Magna confirms Slovenia is being eyed as potential site for new manufacturing plant

Magna Steyr to set up a plant in Slovenia

Magna Steyr is looking to expand its company. Foto: Magna Steyr

Austrian independent vehicle manufacturer Magna Steyr appears increasingly likely to set up a manufacturing plant near Maribor. Magna Europe president Günther Apfalter said in a recent interview for Reuters that Magna may build a new plant in Slovenia.

German newspaper Automobilwoche had already reported in September that Magna is scouting Slovenia for a potential site for a subsidiary plant. The manufacturing facility is expected to be operational in 2018. According to Apfalter, Magna has been looking to build a second plant for years. Apfalter told Reuters that the new plant could relieve bottlenecks at the Graz site.
The Graz plant currently produces the Mercedes G class and the BMW Group’s MINI countryman. The latter will soon be replaced by the new BMW 5 series. The Graz manufacturing facility is also set to assemble the I-PACE, Jaguar’s new all-electric SUV, and possibly another small crossover by Jaguar.
Farmers oppose construction of new plant in Hoče
Even though the new plant could create 3000 new jobs in the Hoče-Slivnica municipality, some local farmers oppose the construction of the plant. MPs recently passed a bill allowing the appropriation of farmland for an industrial zone in the Hoče-Slivnica municipality – a move that paves the way for the construction of the plant.
Apfalter said that Magna is also scouting North America and China for potential locations for future manufacturing plants. If anything goes awry in Slovenia, Magna could build its new plant in Hungary.
Borut Fakin; translated by D.V.