Hungarian automotive industry: week 10 2019 edition
According to the Ministry of Finance, Hungarians working abroad could be lured back home with “appropriate salaries”. Despite the shortage of workers, last week brought a number of new investments. Let’s recap what last week brought in Hungary’s automotive industry.
The Geneva International Motor Show opened its gates last week, where Mercedes-Benz showcased its latest model from Kecskemét.
France-based GMD Group has announced to build an automotive casting plant in Dorog. The investment creates 240 jobs, and equips the plant with robotised technologies.
Hankook employees will most likely not stop at a warning strike, and plan on work stoppage. They are far from being satisfied with the company’s latest wage offer.
Balluff has inaugurated a new production unit in Csetény, where it will engage in the complete assembly of mechanical switches, cables and coils.
“Although there are several wholesale traders of connectors in Hungary, the activities of Metrikont are highly diversified. We measure and inspect every single part at our site, and take great care of supplying our customers with top quality products. We work with large companies, which is why a line stoppage or any other fault can result in huge extra costs. We strive to respond to all requests in a flexible way,” János Kovács, the owner of Metrikont Kft., told us in an interview.
Spanish-owned F. Segura Hungária Kft. has announced to carry out a HUF 4.2 billion investment at its Szolnok plant to increase manufacturing efficiency and capacities.
The German-Hungarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DUIHK) handed out its Vocational Awards last week.
The employment of inactive people can partially solve Hungary’s labour shortage, while many Hungarians who have found employment abroad could return if they are offered an “appropriate salary”, the Hungarian Ministry of Finance said last week.
BMW held a test day last week, where participants could compare the latest 3-Series with similar models of its competitors.
“Engineers are honoured both financially morally. I believe that today in Hungary the industry needs young, determined, self-critical engineers with a pursuit of knowledge. This is especially true in the field of railway engineering. However, at the same there is a need for professional humility, with which engineers address challenges through complex and unique technical examination rather than a self-serving attitude, András Gábor Falucskai, recipient of the Engineer of the Year Award, told us in an interview.
The development and spread of drones is often compared with the advancement of motorisation that began 130 years ago. In Hungary, there are approximately 100,000 drone owners, and the number of industrial users is also growing. There are automotive companies where drones take part in warehousing activities.
A recent survey asked company executives about their greatest worries: the number one answer is labour shortage.
In Hungary, women still earn significantly less than men. A new, HUF 9 million project available exclusively to women is aiming to reduce the wage gap.
