Automotive
Car Industry
Today, the car industry is a key and growing sector for the Moldovan economy. This is the result of the increased focus on Moldova's unused industrial potential and the industrial orientation maintained in the education system (The Technical University, technical colleges and vocational schools).
The total export in the automotive industry registered, in 2019, an increase of 30%, with a share of 20.5% of the total exports. In 2020, in the context of the pandemic situation, exports registered a slight decrease of 3% compared to 2019, representing 26% of total exports.
Moldova is the best price location for car suppliers in Central and Eastern Europe. Thus, although it is not a car-producing country, it still plays an important role in the global car industry. The country hosts internationally renowned companies in operating production lines for electric wires and cables for motor vehicles, wire harnesses, electrical and electronic components, luxury interiors, seat and car covers, injection mechanisms and wheel drive systems, etc.
Here are listed the well-known companies activating in the Republic of Moldova: Lear Corporation, Dräxlmaier Automotive, Gebauer & Griller, Sammy Cablaggi / Kablem, Elektromanufacturing / SUMIDA, Confezioni Andrea Carcover, SEBN Sumitomo Electric Bordnetze, Fujikura Automotive, Coroplast Fritz Mueller, APM Automotive EMS, Dräxlmaier DSM, Arobs Software, Whetec / MG2C, Hub Multico / Quality and Equip-Test.
Automotive parts made in Moldova are delivered to the largest cars and trucks manufacturers including the giants Ford, Renault, BMW, Mercedes, Volvo.
Moldova's geostrategic positioning and developed transport infrastructure provide easy access to both European and CIS countries, ensuring the delivery of goods in a timely and orderly manner.
The longest pan-European corridor passes through Moldova. Railway and Road Corridor IX in Helsinki (Finland), St. Petersburg (Russian Federation), Gomel (Belarus), Kiev (Ukraine), Chisinau (Moldova), Bucharest (Romania), Dimitrovgrad (Bulgaria) and Alexandropol (Greece) - crosses the country from north to south, linking it to some of the most important commercial routes.
The Republic of Moldova’s position regarding the main equipment manufacturers and suppliers (level 1 and 2)
| Country | City | Supplier | Distance, km | Borders |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Romania | Pitesti | Dacia-Renault | 560 | 1 |
| Craiova | Ford | 710 | 1 | |
| Poland | Bielsko Biala | Fiat Chrysler Automobiles(FCA) | 999 | 1 |
| Gliwice | GM/Opel | 1,029 | 1 | |
| Poznan | Wolkswagen | 1,303 | 1 | |
| Hungary | Gyor | Audi | 1,077 | 1 |
| Kecskement | Mercedes-Benz | 1,006 | 1 | |
| Slovakia | Trnava | PSA Peugeot Citroen | 1,126 | 1 |
| Bratislava | VW | 1,170 | 1 | |
| Zilina | Hyndai/KIA | 1,100 | 1 | |
| Austria | Graz | MagnaSteyr | 1,350 | 1 |
| Bosnia & H. | Sarajevo | Skoda | 1,288 | 3 |
| Czech Republic | Mlada Boleslav | VW | 1,440 | 1 |
| Kolin | PSA/Toyota | 1,450 | 1 | |
| Slovenia | Novo Mesto | Renault | 1,475 | 1 |
| Bulgaria | Bahovitsa | Great Wall Motor | 780 | 1 |
| Turkey | Gebze, Izmit | Honda, Isuzu, Hyunday | 1,093 | 2 |
| Arifive | Toyota Otkar(Iveko, Land Rover) | 1,143 | 2 |
The symbiosis of knowledge in the field, the advantage of labor costs, favorable tax and social security sistems and trade relations make the production of the following product categories competitive:
| Product description | Produced in the automotive industry of Moldova |
Produced in Moldova |
|---|---|---|
| Seat and car covers, airbags, textiles | X | X |
| Textile belts, seat belts | X | |
| Cables and wires | X | X |
| Wire harnesses | X | X |
| Polyurethane foam | X | |
| Plastic and rubber injection molding | X | X |
| Steering wheel | X | |
| Engineering, research and development | X | X |
| Integrated systems | X | |
| Castings for foundry and steel | X | |
| Car parts and components | X | X |
| EMS, SMT, THT electronics | X | |
| Metal constructions (welding) | X | X |
CAR MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY
The car manufacturing industry in the Republic of Moldova has a relatively low share in GDP compared to the countries in the region. However, the industry continues to grow in terms of investment intensity and labor productivity, focusing on the idea of a car-building industry as the engine of Moldova’s industrial growth.
- Today, the car building industry has one of the highest growth rates: from 2014 to 2018, this sector has grown 2.34 times. As a result, during the same period, the share of this sector in the Moldovan industry increased from 5.7% to 10.4%. Moreover, the share of the sector in industrial exports is 20.9% - twice as much as its share in industry.
- Moldovan automotive companies produce hydraulic equipment, hydro-acoustic navigation devices, agricultural equipment, commercial equipment and other machinery and equipment.
- Component parts production and their outsourcing, its assemblies and machines are some of the elements of a great interest for Western markets. The Republic of Moldova is becoming a major supplier of mechanical components for the western and eastern markets.