Schmitz Cargobull has expanded its European production network with the opening of a new assembly plant in Oradea, Romania, just a few kilometres from the Hungarian border. The facility began operations in January 2026 with the start of assembly of S.CS curtainsider semi-trailers, while production of S.KI tipper trailers destined for Central European markets is scheduled to begin in the spring. Total investment amounts to around €3.5 million.
The new site forms part of the German manufacturer’s industrial strategy aimed at strengthening its presence in a region that has experienced sustained growth in freight flows and road transport in recent years. As explained by Andreas Schmitz, chief executive of Schmitz Cargobull AG, opening the plant fills a gap in the international production network and brings the company closer to transport operators in Central Europe, offering vehicles, services and spare parts with shorter delivery times. The objective is to provide reliable and innovative transport solutions integrated with a range of services including vehicle financing, telematics systems for trailers, used vehicle sales and a spare parts logistics network operating around the clock. At a time when fleets require increasingly rapid response times and uninterrupted operations, geographical proximity between production and market is becoming a decisive factor.
The Oradea plant has a covered area of 6,000 square metres and can reach a production capacity of around 80 units per week with a single work shift. The external area, covering about 45,000 square metres, allows for potential future expansion, signalling development prospects over the medium term. The site currently employs 25 qualified specialists tasked with replicating the group’s industrial processes and quality standards.
The new plant completes a production network that includes facilities in Germany, Lithuania, Spain, the United Kingdom and Turkey. The aim is to combine uniform technical standards with greater proximity to key markets, reducing delivery times and increasing operational flexibility. This approach reflects a broader trend in European logistics characterised by the gradual regionalisation of supply chains and the growing importance of Central and Eastern European transport corridors.
The significance of the investment also emerges when considering the manufacturer’s market position. Schmitz Cargobull holds a 25% share of the European semi-trailer market and occupies leading positions in the S.CS curtainsider, S.KO Cool refrigerated trailer, S.KI tipper and S.BO dry freight segments. In Central European markets the share reaches 31%, confirming the company’s strong presence in the region.
In Romania, the brand holds a leading position in the curtainsider, refrigerated and tipper segments. Through its subsidiary Schmitz Cargobull Romania, the company has already delivered more than 50,000 trailers, supported by a network of around 30 authorised service providers and a spare parts logistics system that ensures rapid intervention times and high vehicle availability.
Massimiliano Barberis
