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Flanders is home to an immensely rich and diverse automotive industry. There are builders, assembly plants, head offices of multinationals, logistic hubs, suppliers and competence centers. Our region has much to offer the industry. And the reasons why companies opted for Flanders are as diverse as the companies themselves. Some praise Flanders for its perfect location, others for its hardworking labor force, and yet others for its future-oriented attitude. Discover 10 reasons why Flanders is in pole position in automotive.
10 reasons why Flanders is in pole position
1. Located in the heart of Europe
2. A highly qualified workforce
3. Rich tradition in quality
4. Ideal base of operations for your company's European headquarters
5. Superior logistics hub
6. Abundance of suppliers focused on leading-edge technologies
7. Top players focus on automotive
8. Competence center hotbed
9. Forceful voice at all government levels
10. Flanders Investment & Trade: support at the start and expansion of your operations
Want to know more on Flanders' automotive industry? Order our brochure The automotive industry in Flanders here or download it (PDF-file 2406kb)
1. Located in the heart of Europe
Flanders is the ideal bridgehead for companies wanting to make inroads in Europe. First of all there is its location: right in the middle of the most prosperous and industrialized region in Europe, with direct access to all the surrounding markets. And then there is its infrastructure: companies can send workers and goods to customers and locations across Europe in a minimum of time, thanks to one of the most modern and densest networks of roads, railroads and waterways in the world.
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Did you know that…
… the Volvo cars production facility in the city of Ghent is one of the flagship production plants of the Swedish group? In 2006, 244,000 cars rolled off the assembly line, this is more than half of its global output.
… Audi recently converted and modernized a Volkswagen plant in Brussels? It aims to make it the 'Best of Benchmark' for the assembly of Audi cars.
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2. A highly qualified workforce
Flemish colleges and universities have been graduating highly qualified and specialized young people for decades. Furthermore, the Flemish automotive workforce is renowned for its hands-on attitude, its customer and quality focus, its versatility and overall 'automotive mind'. And because Flanders lies at the intersection between the Germanic and Latin language regions, they also usually speak several languages like French, English, German and even Spanish.
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Did you know that…
… Ford recently transformed its production plant in the city of Genk to become a fully flexible plant? It is currently building the Ford S-MAX there, the '2007 Car of the Year'.
… the Volvo truck plant in the city of Ghent rolls out more than 30% of Volvo's global truck output? This makes it the largest of the group's truck manufacturing plants in the world.
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3. Rich tradition in quality
The motor vehicle industry in Flanders can look back on a rich tradition founded on three pillars: quality, craftsmanship and innovation. Thanks to these, the region has built a reputation that extends far beyond its borders. Flemish builders of buses and transport vehicles are a case in point.
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Did you know that…
… the Flemish firm Van Hool is one of the biggest independent European manufacturers of buses, coaches and commercial vehicles? Annually, Van Hool builds 1,700 buses and coaches and 4,000 trailers road tankers and tank containers.
… the Flemish firm VDL Jonckheere started making horse-drawn carts 125 years ago? It is now a trendsetter in the production and development of all kinds of coaches and buses.
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4. Ideal base of operations for your company's European headquarters
Flanders is the ideal launching pad for companies interested in capturing the European market. For numerous reasons: its central location, of course, but also its highly educated, multilingual workforce, which is able to support your activities. Furthermore, Flanders is located close to the nerve center of the European institutions, while rents for office space and other facilities remain low compared with those of surrounding regions.
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Did you know that…
…Toyota Motor Europe has a staff of 1,200 people working at its European headquarters in Brussels? Flanders is also home to its European logistics centers for parts and vehicles, its European accessories and service center and one of its 4 global R&D centers.
… Ford Motor Company has its EU Affairs office in Brussels? It does this to keep its finger on the European pulse.
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5. Superior logistics hub
Home to the largest transshipment port for new cars on the continent, Flanders also has three other seaports, a national airport and several regional airports. These relay points are connected by the densest network of roads and highways in Europe, as well as by an extensive network of railways and waterways that provides optimal access to the rest of Europe. With decades of experience under its belt, Flanders has become an expert in logistics.
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Did you know that…
… the Port of Zeebrugge is the world's number 1 port for the transshipment of new cars? Toyota, Renault, Volvo, Rover, Jaguar, General Motors, Ford, Citroen, Suzuki, Mercedes, Mazda and Mitsubishi… all of them make use of the logistics facilities there.
