Hungarian automotive industry: week 19
Last week saw wage conflicts at LuK Savaria in Szombathely, unexpected turns in bus procurement in the capital, Rába looking for new directions and Audi expanding its dual training portfolio in Győr.
Manufacturers
At a press event on Monday, the CEO of evopro group, shareholder of MABI-Bus Kft., manufacturer of Modulo buses, announced that the company is ready to start serial manufacturing for its innovative products.
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| Csaba Mészáros of evopro |
It was then the government’s turn to announce that the cabinet will draft and implement a national bus manufacturing strategy.
As a result of the announcement, no decision was made on Thursday by the municipality of Budapest on the procurement of Polish-made buses.
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| Government announces plans to draft national bus manufacturing strategy |
Last week, Mercedes-Benz’s Hungarian operation handed over a housing complex for its employees.
In an attempt to motivate workers, the German premium manufacturer’s Kecskemét-based subsidiary built a complex with 40 flats that employees can rent for a reduced fee.
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| Mercedes hands over housing complex in Kecskemét |
Suppliers
A demonstration was held at LuK Savaria’s Szombathely site where workers protested for higher wages. The company acknowledged that wage talks are under way, while Béla Balogh, chairman of the Hungarian Metalworkers' Federation (Vasas) told Autopro about the motives of the strike.
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| LuK Savaria prepares for strike call |
Last week, we sat down with Pál-Levente Tibori, executive vice-president for East Europe & Germany at SMR Automotive Mirror Technology Hungary Bt., to talk about SMP’s HUF 31 billion investment in Kecskemét.
Automotive glass producer AGC celebrated the tenth anniversary of its glass manufacturing plant in Tatabánya.
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| AGC celebrates 10 years of glass manufacturing in Tatabánya |
Rába said in a statement last week that the holding company is looking to launch a strategic upgrading. According to István Pintér, chairman and CEO of Rába Automotive Holding Plc., their bus project is going strong and as suppliers they have plans to conquer the European markets.
Service providers
Last week, we made an interview with Zsolt Fekete, CEO of packaging specialist DS Smith Packaging Hungary, about their role in product development, customer focus and the challenges in the auto industry.
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| Zsolt Fekete, CEO of DS Smith Packaging Hungary |
We also sat down with the CEO of Roll-N Kft., manufacturer of wheels, rollers and developers of gate technologies for industrial applications. Zoltán Hámori said the company will take part in the trade fair Automotive Hungary again.
Railway company GYSEV Zrt. announced plans to purchase ten low-floor electric locomotives with no mention of who the potential supplier might be.
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| Roll-N Kft., manufacturer of wheels and rollers for industrial applications |
According to a new bill, sub-3.5-ton vehicles could also be required for Electronic Trade and Transport Control System (ekáer) registration by the National Tax and Customs Administration of Hungary.
Education
Audi Hungaria and Széchenyi István University of Győr announced a new joint dual training programme for training electrical engineers.
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| Audi Hungaria solidifies dual training programme in Győr |
Finally, last week we also sat down with Márk Szigeti, lead designer of Hungary's first lightweight electric sports car, the Amber One, who said that opportunities indeed exist in Hungary to create new and innovative products.
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| Amber One, Hungary's first own electric sports car |
