The automotive industry in Poland 

Poland is one of the most important automotive locations in Central and Eastern Europe. The industry is strongly export-oriented and boasts a diverse production and supplier structure. Instead of large national car brands, the country’s automotive industry is characterized by international OEMs, high-performing suppliers, a growing e-mobility industry, and a highly developed commercial vehicle sector.

Poland is increasingly positioning itself as a strategic production and development center for electric vehicles, battery components, commercial vehicles and automotive engineering.

1. Structure & Importance of the Industry

1) Vehicle production

Poland has several major production sites for passenger cars, commercial vehicles and electric vehicles.

Stellantis (Tychy & Gliwice)

• • One of the largest car production sites in Europe.

  • Production of several models in the small and compact segment.

  • Important location for highly efficient series production.

Volkswagen (Poznań & Września)

• • Center for van and light commercial vehicle production.

  • Manufactures models such as the VW Crafter and MAN TGE.

  • Important for the European market in the commercial vehicle segment.

MAN (Starachowice / Niepolomice)

• • Production of bus chassis, complete city and public buses.

  • One of the largest commercial vehicle locations in the region.

Solaris (Bolechowo)

• • Poland’s most internationally renowned manufacturer of city, hybrid and electric buses.

  • Leading in e-bus production in Europe.

  • Strong position in hydrogen buses.

Toyota (Walbrzych & Jelcz-Laskowice)

• • Production sites for hybrid components and drive technologies.

  • One of Toyota’s most important engine locations worldwide.

  • Key location in the European hybrid strategy.

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2) Supplier industry

The Polish automotive supply industry is growing continuously and comprises over 3,000 companies . Typical segments include:

• • Powertrain & Drive Technology

  • Metalworking, forging, casting

  • Interior & plastic components

  • Electronics & Sensors

  • Battery modules and electrical components

  • Wiring harnesses (large European focus)

International Tier 1 suppliers such as Bosch, Valeo, Faurecia, ZF, Lear or Aptiv operate large plants in the country.

Particularly noteworthy:

• • Poland is Europe’s largest producer of wiring harnesses , a key component for electric cars and combustion engines.

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3) Electromobility & Battery Industry

Poland is one of the most important locations in Europe for battery production and e-mobility components.

Key areas:

• • Manufacturing of battery cells and modules

  • Manufacturing of electric bus components

  • Production of electric motors (Toyota, Stellantis)

  • Ramp-up of e-charging infrastructure and smart grid solutions

Asian manufacturers are investing billions

South Korean companies in particular are developing extensive battery factories for:

• • LG Energy Solution

  • SK Innovation

  • Samsung SDI

These plants supply European OEMs such as VW, Mercedes-Benz, Ford, Stellantis and Hyundai.

This has made Poland one of the most important battery hotspots in Europe .

2. Economic Importance & Labor Market

• Approximately 350,000 people are employed directly in the automotive industry.

• Industry contributes approximately 8% to total industrial production .

• Automotive is one of the country’s most important export sectors.

• High regional importance in Silesia, Greater Poland, Lower Silesia and Masovia.

• Attractive cost structure (labor costs, energy, logistics) for international manufacturers.

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3. Challenges of Transformation

1) Dependence on foreign OEMs

The Polish automotive industry is heavily dependent on decisions made by international corporations:

• • Model cycles,

  • Manufacturing relocations,

  • Electromobility strategies.

2) Shortage of qualifications and skilled workers

Despite a large population, there is a lack of:

• • Software engineers,

  • Mechatronics engineers,

  • electrical engineers,

  • Experts in battery systems.

Companies are responding with intensive training and retraining programs.

3) Energy infrastructure & transformation

• • Poland’s electricity mix is ​​still heavily based on coal.

  • Increasing regulatory requirements for CO₂ reduction are impacting investments and supply chains.

  • Implementing the industrial transformation requires billions in investment in renewable energy.

4) Cost pressure & regional competition

Poland is in direct competition with:

• • Czech Republic,

  • Slovakia,

  • Hungary,

  • Romania.

These countries sometimes offer similarly good or better investment conditions.

4. Opportunities & Future Prospects

1) Electric bus capital of Europe

With Solaris and MAN, Poland is among the leading countries in e-bus production.
Future fields:

• • Zero-emission transport

  • Hydrogen buses

  • urban electromobility

2) Growing market for battery production

Poland is already one of the largest battery producers in Europe.
Foreseeable:

• • further expansion of Asian manufacturers,

  • Building complete value chains,

  • Integration of Polish suppliers into e-battery production.

3) Engineering and software skills

Poland’s IT sector is among the strongest in Europe.
Particular focus:

• • Automotive Software

  • Driver assistance systems

  • networked vehicle architectures

  • Test systems and validation

4) Expansion of Toyota and Stellantis

Hybrid expertise and e-component manufacturing further strengthen the location.

5. Political & economic framework

The Polish government supports the automotive industry through:

• Tax incentives for large investments

• Funding programs for e-mobility

• Special economic zones

• Training partnerships with companies

• Expansion of transport infrastructure

Strategic goal: To establish Poland as Europe’s central e-mobility and battery hub.

6. Outlook 2025–2030

1) Further expansion of the battery industry

Poland will remain one of the most important production locations for EV batteries in Europe.

2) Strong role in e-buses

Solaris and MAN will play a key role in shaping the European transport revolution.

3) Shift within vehicle production

More electrification, less focus on combustion engines — especially at Toyota and Stellantis.

4) Digital Transformation

Significant growth in the areas of automotive software, embedded systems, and simulation/testing.

5) Increasing competitive pressure

Poland will need to focus more on innovation and quality in the future to hold its own against its Eastern European neighbors.

Our conclusion:

Poland has become a key pillar of the European automotive industry , boasting a strong OEM presence, high export rates, a growing battery industry, and a high-performing IT and engineering sector.
The transformation towards electromobility offers significant opportunities but also presents the country with challenges in the areas of energy, skilled labor, and dependence on international corporations.
If these factors can be managed strategically, Poland has excellent prospects for a leading role in the future of the European automotive sector.