… Honda Europe has its largest European distribution center at the Port of Ghent? It employs 650 people and turns over €700 million annually.
… 40% of the Mazda cars produced in Asia arrive in Europe through the Port of Antwerp? From there, they are shipped on to the Dutch, German, Swiss, Austrian, Czech and Slovakian markets.
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6. Abundance of suppliers focused on leading-edge technologies
The diversity of builders and assembly plants has over the years produced a rich network of suppliers in Flanders. Today approximately 300 companies create added value for the automotive industry. They are engaged in a large range of activities: from research and design to production, testing and certification.
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Did you know that…
… the Flemish firm Transics International is one of Europe's leading developers of fleet management systems for the transport and logistics industries? The fact that Flanders is a major logistics hub makes the company's location ideal to stay in close contact with their target group.
… the Flemish firm LMS has become a leading engineering and innovation partner for carmakers worldwide? It has become the partner of choice for leading carmakers, such as Audi, BMW, Mercedes, VW, Renault, Toyota, Ford and Jaguar.
… Tenneco Automotive develops and tests its ride-control systems and shock absorbers for the European aftermarket in Flanders? Tenneco benefits from a close-knit network of automotive suppliers in the region.
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7. Top players focus on automotive
Flanders is home to numerous world-leading enterprises operating in widely differing sectors. Because of the strong presence of automotive suppliers and assembly plants in the region, some of these big corporations have focused as well on the automotive industry. They are developing improved solutions that meet the high demands of the automotive suppliers and their clients, the assembly plants.
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Did you know that…
… the advanced metal transformation and coating technologies from the Flemish firm Bekaert provide the automotive industry with state-of-the art products? 30% of its global turnover of €3.2 billion goes to this industry.
… the Flemish firm Punch International develops lightweight metals and plastic components for the automotive industry? It's particular forte is its hybrid powertrain, the only one not affiliated to a specific car manufacturer.
… the Flemish group Recticel, a world-leading producer of polyurethane foam products, supplies most of the world's leading carmakers with its innovative high-quality interior trim? In 2006, the group turned over €1.5 billion worldwide.
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8. Competence center hotbed
Well-known research centers and universities drive the knowledge-intensive Flemish economy. Together with the industry, they are on a continuous search for new technologies that can help shape the future. Several research institutions, each with their own focus, perform far-reaching research for the automotive industry - from ride and control systems, via new materials and alternative energy sources, to electronics and ICT for vehicles.
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Did you know that…
… Flanders' DRIVE is a unique competence center for automotive suppliers and OEMs in the automotive industry in Flanders? Its core businesses are manufacturing, lightweight materials, active safety and clean powertrains.
… VITO, is a leading European contract research and consulting center for technological matters? It performs, for example, R&D into ultra capacitor cells for Maxwell Technologies.
… Flanders is home to the Telematics Cluster, providing support to telematics firms in Flanders by encouraging innovation and collaboration? The cluster actively pursues long-term partnerships with industry and government.
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9. Forceful voice at all government levels
Precisely because Flanders can look back on a rich history in the automobile industry, this sector is well represented by organizations that have a forceful voice at all government levels. These organizations ensure that the sector benefits from a business-friendly environment and sector-specific advantages. They also drive the innovative capacity of the supply industries upward.
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Did you know that…
… Agoria Automotive, a division of the technology industry's trade association Agoria, upholds the interests of the automotive industry in Belgium? Its customers are manufacturers of cars, buses, trucks, trailers, the supplier industry and container repairs.
… FEBIAC, the federation of the vehicles industry, builds bridges with the government? It also organizes the biennial European Motor Show in Brussels.
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10. Flanders Investment & Trade: support at the start and expansion of your operations
Providing advice and support to foreign companies wanting to start or expand operations in Flanders is one of the core responsibilities of Flanders Investment & Trade. Thanks to our experienced, multilingual staff we are able to help companies integrate into one of Europe's most prosperous economies efficiently and effectively. Flanders Investment & Trade has 95 offices worldwide: we can assist you wherever you are. And, thanks to our extensive and active network within Flanders, we can also provide you with region-specific information.
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Did you know that…
… we can identify and suggest optimal locations for your business.
… we serve as a knowledge and contact organization.
… we can provide you with useful information on subsidies and support measures.
… we clarify legal requirements.
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