Hungarian automotive industry: week 23
Week 23 was all about bus manufacturing, suppliers and student competitions. Let´s recap what last week brought in Hungary’s automotive sector.
Bus manufacturing
It was announced last week at the inauguration of Kravtex-Kühne’s new production unit that after a few-year ramp-up phase, the expanded plant will be capable of producing 500 Credo buses annually, and will create hundreds of new jobs in Mosonmagyaróvár.
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AHAI
Last week, we interviewed Péter Erhardt, presidency member of the Association of the Hungarian Automotive Industry (AHAI).
Erhardt, who is also the member of the board of directors of Opel Southeast Europe LLC. responsible for governmental relations, told Autopro that the primary target of the association is to maintain the competitiveness of local automotive companies.
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| Péter Erhardt, presidency member of the Association of the Hungarian Automotive Industry |
At last week’s general meeting, held to elect new members into its leadership, we interviewed Tamás Kovács, board of directors member of Mercedes-Benz Manufacturing Hungary Kft. responsible for technical affairs. Kovács said we should strive to see the people behind the machines.
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| Tamás Kovács, board of directors member of Mercedes-Benz Manufacturing Hungary Kft. |
Attila Bíró, CEO of Knorr-Bremse Fékrendszerek Kft., told us that if we join forces, together we can achieve a higher order volume for Hungarian automotive firms.
Suppliers
Last week, we visited Busch-Hungária’s Győr site, where the company manufactures products from materials that other companies consider waste.
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| Attila Bíró, CEO of Knorr-Bremse Fékrendszerek Kft. |
Workers of LuK Savaria Kuplunggyártó Kft. demanded secure jobs and adequate working conditions at a demonstration held last week by the Hungarian Metalworkers' Federation (Vasas) at the entrance of the company’s Szombathely plant’s car park.
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| Plant visit at Busch-Hungária |
ZF celebrates 20th anniversary in Hungary: in 1995, German businessmen arrived in Eger to evaluate the conditions at Csepel Autó’s Eger-based plant. The rest is history.
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| ZF celebrates 20th anniversary in Hungary |
Serial production of IC+ railway coaches is set to begin this year, a project that will provide a promoted position for Hungarian suppliers, it was announced by András Csépke, the CEO of MÁV-Start Zrt., at a supplier conference held last week in Szolnok.
TechTogether
Year by year, Pneumobil, a competition of compressed-air powered vehicles, is gaining popularity.
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Last week, we interviewed the winning team from the Budapest University of Technology and Economics (BME), who said that winning requires a stable and reliable mechanical structure and drivetrain.
BME also came back with excellent results from Germany. BME FRT took part in Formula Student Germany as the sole Hungarian – and foreign – contender.
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| BME FRT makes strong statement in Germany |
Not only did they win the E-Race, a dedicated sub-competition of electric-driven vehicles, but they also brought back a special prize awarded for the best team effort.
