KOPER/LJUBLJANA, Slovenia – Tomos, a renowned name in mopeds, is closing its production facility in Koper, Slovenia. The company, which recently started in e-scooters with the E-Lite (photo), closes its factory due to high labor costs in Slovenia compared to other Eastern European countries or the Far East. Tomos will not cease to exist as the company’s HQ and R&D will remain in Slovenia.
Tomos will not cease to exist as the company’s HQ and R&D will remain in Slovenia. - Photo: Photo: Tomos
Tomos GM Matjaž Kanduč said that production in Slovenia is simply not competitive any longer and that Tomos was one of a few left in the industry with production in Europe. Among the sixty factory employees voices were heard saying the company has lots of orders making the shut-down unexplainable.
Hidria Corporation
Tomos produced mopeds for over sixty years in Slovenia. It is the leading moped brand on its home market, but the biggest part of the production is exported. Major export market are the Netherlands and the USA. Tomos is owned by the Hidria Corporation which is a major automotive supplier.
Production move
Tomos has been shrinking the production over the last years and operated with only one assembly line. Tomos and its parent company Hidria do not want to reveal where they will move the production to. They only said that it will go to one of their current partners. A move to India or China was denied by the company. The last moped carrying the “Made in Slovenia” label will roll off the assembly line in November/December. Production on a new location is to start early 2013.
Developing e-mopeds
Most of the Tomos employees are rehired by other Hidria companies in the area. The moped makers HQ and R&D department will move to a technology park in Koper while the high valued land the factory is on will most likely be sold. Core of the current Tomos line-up are classical styled mopeds. However, the company’s focus is on developing e-mopeds with the first model being the Tomos E-Lite which is already available (retailing in Holland for 2,799 euro).
Bron: http://www.bike-eu.com/Home/General/201 ... BikeEurope