Magna International Inc. has announced plans to buy Wipac Czech s.r.o., a premium automotive lighting engineering firm located in Ostrava, Czech Republic, to boost its capabilities in the region.
It is the second lighting acquisition in as many years and, Magna said, will both strengthen its engineering and electronics competencies and expand its engineering capabilities globally. The transaction is expected to close the week of Nov. 25.
The 40-strong engineering team at Wipac Czech s.r.o. boasts a formidable range of technical competencies in the automotive forward lighting, space. The company’s focus is on premium customers including Aston Martin, Bentley, Rolls Royce, McLaren, Lamborghini, Bugatti, Audi, Daimler, BMW and Porsche.
"Lighting represents a strategic growth area for us, due to increasing levels of electronic and sensor integration and the ongoing industry trend to differentiate vehicles through styling," John O'Hara, President of Magna mechatronics, mirrors and lighting, said. Wipac Czech, he added, can play an important role in expanding Magna’s presence in the European forward lighting market.
Ontario-based Magna acquired OLSA SpA, a market leader in rear lighting technology, in 2018. This latest purchase brings the number of global lighting manufacturing facilities up to a total of 11, supported by three engineering centers.