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South Korean company DH Autolead Slovakia, part of the Donghee concern, officially opened a new plant on Wednesday in the industrial park in Krásno nad Kysucou, northern Slovakia, reports My Kysuce.
The plant was built within a year of the company announcing its €4.7 million investment and comes with ambitious plans: to become part of the supply chain for car manufacturers in Slovakia and the Czech Republic.
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Boosting the economy
The facility will assemble car steering wheels from finished parts, cables, airbags and control elements. Around 360,000 steering wheels are expected to be produced annually. Part of the hall also serves as a distribution warehouse for components. The plant employs 50 people, with 40 working in production and 10 in administration.
“This means not only new jobs, but also money for the town’s budget, which we can use for schools or pavements, for example. People who buy apartments, build houses or use local services are also an asset. All of this strengthens our economy,” said Krásno nad Kysucou Mayor Jozef Grapa, as quoted by My Kysuce.
According to plant director Juraj Martoš, the facility already supplies parts for Hyundai and Kia, but further opportunities are opening.
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Right place, right time
“We are preparing projects for Jaguar, Škoda and Volkswagen. Our vision is that within two to three years we will be able to produce steering wheels directly here. This will allow us to offer customers better quality and stability, because everything will be under our control—from development to production,” he said, adding that the location was chosen not only for its workforce but also for its strategic position.
“We are in the heart of the automotive industry. Žilina’s Kia is just a stone’s throw away, Hyundai in Nošovice is only 40 kilometres away, Jaguar in Nitra is about 150 kilometres away, and Košice will soon have Volvo. The planned D3 motorway is also a major plus. Altogether, this puts us in the right place at the right time,” Martoš explained.
According to DH Autolead chair Inhawn Yu, Slovakia is the centre of the European automotive industry, and the company aims to cooperate with global partners while contributing to the country’s growth.
