The share of the automotive sector in Bulgaria in gross value added is 3.6% and has increased over the last 10 years more than 4 times, shows the second Research of the automotive industry in Bulgaria, jointly conducted by Automotive Cluster Bulgaria, Colliers and PwC. The automotive companies are now more than 130 and employ more than 37,000 people.
Main highlights of the report
- 70% of the investors expect growth of revenue in 2018
- 55% of the employers in the automotive sector consider an increase in the number of employees
- 68% of the automotive companies have plans to increase investments in equipment
- Investors show willingness for expansion of their companies not only within their current location (53%), but also in other locations in Bulgaria (32%).
- Over 10% of the companies, participated in the survey, own more than one plant on the territory of the country and over 80% plan to expand further.
- The total revenue generated by the automotive industry in 2016 was close to € 2.5 billion
- Over 50% of the companies have more than 250 employees and one-third of them – over 1000.
Automotive companies are located in all regions of the country, with a higher concentration in Southern Bulgaria. The companies operating on the territory of Bulgaria, produce components for well-known international automotive brands – 90% of all airbag sensors for European manufacturers are produced in our country and that Bulgaria produces components for all the world’s largest manufacturers, including Tesla. To further strengthen growth, companies’ managers plan to invest in development and implementation of new projects/products leading to technological innovations. Currently, over 40% of the companies, which took part in the survey, perform research & development (R&D) activities, related to system and application software development, automation of manufacturing, reduction of the weight of manufactured components for decreasing the levels of emissions in the automotive industry and others, in addition to production. Positive examples of R&D centers in Bulgaria are the American “Visteon” and “Sensata Technologies”, as well as the German „Behr-Hella Thermocontrol“ (BHTC).
Automotive companies plan to establish direct liason between business and university career centers, as well as setting up dual education classes, supporting the automotive business. The main challenges for the automotive industry, according to respondents, are bureaucracy, infrastructure, the legal system and the imbalance between demand and supply on the labor market.
Full results from the survey, forecasts, and interviews with leading companies’ managers in the sector are published at Colliers’ website.
