Visteon Corp. is expanding its software operations in Bulgaria. Following significant growth in demand for its software services, Visteon is relocating its 700 employees in the Bulgarian capital of Sofia to a new 89,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art office space, with plans to further expand the facility to accommodate up to 150 additional employees.
Celebrating the official opening at the new Capital Fort building, Visteon hosted Rosen Plevneliev, president of the Republic of Bulgaria; Eric Ruben, U.S. ambassador to Bulgaria; representatives from Bulgaria’s investment and economic development agencies; business partners; and employees. The “Engineered in Bulgaria” themed event also included products and vehicles equipped with technology developed by Visteon’s software teams in Sofia.
“Automotive software development is the fastest-growing segment in the global automotive industry, driven by the evolution of the connected car and autonomous driving,” said Markus Schupfner, Visteon chief technology officer, at the opening ceremony. “Visteon’s software operations in Sofia are at the core of this exciting evolution, providing infotainment, head-up displays and innovative solutions for the world’s leading automakers.”
Initially established as a software startup in 2001, Visteon’s software center in Sofia has grown to become one of the company’s largest software operations globally and one of the largest research and development facilities in Bulgaria’s fast-growing technology sector. As the company continues to expand its services to global automakers, Visteon is increasing its development capabilities in Sofia to meet the growing demand for software-based automotive technology.
“We are very proud of what we have achieved in Visteon’s 15 years in Bulgaria; we have built excellent relationships with the Bulgarian government, business partners and the technical universities that are delivering our talented workforce,” said Ivan Mihaylov, managing director, Visteon Bulgaria. “As witnessed by our rapid growth, automotive software development provides exciting opportunities for our employees to directly influence the future of the connected car.”
