The German group Kromberg & Schubert, specializing in automotive wiring systems, has officially inaugurated its second production site in Béja, Tunisia, dubbed "Béja 2". Spanning 60,000 square meters, this new unit aims to strengthen the group's activities in Tunisia and support the global automotive industry's shift towards electric vehicles. This expansion follows the success of the Béja 1 site, which focuses on producing cables for thermal vehicles.
Béja 2 will primarily supply wiring systems for electric vehicles to major German automakers, including Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Volkswagen. The new site will operate alongside Béja 1, which mainly serves thermal vehicle manufacturers. Kromberg & Schubert has invested 130 million dinars in equipment and 140 million dinars in building renovations, totaling 270 million dinars. This investment aims to establish Béja as an industrial hub meeting the sector's new performance, quality, and productivity requirements.
The development of both sites is expected to significantly increase employment. Currently, Kromberg & Schubert employs around 8,500 people across Béja 1 and Béja 2. This number is projected to exceed 14,000 employees by 2029. The recruitment drive focuses on technicians, senior technicians, and engineers in various technical specialties. The combined revenue of both sites is anticipated to reach nearly 1.5 billion dinars.
Production at the Béja sites involves manual operations, including cutting, preparation, and cable assembly. These processes require precision and dexterity, explaining the high proportion of female workers, who make up around 70% of the workforce. According to Wissem Badri, Managing Director of Kromberg & Schubert Tunisia, Béja 2 represents the largest production unit in terms of space and capacity.
The Managing Director of Kromberg & Schubert Tunisia expressed his ambition to become a giant in the automotive industry based on excellence and performance. Afef Chachi Tayari, Chief of Staff to the Minister of Industry, Mines, and Energy, highlighted the significance of this new production unit in strengthening Tunisian-German partnership and demonstrating international investors' confidence in Tunisia.
Afef Chachi Tayari emphasized that the choice of Béja as the location for the new automotive wiring production unit is crucial for the region's development. She stressed that the Tunisian industry should not be limited to traditional economic hubs and should become a driver of regional development. Tayari added that this project confirms Béja's status as an export-oriented industrial hub and showcases the potential for international investment to contribute to enterprise competitiveness, regional development, and youth employment.
The project aims to bring investment closer to local competencies, create job opportunities near populations, and make regions integral to the industrial policy. By doing so, Béja 2 is set to play a significant role in Tunisia's industrial growth and regional development.
Key points
- Kromberg & Schubert invests 270 million dinars in Béja 2, creating over 14,000 jobs by 2029.
- The new site will primarily supply wiring systems for electric vehicles to major German automakers.
- The project aims to make Béja a major industrial hub, contributing to regional development and youth employment.
