HBPO Vaihingen copyGermany - The company, which designs and assembles front-end modules for a long list of OEMs, has started building a new plant near Stuttgart. Initial production is expected to start in autumn 2018.

According to HBPO's CEO Martin Schüler, the facility is strategically located. "We will be situated in an excellent position between our two key customers Daimler and Porsche," he noted. "The road links to Sindelfingen and Zuffenhausen - including alternative routes - make it the perfect location."

The plant will stretch across 10,000 sq.m, and will house two types of front-end module production: series and made-to-order. 30 people will start working at it during 2018, though HBPO expects this number to increase to 100 by 2020.

HBPO also has a front-end module assembly facility in Rastatt, on the same industrial park as Daimler's plant. It currently makes around 1,300 modules every day at the facility.

Audi, BMW, Chrysler, Dodge, Fiat, Hyundai, Jeep, Kia, Mercedes-Benz, Mini, Nissan, Porsche, Proton, Renault, SEAT, Skoda, SsangYong and Volkswagen are all described as HBPO as customers.