German Company ZF to Shut Down Its Detva Plant by mid-2026

Detva, 7 August (TASR) - German company ZF is planning to close its plant in Detva (Banska Bystrica region) completely by mid-2026, TASR reported on Thursday based on information from the company's head of communications for Eastern Europe Marta Surowiec. She added that the current headcount at the company's plant in Detva is approximately 250 employees, mostly manufacturing chassis and steering system components. Production in Detva is to be moved, for the most part, to the company's plant in Levice due to the persistently weak automotive market and disruptions in the supply chain. In 2025, Surowiec expects production in this segment to dip by 30 percent when compared to 2018. Negotiations with representatives of employees are set to begin soon, she said. The Detva plant, set up in 2019 as a satellite facility of the company's main plant in Levice, initially benefited from the proximity of a key supplier of aluminium forging products. However, as of March 2023, this supplier ceased its operations in Detva. Detva mayor Branislav Baran said that the municipal authorities regret this decision, with dozens of families now feeling uncertain about the future. "But, on the other hand, looking at the trends in the European economy and specifically in the automotive industry, it comes as no surprise to us. This development could have been expected," said Baran, expressing hopes of finding a new investor for the two factory halls in Detva industrial park soon. jrg/df/ko