American auto parts manufacturer Johnson Controls will employ nearly 200 people at the new factory to be built on the Ford platform in Craiova, Romania, said the company's communications director for Europe, Ulrich Andree, quoted by Mediafax newswire.

Johnson Controls' representative did not provide details on the value of investment in the new production unit, where the company will manufacture seats, benches and covers for Ford Romania. Ulrich Andree said that works on the new factory will be completed early next year and production will begin in late May, 2012.

The American group also owns three factories in Romania, in the cities of in Pitesti, Mioveni and Ploiesti, where it produces chairs, benches and covers for Renault brands-Nissan, Opel and Seat.  Johnson Controls Romania was established in 2002, when it opened the factory in Mioveni, followed by the construction of production units in Pitesti and Ploiesti in 2004.

Irina Popescu, irina.popescu@romania-insider.com

(photo source: Wikipedia)