Magna opens new production plant in Russia

Canadian auto parts maker Magna International Inc. has officially opened a new production plant in Russia.

The new 15,000-square-meter plant is located in the city of Kaluga and will specialize in plastic auto parts for local manufacturers, as well as foreign auto producers which operate in Russia through local subsidiaries. Customers include Skoda, Volkswagen, Renault and Peugeot.

The new facility currently employs about 200 workers, Magna said, and is expected to hit approximately 340 workers when the facility reaches full production in 2012. “The automotive market in Russia plays a significant role in our overall global growth strategy of developing business in key growth markets,” said Erwin Winkler, president, Magna Exteriors & Interiors Europe. “As OEMs focus on global expansion, the expectation is that their global suppliers are positioned to support them in all regions of the world.”

Headquartered in Aurora, Ont., Magna already operates three other production sites near St. Petersburg, and a plant in Nizhny Novgorod.