Nov 28, 2025 Polish automotive industry, Polish Investment and Trade Agency (PAIH), Polish Development Fund Group (PFR Group), Polish Automotive Group (PGM),
Autoforum visits Poland to gain insight into sectors of the Polish Automotive Industry
As one of a group of four South African delegates, Autoforum recently participated in a five-day study tour of Poland, visiting certain sectors of the Polish automotive industry alongside three American and one Canadian motoring journalists. Organised by the Polish Investment and Trade Agency (PAIH) - a member of Polish Development Fund Group (PFR Group), PAIH is mandated to support Polish companies in their efforts to expand their export markets, via over 60 Foreign Trade offices worldwide, and is focused on assisting Polish companies in identifying potential regional partners with whom to align with in their global expansion plans.
Poland is currently ranked 11th amongst South Africa’s import list of countries of origin, with exports to SA valued at R4 373,5 million (2024). Its real GDP grew by 2.9% year on year in 2024. Poland’s nominal GDP for 2024 is estimated to be approximately $914 billion (according to official data from the World Bank). Having evolved from a centrally planned economy in the early 1990’s, Poland is now ranked among the world’s top 20 economies - and its economy has exceeded a trillion dollars. Its new economic diplomacy strategy of “New Exports – the new role of diplomacy” places trade promotion at the centre of the country’s foreign policy.
This transformation is driven by a combination of diversified industry, technological innovation and a skilled workforce, with Polish companies developing a reputation for precision manufacturing across a wide range of industry sectors and a resilience in the face of global challenges.
Within the automotive sector Poland ranks among Europe’s top ten automotive parts and components manufacturers with a growing ecosystem of suppliers supporting global OEM’s. On the electric mobility front Europe’s largest EV battery plant is situated at Wroclaw in the south-west of the country, close to both the Czech and German borders.
Poland’s registered total ‘car parc’ (passenger and commercial vehicles etc) is approximately 35million vehicles – consisting of 1.2 million commercial vehicles (the largest fleet in Europe), 129 000 buses, 186 500 zero and low emission vehicles (of which 103 500 are BEV’s - Battery Electric vehicles July 2025), LPG/CNG vehicles account for 15% of the Polish vehicle parc and their adoption is influenced by its affordability. The Polish Auto Industry is the second largest after the Food Industry in the country, employing approximately 205 000 staff and turning over 51,8 billion Euro per annum.
Our first meeting was with the Polish Automotive Group (PGM), an association of Polish component/parts manufacturers producing OE and Aftermarket replacement parts and accessories for local, European Union and global export markets. The membership of the association are all 100% Polish corporate and family owned businesses, operating 98 auto related factories nationally, with over 15 800 employees with a combined $2.3 billion turnover annually, whilst accounting for 75% of global Polish auto parts exports. Amongst this membership are 4 scientific institutions focused on developing new automotive and safety technologies in line with global automotive trends. PGM managing director, Bartosz Mielecki, proudly described the Groups mission ‘as assisting local companies to be competitive in Global markets whilst introducing them to new and strategic potential markets and business partners worldwide, as genuine European parts with no repackaged Chinese or Asian manufactured parts. Mielecki closed by saying, “PGM members are looking to develop potential distributors and partnerships both ways with South Africa and its neighbours.”
We next met with the senior management team at Wuzetem, the company has a 75year history as a specialist precision manufacturer and remanufacturer of diesel fuel injectors, pumps, injector needles and nozzels. In addition, their product range includes high quality rubber and plastic products, such as gaskets, seals, hoses and other rubber components with high technical specs. Although biased towards Heavy Commercial, Agricultural and Yellow metal vehicles, the Wuzetem range includes passenger, LCV, Military spec and diesel locomotives (Rail – 99% of this range is exported to the USA).
After a company presentation, we were invited to tour the plant, with its impressive array of modern technology and a skilled workforce of 270. The company has invested heavily in modern technology, using modern machine manufacturing to ensure the precision required in their product ranges. Wuzetem’s R&D department is kept busy, with the company releasing an average of 25 new products per annum. The latest release required 2 years in R&D and carries tolerances of 0,0001mm.
Wuzetem Commercial Director, Pawel Lasocki said, “With exports to over 250 customers in 50 countries globally, the company’s advantage lies in the quality achieved and knowledge gained from ultilising the feedback from their workshop customers both locally and internationally. Lasocki concluded by stating that the company currently exports to both South Africa and Algeria on the African continent and is keen to expand its South African market.
