By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo

H.E. Georg Schmidt, Ambassador of Germany to Korea, Joern Beissert, Deputy Ambassador of Germany to Korea, and Dennis Bloch, Economic Counsellor of the Embassy of Germany to Korea, visited the headquarters of Webasto Korea, an innovative system partner for the mobility industry and its production plant in Ulsan.

The visit symbolizes Webasto Korea's growth and strengthening of its presence in the Korean market since becoming a fully owned subsidiary of the Webasto Group in 2019.

The ambassador and his delegation toured production lines and met with management to discuss the future of the Korean automotive industry, technological innovation, and bilateral trade relations.

Webasto has invested around €350 million in Korea in recent years, with the Ulsan plant growing to become one of the largest sunroof production bases within the Webasto Group.

In 2022, Webasto opened its first global production facility for passenger car battery systems in Dangjin, and in 2024, the company will expand the capacity of its Dangjin plant to strengthen its position as a key supplier to the Korean automotive industry.

Today, with two state-of-the-art production facilities in Ulsan and Dangjin, Webasto Korea is on track for double-digit growth, targeting sales of approximately €500 million in 2025.

In addition to supplying eco-friendly mobility products, the company continues to work to reduce its environmental footprint: solar panels on the roof of the plant generate renewable energy for around 23% of the company's electricity use, contributing to the reduction of CO₂ emissions in the region.

“German suppliers like Webasto are providing solutions for the mobility of the future and continue to work in close partnership with the Korean automotive industry,” said Amb. Georg Schmidt. ”This is an example of the potential for German and Korean companies to grow together, and such cooperation is crucial in the transition to sustainable mobility.”

“Ambassador Schmidt's visit reflects Webasto Korea's remarkable growth, innovation and sustainability in recent years, as well as our long-term trusted relationship with our Korean customers,” said Peter Willemsen, Head of Webasto Asia Pacific. ”We look forward to working closely with our regional partners and making an even greater contribution to the future of mobility in the region.”