has invested 2 million euros this year in the construction of new production facilities and in the acquisition of new equipment, with the budget forecast to reach 5 million euros in the next two years.