Car component manufacturer Visteon Corporation plans to invest SKK 1 billion (EUR 33.19 million) in Slovakia by 2010. The company has two production divisions in Slovakia; the plant in Ilava makes automotive air conditioning systems while the factory in Nitra focuses on car interiors. Visteon has invested SKK 1.6 billion (EUR 53.11 million) in Slovakia until now. It also intends to raise the number of staff, while it currently employs 413 people in Ilava and 212 in Nitra. Next year, the number of employees in Ilava is to grow to 600 and to 253 in Nitra, according to Darius Bosjak of Economy Ministry PR department.
Originally, Visteon Corporation served as the car component maker for Ford Motor Company. It now plans to start manufacturing components for Opel Insignia and for the new Peugeot in October, which is to be produced in the car factory in Trnava. The company's management wants also to be a supplier for the Hyundai car plant in Nosovice in the Czech Republic next year. It is interested in construction of a research and development center in Nitra. Slovakia's Economy Minister Lubomir Jahnatek announced during his visit to the company that this is an example of connecting foreign capital and local research and development potential.
Visteon is the fourth largest supplier of car components worldwide. It operates in 26 countries. Its European Corporate Office and Innovation Center is based in Kerpen, Germany.