Next, we visited the Lukasiewicz Automotive Industry Institute (PIMOT), a scientific research and technology development centre, incorporating various facilities to do stress and failure testing of products, and HV battery testing and installation evaluation. The institute’s automotive safety research and testing area was unfortunately unavailable during our tour of the facility. In addition, the institute is actively involved in research and safety testing of a wide range of Autonomous vehicles and evaluation of a new modular battery system for Electric buses within its ‘Type and individual vehicle approval and certification’ division, which caters for passenger, LCV, HCV, Agricultural vehicles & machinery, as well as Trailers and Semi-trailers. We were fortunate to see the modular trailer battery and Bus on the premises – although not in action. This is certainly a thought provoking potential solution to Electric mobility for the mass transport sector.
Although based in Warsaw, the South African delegation also travelled approximately 200 kms north east to the city of Bialystok to meet with two manufacturers of parts and components in the LPG/CNG sector. As an economical alternative to petrol and diesel, this technology has a growing support, with 15% of Poland’s car parc having converted to LPG/CNG systems. Our initial visitation was with AC S.A. a leading European manufacturer of autogas (LPG/CNG) injection systems. Once again, it is evident that investments in modern technology and robotics is prevalent amongst companies manufacturing precision components, with lines of plastic injection and CNC machines in evidence. Under their well-known STAG brand, the company produces controllers, electrical harnesses specific to autogas systems, emulators, filters, injectors, reducers, pressure sensors and switches for LPG/CNG systems, alongside their STAG Telematic offering. Pawel Baraniuk, AC S.A., Vice-President of Trade & Development, spoke of the company’s strong presence in over 50 countries globally, and their active exploration of possible opportunities on the African continent.
The delegates were then hosted by Alex sp, another leader amongst Polish LPG/CNG automotive system manufacturers and also based in Bialystok. In addition to their in-house design & development department, Alex take the manufacturing process a step further by precision machining their metallic components from solid billets in the expanded production facilities. Manufacturing controllers, injectors, reducers, filters, gas valves, thermoplastic hoses and multi-valves to accompany their portfolio of complete systems for direct-injection petrol engines, indirect-injection petrol engines and diesel vehicles. In conversation Alex export manager, Carlo Della Ciana, proudly described how Alex’s export market currently covers over 40 countries worldwide and that the company is keen to expand its eco-friendly fuel-efficient presence into potential African markets.
Our final destination before returning to Warsaw was a visit to ART-MOTOR, a 3rd generation family owned company, founded in 1983. ART contract-manufacture a diverse range of metal products and plastic injected components for the automotive, industrial, food and pharmaceutical sectors across Europe. In the process of refurbishment and having implemented ISO 9001:2015 quality management standards, the management of the company proudly announced the continued use of some of the equipment purchased by their founder. The company is able to provide CNC machining, laser cutting, turning, milling, grinding, bending, stamping and welding services to their clients.
On our return to Warsaw, we began with a visit to another of the scientific research member of PGM, - the ITS (Motor Transport Institute) Connected and Autonomous vehicles competence centre. This facility has a mandate to provide expert support to the Polish government in the safe and efficient implementation of vehicle autonomy technologies. Their mandate includes the evaluation of these technologies based on best international practices and the monitoring & initiation of national research in the field of road transport automation.
The institute’s key areas of activity include:
Studies on driver behaviour and state monitoring using driving simulators, eye trackers, and the Karolinska Sleepiness Scale (KSS).
Assessment and validation of vehicle equipment, including Human-Machine Interface (HMI).
Research on road transport automation systems and infrastructure, including the potential deployment of autonomous vehicles.
Development and validation of modern driver training methods.
Road safety research, including the safety of vulnerable road users (VRUs).
Assessment of road user behavior.
Testing of Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) components.
Analysis of the impact of ITS, on transport safety and efficiency.
Research in transport psychology.
Anna Niedzicka, ITS resident expert, stressed that this research and evaluation into autonomous vehicles and their possible integration into the Polish transport system and public roads is still in its relative infancy and its possible implementation is still a number of years away.
As a finale to the Polish study tour, the SA delegates were invited to attend the annual Automotive Auto Parts Expo and aligned Warsaw Motor Show. This much awaited opportunity proved a little disappointing, as in line with other automotive parts shows worldwide, the number of Chinese exhibitors far outweighed the local manufacturers and distributors. As has become the norm at these types of events, the majority of staff manning these Chinese stands showed a distinct disinterest in communicating with the visitors to the Expo - perhaps due to language barriers!
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