Yanfeng Automotive Interiors (YFAI), the global leader in automotive interiors, has opened a new plant in Kragujevac, in the Sumadija district of Serbia, its first plant in the country.

"With this new plant in Serbia, we are expanding our manufacturing capacity in Eastern Europe's growth markets and responding to our customers' increasing  presence in the region," said Tony Elenbaas, Vice President & General Manager, Europe & South Africa at Yanfeng Automotive Interiors.

The company manufactures automotive interior components in a production area of around 18,500 square metres and has already created 180 new jobs in the region. As a new employer in the region, the company is looking to recruit up to 800 new employees over the next few years.

The good infrastructure in place and the availability of skilled workers in the
Kragujevac region were key to selecting this location. Other factors included its central location in Southeast and Central Europe and proximity to other YFAI plants in Hungary, the Czech Republic and Slovakia.

Headquartered in Shanghai, Yanfeng Automotive Interiors has approximately 110 manufacturing plants and technical centers in 20 countries and more than 32,000 employees globally. They design, develop and manufacture interior components for all automakers. Established in 2015, Yanfeng Automotive Interiors is a joint venture between Yanfeng, one of the largest automotive suppliers in China and Adient, the global leader in automotive seating.