Automotive supplier at the heart of the industrial sector of the Ardennes

Automotive suppleir at the heart of the industrial sector of the Ardennes

The automotive industry is an important one in the industrial sector of the Ardennes, with 80 companies accounting for just under 8,000 direct jobs (source - SFIA 2016: Industrial Know-How of the Ardennes - Ardennes Chamber of Commerce).

Areas of activity include:

  • Metalworking mainly for hardware, smelting, drop forging,
  • Plastics processing with plastic injection
  • Textiles for interior equipment and trim

Alongside world-class car and equipment manufacturers such as PSA Peugeot Citroen, Hanon Systems / Halla Visteon and Faurecia, a large number of SMEs/SMIs work as direct subcontractors within the automotive industry. However, alongside the listed groups and some mid-sized businesses, the majority of companies in the industry are small (80% have less than 100 employees, of which two-thirds have under 20 employees). This creates a business risk, as they can be too dependent on the sector which is why most of them are trying to diversify into other sectors (including aeronautics), supported by economic development players.

The automotive supply chain is a strength of the industrial sector of the Ardennes, well-known for its high-quality expertise, allowing companies to export their products and to diversify into other sectors. The resurgence of automotive activity in Europe is a positive sign for the area’s economy.

 

By Ardennes Développement, the Ardennes economic development agency - ardennes-developpement.com