Hungarian automotive industry 2015: week 1

Manufacturers are launching an offensive in 2015 on the compact market, although several SUV models are also in the pipeline, including cars manufactured in Hungary. The competition is about to get even fiercer between German premium manufacturers.

Daimler CEO Dieter Zetsche with the new F 015 concept

Mercedes has plans to overtake Bavaria-based BMW. At CES in Las Vegas, Daimler CEO Dieter Zetsche gave a presentation on the mobility of the future, also presenting the company's new "dream car", the F 015.

In addition to the TT Roadster manufactured in Győr, Audi also took the latest version of the Prologue concept car to the American trade show.

Thanks to the popularity of the architecture, BKV has placed a new order on PKD platform Ikarus buses.

We interviewed János Rendesi, corporate consultant to aluminium cylinder head manufacturer Nemak about the company's plans to train foundry engineers in cooperation with Miskolc University.

Audi Prologue Concept

Last week, Audi Hungaria reported on a record year in 2014. In a report CEO Thomas Faustmann summarized the company's success story.

Suppliers

Last week, Komárom-based Kayser Automotive expanded with a 3,200-square-metre production hall. The manufacturer of automotive plastics carried out a nearly HUF 700 million investment.

Last week, we reported on Hungarian car registrations. The Skoda Octavia continues to be the most popular model, while the highest-selling brand in Hungary is Ford.

Mercedes-Benz also reported on its annual sales results, reporting on a new record in its global sales.

Hungary's tractor market had a major boost last year. In the first seven months of 2014, agricultural vehicle sales increased by 71 percent from the previous year.

TechTogether

We are proud to say that SZEnergy Team from Széchenyi István University of Győr received a Presztízs Award, while Team Megaméter from Kecskemét College are already preparing for new challenges.

Robonaut, this year's first engineering student competition, will be held on January 10. Autopro will be reporting from the event.

Team Megaméter from Kecskemét

Economy

The first week of 2015 was mostly about the government's controversial e-toll system. The scheme is characterised by major logic flaws, badly drawn maps and slow administration. The government announced last Friday hat there might be corrections, although the system will not be "softened".

Brent and WTI oil prices have slumped below USD 50 per barrel. This a new low since May 2009 and we can expect further decline in the future.

Hungary's new e-toll system: as sophisticated as the spelling

By the end of last year, Hungarian banks have disbursed HUF 472.3 million in loans within the second phase of the Hungarian National Bank's Funding for Growth Scheme. The loans were disbursed to 13,813 enterprises.

At the end of the first week this year, the gross wholesale price of petrol and diesel was HUF 330 and HUF 352, respectively.

The number of imported used cars have nearly doubled from 49,000 to 96,000 in the last two years, which could cause serious problems as the average age of these vehicles is 11 years.