The Valeo industrial site in Angers, a historic French hub of expertise in the design and production of automotive lighting systems, is finalizing the rollout of its modernization plan.

Automotive lighting is a high-growth market in which Valeo is a global leader. Conducted between 2023 and 2026 and representing an investment of more than 45 million euros, the plan has transformed the workshops and deployed new optical technologies to meet the growth targets outlined in the Valeo Elevate 2028 strategic plan. Accompanied by recruitment momentum, this transformation illustrates the local roots and global technological reach of the Anjou plant.

Jean-Luc Terrasse, CEO of Valeo’s Light Division, said: “Lighting is at the heart of the mobility challenges of tomorrow: safety, design, and intelligent interaction with the environment. It allows manufacturers to differentiate themselves and offer users ever-increasing safety and driving comfort. This 45 million euro investment allows the factory to consolidate its industrial excellence. The Angers site demonstrates that a French factory can design and produce systems of unprecedented optical complexity and be at the forefront of European Industry 4.0.”

French technological excellence serving major manufacturers
The Angers plant showcases the Group’s expertise and its high standards for quality, operational performance, and industrial competitiveness. It is firmly rooted in its region, focusing on industrial innovation and operational excellence.

With over 1,200 highly qualified employees across Angers and Blois, Valeo’s industrial operations in the region supply 9,000 headlights and 22,000 complex modules daily to the world’s leading manufacturers. The site benefits from exceptional innovation capabilities through its dual DNA, which combines industrial excellence with advanced R&D design.

Valeo has been selected by several European manufacturers to equip their new vehicles with complex bi-color optical lenses. The modernization plan has enabled a major transformation of the thermoplastic injection workshops, equipping them with new, dedicated, high-performance automated injection press lines.

The plant now features a high-tech industrial facility equipped with 25 injection presses, 5 varnishing lines, 11 assembly lines, and 181 robots. 

The site also benefits from significant innovation strength through its R&D center, with 24 projects currently under development, including 6 major projects specifically allocated to the Angers plant.

All these processes benefit from the increasing integration of digital tools and Artificial Intelligence for predictive simulation and real-time system validation.

Valeo, a major player in employment and regional industrial roots
To support these industrial advancements, the teams remain Valeo’s priority:

• 168 hires have been completed over the last three years (15 new technicians, essential experts specialized in the installation and configuration of these new presses, are joining the workshops in 2026).
• Enhanced employability through an active apprenticeship policy, accounting for 6.3% of the workforce, and certified metallurgical CQPM training courses. The Valeo Lighting Academy also provides more than 3,150 hours of continuous training per year to maintain team excellence.

Angers, a center of excellence for heavy duty vehicles
The market for utility and heavy duty vehicle lighting is currently very dynamic. With two major launches planned in 2027 and 2028 for new clients, the site’s production volume related to heavy goods vehicles will increase from 20% to 40%. By 2030, 6 out of 7 European road transport leaders will be driving with headlights developed in Angers.

The Angers site has been designated the Product & Process Competence Center for Heavy Duty Vehicle front headlights at the European level for the entire Group.

(Photo credit: Valeo)

TrendForce 2026 Global Automotive LED Market- Lighting and Display Product Trend
Release Date:
1. PDF (160 Pages)- 30 June 2026
2. EXCEL- 30 June 2026 and 31 December 2026
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