For BMW, Porsche, Ferrari, Lamborghini, and other well-known brands, everything is made in Ukraine – from wiring and harnesses to complex electronics and body parts. But there is a catch – it was like this until February 24, 2022, and now many employees have been laid off at these plants…
The exact number of employees affected is unknown, but due to the invasion of Russia, unfortunately, highly qualified personnel have been left without jobs. Moreover, they had a decent salary because almost all these enterprises had foreign investments. Which plants are we talking about? TopGir reported on them back in 2015, but a recent video with Ukrainian parts in Lamborghini prompted us to remind about the plants in Ukraine where automotive parts and components for foreign supercars and more are produced.
Ukraine manufactures small parts for almost all European cars, including premium brands. It mostly concerns parts that require a large amount of manual labor, such as laying cable networks or sewing car seats. According to Ernst & Young, in Ukraine in 2021, there were 22 global and regional manufacturers of car components. Around 60,000 jobs have been created in these enterprises, and the total amount of investments in the sector is 400-800 million euros.
The majority of foreign automotive component manufacturers are concentrated in Western Ukraine. This choice of region is primarily explained by logistical proximity to end consumers. Here is a list of enterprises:
- Fujikura, a Japanese company specializing in cable products for vehicles of the German concern Volkswagen Group, including for Porsche and MAN.
- Bader and Aunde: sewing seat covers for Audi, Mercedes, and BMW, including for the Mercedes-Benz S-Class and Maybach. The company’s clients also include Tesla!
- VET AUTOMOTIVE manufactures seat heating electronic systems, touch sensors, and automotive cables for Ferrari, Porsche, BMW, Mercedes, Opel, Volkswagen
- The German company LEONI manufactures cable networks for Opel, Porsche, Volkswagen, Audi, Lamborghini, and MAN.
- The French concern Nexans produces cable networks for BMW, Opel, Audi, Mercedes, and Porsche.
- Kromberg & Schubert produces electrical on-board cable systems for BMW, Audi, Mercedes, and Volkswagen.
- ODW-Elektrik produces cables for Volkswagen, BMW, Porsche, Volvo, Opel, magnetic coils, electromechanical structures for vehicles and power tools.
- A plant of the German company Kostal specializing in automotive electronics operates in the Kyiv region. Here they produce steering columns, switches, contact systems for Ford, DAG, Audi, VW, Renault, Lamborghini, BMW, SEAT, and Skoda.
For convenience, here is an infographic showing which parts are made in Ukraine and for which brands.
What car parts and components for foreign cars are produced in Ukraine
TopGir, according to Ernst & Young and Epravda