Magna inaugurates plant in Germany

MEI Meerane is located closely to Volkswagen Sachsen in Mosel, supplying sequenced, just-in-time exterior plastic parts for the automaker. A ceremony was held, hosted by Magna leadership and attended by the Prime Minister of the Free State of Saxony as well as by executives from Volkswagen and BMW.

“Volkswagen Saxonia and Magna’s new facility in Meerane are producing based on a close partnership,” said Dirk Coers, Managing Director Department of Human Resources and Organisation, Volkswagen Sachsen GmbH. “Saxonia is a car state with tradition – together with Magna and our other partners, we want to ensure it also has a great automotive future.”

MEI Meerane covers a production area of 15,000 m² and currently employs 140 people. The plant’s capabilities include injection moulding, painting and assembly. Its first programme consists of front and rear bumpers for the new Golf VII, recently named “World Car of the Year” by a jury of 66 motor journalists from all over the world. In late 2014, the plant is expected to start production of rocker panels for the next generation of the VW Passat.

“Our new state-of-the-art production facility in Meerane showcases many of Magna’s world-class manufacturing standards, from logistics that work with radio frequency tagging and a fully automated paint line up to just-in-time delivery,” said Albert Lidauer, President Magna Exteriors and Interiors Europe. “In addition, it further strengthens our relationship with our customer and provides opportunities for new business with multiple carmakers.”

“We are very proud that one of the biggest automotive suppliers of the world has chosen Saxony,” said Stanislaw Tillich, Prime Minister of the Free State of Saxony, during the ceremony. “The settling of Magna represents another boost for the motor of ‘car-country’ Saxony.” Among the reasons for the previous successful development, the Prime Minister listed the intensive collaboration between the industry and an application-oriented automotive research in the free state. “Together with our highly skilled and creative people, this constitutes the backbone and potential of ‘car-country’ Saxony.“