An area, between Pisa and Livorno, characterized by the presence of international players; another, in the Valdera area, which has Europe’s principal 2-wheel group as a protagonist and through which works an intense system of suppliers. These are the two souls that characterize the Tuscan automotive sector that, although well distributed throughout the regional territory, finds in these areas its two points of strength. And potentially its future, given that the integration of these two components of the Tuscan automotive industry is seen as one of the paths along which the sector can develop.
In the coastal area, for example, we find foreign groups such as the German tire giant Continental, the German Pierburg Pump Technology of the KSPG automotive group, the Canadians of the Magna Closures, and the American TRW, specialized in security systems. The reference point the Valdera region is Piaggio. The company has its headquarters and its main production site in the province of Pisa. The group is the region’s second largest business, employing 3,300 people, and is known around the world for its two 2-wheel brands: Piaggio, Vespa, Aprilia, Gilera, and Moto Guzzi. In addition to these large groups, Tuscany has many highly specialized suppliers for auto builders and brands like Alfa, Chevrolet, Ferrari, Jaguar, Porsche, Volvo and many more.

Comprehensively, the Tuscan automotive universe comprises nearly one thousand companies. According to Regione Toscana [Region of Tuscany] statistics, the approximately 150 businesses active in segments more strictly active in the production of various motorized and transport vehicles (excluding suppliers), employ nearly 11,400 people. Numerically, the automotive sector accounts for slightly more than 2% of the regional businesses in the mechanical sector (which mostly pertain to metal products and machinery), but accounts from more than 15% of the total employees in the mechanics field.

These elements are joined by others that complete the full Tuscan automotive panorama, and that broaden its avenues for growth. In the province of Pistoia, the nerve center of a district relevant to railway transport, spearheaded by the Ansaldo Breda group. The numerous research laboratories that manufacturers of 2 and 4-wheel vehicles have in the region. And the significant 2011 decision by the Japanese Yanmar group, producer of diesel engines: the group established its European research and development center in Florence, enabling it to benefit from the Tuscan industrial and academic excellence. 


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