GM and Daimler considering coming to Romania

US General Motors (GM) could invest some €500 million in a car factory in Romania, according to market sources.

“The company [Ed. n.: GM] is interested in investing at least half a billion euro in a factory similar to that Mercedes [Ed. n.: Daimler] is considering building, but is also considering other European countries. In any case, they will begin negotiations with the Romanian authorities in March”, the source added.

The company’s representatives have visited several pieces of land that might be suitable for such an investment and have analyzed the situation with utilities. The company has also researched Romania’s work force opportunities and its infrastructure.

General Motors lost the bid for Automobile Craiova, which was taken over by Ford last year.

Constantin Stroe, Vice President of Automobile Dacia and President of the Romanian Association of Car Builders (ACAROM), says that German group Daimler, owner of Mercedes-Benz, has chosen Romania over Poland to build a new factory for its mini and small class models.

“I just returned from Brussels, where I talked to several European car producers, and found out that Daimler is coming to Romania for sure. The German company is still investigating various locations for building a new factory,” Stroe added.

According to autonews.com, the Mercedes-Benz factory could be built in Jucu, Cluj County, where Nokia recently opened a mobile phone factory.