Daimler Inaugurates Transmission Plant in Romania

VIENNA – Star Transmission, a company owned 100% by Daimler, launches production of 5-speed automatic transmissions at a new site in Sebes, Romania.

The assembly line, which is partly automated, was transferred to the 96,900-sq.-ft (9,000-sq.-m) site from a Daimler plant in Germany. It consists of two large main lines and 11 preassembly lines.

“The transfer of production to Sebes shows that Daimler relies on the proven reliability and flexibility of Star Transmission,” CEO Bernd Krottmayer says in a prepared statement. “The opening of the plant underlines our continuous growth.”

Daimler invested some €30 million ($39.8 million) in the project and created 250 new jobs.

In April, the German auto maker announced plans to add assembly of the current generation of front-drive dual-clutch transmissions to the Sebes plant starting in 2014, and to launch Romanian assembly of a new generation of automatic transmissions in 2016.

Daimler plans to invest more than €300 million ($398 million) in its Romanian subsidiary over the next few years.

In addition to the new site in Sebes, Star Transmission operates an older plant in Cugir. That facility manufactures powertrain components such as gears and axles, steering gears and mechanically processed components for engines and transmissions.

Star Transmission employs a total of 1,000 workers at both sites.