The German car parts maker Continental will continue investing in Lithuania despite a dispute between Beijing and Vilnius, Lithuanian local newspaper Verslo Žinios has reported.
In December last year, Reuters reported that China pressured Continental and other multinationals to stop using components made in Lithuania or face exclusion from its market.
Read more: China pressures Germany’s car parts giant Continental to give up Lithuanian components – media
Beijing was angered by the opening of the Taiwanese office under the name of “Taiwan” instead of “Taipei” in Vilnius last autumn.
“Our plans in Lithuania are the same as we stated at the beginning – 1,500 jobs and over 185 million euros of investments,” Shayan Ali, the director of Continental’s Lithuanian factory, told Verslo Žinios.
Asked about the Chinese trade pressure, he said the factory “was undoubtedly affected by the changing situation” and “did all we can to adapt to changing circumstances”. He gave no further details.
In 2017, Continental said it would invest 95 million euros in the factory in Lithuania, creating 1,000 jobs. Last year, the company announced further 90 million euros of investment and 500 more jobs.
“So far, we have not deviated from the planned investment timetable,” a Continental spokesperson told Reuters.
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