German auto parts maker ups PH investment

German automotive supplier Continental Temic is investing further to expand operations in the Philippines, which will generate 1,500 new permanent jobs for its existing manufacturing plant in Calamba, Laguna.

“The investments confirm the company’s strong commitment to the automotive industry in Asia and thus certifies the growth of business worldwide,” Detlev von Ramm, general manager of Continental Temic’s plant in Calamba, said in a statement issued Tuesday.

Von Ramm said this additional capital infusion reflected Continental Temic’s strategy to build and strengthen the network and manufacturing operations in Asia, where the company intends to make between 20 to 25 percent of its total sales by 2015.

Lukas Rosulek, general manager of Continental Plant in Manila said: “The Philippines have good resources and people to achieve our mission and commitment towards all stakeholders.”

Continental has so far invested a total of 197 million euros in the last four decades and is currently employing 1,750 highly skilled employees in the two plants located in Taguig City and Calamba, Laguna.

Bernhard Klumpp, executive vice president of the passive safety and sensorics business unit of Continental Temic, said the additional investments of the company will be intended for the production of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) for airbag sensors which are fast becoming in demand in the global market.

“I’m especially proud that the company’s Passive Safety and Sensorics Business Unit decided to establish Wheel Speed Sensor manufacturing in Calamba. The new projects will create approximately 1,500 new permanent high qualified jobs for operators and skilled engineers in Calamba,” Klumpp explained.

The Hanover-based company is the world’s leading automotive supplier for brake and chassis systems and components for powertrain and instrumentation.

Its global sales reached 33.3-billion euros in 2013.

The company’s expansion in the Philippines was first announced during the recent visit of Trade Secretary Gregory L. Domingo to Continental’s office in Frankfurt.

Nadine Fund, general manager of the German-Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GPCCI), hailed the announcement and said additional investments such as this only show that efforts of the Philippine government to increase bilateral trade with Germany are gaining ground.

“Continental, which is a member of GPCCI, is one of the top German investors in the Philippines and we are very happy with their decision to increase their operations here,” Fund said in a press statement.