Hungarian automotive industry: week 1&2 2019 edition
Győr-based Audi Hungaria announces new model launch, Continental appoints new regional coordinator, German minister welcomed at Zalaegerszeg test track. Let´s recap what the first two weeks of the year brought in Hungary’s automotive industry.
Audi has disclosed its annual report, boasting an engine manufacturing volume of nearly 2 million units in 2018. Their statement hints on a new Q model to be added to the Győr plant’s production portfolio in 2019.
Suzuki set yet another record in Hungary in 2018: The company increased its market share to 14.1 percent in the Hungarian passenger car market. Their success was primarily driven by the Vitara.
The top management of Germany-based Continental has appointed Mihály Nagy as regional coordinator for the Hungarian Continental group.
Műforg Ezredév Kft. has completed a HUF 883.7 million investment to boost production capacity at its Hajdúnánás site.
BME university has concluded a strategic partnership agreement with oil producer Mol.
Innovation and technology minister László Palkovics held talks with Andreas Scheuer, mobility and digital infrastructure minister of the German federal government, discussing the potential of the Zalaegerszeg automotive test track, where the two parties have agreed to meet at the facility in an official visit, which is expected to take place in March.
We asked experts from three trading houses about Hungarian consumer habits. Their answers suggest Hungary will soon be flooded by SUVs.
The European Commission and the European Parliament are negotiating a new transport law that is set to regularise resting periods and locations. Bulgarian, Polish, Lithuanian and Hungarian ministry leaders have united to show their stance against the draft. This could result in a renegotiation of the proposal, which would also affect Hungarian haulers.
Hungarian shipping company Mahart has purchased 20 new boats.
An expansion valued at over HUF 2 billion has been started at Szekszárd Business Park, where the floor area of production halls is planned to be expanded by 2,000 square metres.
András Nagy has been appointed as sales director of Ford Hungary.
“The lease share of used cars is much lower. Financing rates amount to 3-4 percent in the case of import cars sold to private individuals, while domestic purchases attract a 2 percent rate. The main reason behind these low figures is that the vast majority of this market consists of 10-12-year old vehicles, which cannot be financed under a lease.
"Bank financing does have a role with cheaper cars, costing below or around HUF 1 million, but these usually constitute general-purpose personal loans,” Tamás Pfandler, presidency member of the Hungarian Leasing Association, told our site in an interview.
