August 29 (SeeNews) - Automotive parts supplier Continental Romania said on Tuesday it plans to open a second research and development (R&D) centre in the city of Sibiu and to hire 1,000 people in it in the following years.
The new R&D centre will spread on 12,000 sq m and will include offices and laboratories, Continental said in a press release.
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The company also plans to add 1,000 new employees in Sibiu in the following years.
Currently, Continental employs 1,000 in its R&D center in Sibiu, in central Romania. Another 2,800 people are working in its engineering centre and production unit, also located in the city.
Among the products developed, tested and manufactured in Sibiu, there are braking systems, pneumatic suspensions, electronic control units for automatic gearboxes, electronic control units located inside the cars and advanced assistance systems for drivers.
Continental has invested more than 320 million euro ($385 million) in Sibiu since 2004.
In July, Continental invested 1.8 million euro in a water treatment unit in Carei, in the northern county of Satu Mare.
In May, the company said it plans to invest some 170 million euro in Romania in 2017 and hire 1,500 people.
German-based Continental currently has 18,200 employees in Romania, of whom 1,700 were hired last year.
Continental is present in Romania with all five divisions of the group and owns seven production units and three research and development centres located in Timisoara, Sibiu, Carei, Nadab, Brasov and Iasi. Continental is also a partner in a joint venture in Slatina and has a tyre distribution centre in Bucharest.
($=0.8307 euro)