portugal - IZB

PORTUGAL
Your Partner in the Automotive Industry
Building Cars and Components – Delivering Competence, Projecting the Future.
If you are looking for innovation, tradition and good quality components to bring your car “alive”,
welcome to Portugal. The car industry is today a key sector of Portuguese economy with an annual
turnover of 4.8 thousand million Euros. Most cars and components manufactured in our country go
to the international markets. It’s natural. Demanding consumers know how to appreciate good
cars and the major Manufacturers know who can give them that important added trust.
If you are a fan of sports cars, you will be familiar with the name Scirocco. If you prefer to feel
nature around you, the sporty EOS will be in your dreams. If you only travel with all your family,
then the Sharan is the answer to what you are looking for. In common, the three models have the
fact that they are produced at the Volkswagen Autoeuropa factory in Palmela. It’s an excellent
example of the car industry in Portugal producing approximately 100 thousand vehicles per annum.
Volkswagen Autoeuropa has a great impact on the Portuguese economy representing 2% of
the Gross Domestic Product, but the automotive sector, which in our country already counts on a
40 year old tradition, goes far beyond this example of excellence.
The automotive sector is the second largest national exporter, representing nearly 4% of the wealth
produced in the country. Five manufacturers choose our country to produce vehicles that conquer
consumers all around the world: global brands such as Volkswagen, PSA, Mitsubishi, Isuzu
and Toyota directly employ 5126 workers, that annually produce – including cars, buses, heavy
and light goods – 170 thousand vehicles. The whole sector mobilizes approximately 200 component
companies, which export nearly 80% of its production and have a workforce of nearly 40,000
people.
High technical competence, highly competitive installation and operational costs and great
logistical infrastructures explain the success of this sector in Portugal. Well known manufacturers
prefer Portugal when it comes to choosing batteries, glass, plastic moulds, interiors, tyres, cables,
seats or electronic components to equip their cars with. Can you imagine why?
In Portugal we don’t just produce cars and components. We plan the future by innovating every
day.
Discover Portugal, your today’s partner in the automotive industry of tomorrow.