Bosch Plans to Move Alternator Re-manufacturing from Bernolakovo to Serbia

Bratislava/Karlsruhe, 19 September (TASR) - German company Bosch plans to relocate its alternator re-manufacturing operations from Bernolakovo (Bratislava region) to its plant in the municipality of Pecinci, Serbia, expecting to close the plant in Slovakia after gradually phasing out production there by the end of March 2027, TASR learnt from Pavel Roman, head of corporate communications at Bosch Group in the Czech Republic and Slovakia, earlier this week. The plant in Bernolakovo falls under Bosch Mobility Aftermarket division. "The division currently employs 148 people at the plant. Bosch has already informed employee representatives and, subsequently, the employees in Bernolakovo about the planned closure of the plant," said Roman, adding that steps are being planned in a way that should keep the social impact on all affected employees to a minimum. According to him, the ongoing transformation of the automotive industry, growing competition and price pressures, as well as a slowdown in the global vehicle market represent major challenges for the entire sector. The Bernolakovo plant, which re-manufactures alternators for the global automotive industry, is no exception. "Re-manufacturing alternators is labour-intensive work in which cost efficiency and competitiveness are decisive factors for success. It's essential to optimise cost structures in this area constantly in order to maintain market competitiveness over the long term," explained Roman. As part of its strategic development, the Bosch division carefully explored various alternatives, said Roman. According to him, the planned relocation aligns with a strategy of consolidating smaller and highly specialised production facilities into larger plants. "This approach makes it possible to use existing infrastructure more efficiently, to reduce complexity in the production network and to target investments better in the future," he added. jrg/df