Hungarian automotive industry: week 3
Audi to bring new model to Győr, Miskolc prepares for large automotive investments, trade unions strive for Western European wages. Let´s recap the most important news items from Hungary´s auto sector from week 3, 2016.
Manufacturers
Audi Hungaria announced last week that the mass production of the Audi Q3 model will be relocated to Győr, following the German premium manufacturer's move to reorganize its production strategy with a look into the future.
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| Audi to relocate production of Q3 to Győr plant |
In 2018, Audi will launch the mass production of all-electric SUVs at its Brussels site. In addition, the Belgian plant's capacity will be expanded with battery production.
Magyar Suzuki Corporation was awarded last week by the Hungarian Investment Promotion Agency (HIPA) for its outstanding achievement in supporting and contracting Hungarian suppliers.
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| Magyar Suzuki Corp awarded for supporting Hungarian suppliers |
Mosonmagyaróvár-based bus manufacturer Kühne Mezőgazdasági Gépgyár Zrt. (Kühne Zrt.) will display two brand-new developments at Agromash Expo.
With the exception of hydraulic parts, 90 percent of Kühne Zrt.'s products are manufactured in-house. The Mosonmagyaróvár-based manufacturer is celebrating its 160th anniversary this year.
Suppliers
Last week, we visited Bosch's Maklár-based production site. The site is a strategic location for the company, engaged in the manufacturing of electric steering systems for future-oriented vehicle applications.
Robert Bosch Power Tool Elektromos Szerszámgyártó Kft. has appointed former head of department László Fükő as the Miskolc-based plant's new chief executive.
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| A visit to Bosch's Maklár plant |
Last week, we made an interview with Balázs Kállai, the CEO of cable systems manufacturer Kongsberg. The chief-executive said he is expecting more and more Hungarian companies to become suppliers to the automotive industry.
The Siófok-based company is a manufacturer of mechanic bowden cable systems for passenger cars, commercial vehicles and lawn mower tractors.
Kongsberg's most important partners include Tata (Jaguar Land Rover), Johnson Controls, Daimler, Faurecia and Lear.
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| Bosal inaugurates new production unit |
Last week, we reported on important news from Bicske, Kecskemét and Bonyhád:
Bicske-based Magyarmet Finomöntöde has completed an investment projects, increasing its casts manufacturing capacity and improving production technology by increasing production safety. The investment amounted to HUF 600 million.
Bosal, a Kecskemét-based manufacturer of automotive body parts, handed over a 8,700 m2 expansion project last week. The company also announced plans to manufacture 1 million towbars by 2017.
Bonyhád-based Knipl Kft. reported on major revenue growth in 2015. According to the manufacturer of painting applications, it managed to increase its revenues by 50 percent.
Since 2014, the company has been a supplier of BMW and its direct suppliers.
Service providers
On January 14, IG Metall, Germany's largest trade union, and Vasas Szakszervezeti Szövetség (Vasas Trade Union) opened an agency in Győr to promote international partnerships (TPI). The two organizations are striving to bring Hungarian wages and working conditions up to German standards.
Last week a decision was made to establish a new business park in Miskolc, large enough to house an entire automotive supplier network with over 10,000 employees and four times the size of the current Mercedes-Benz plant in Kecskemét.
A Slovakia-based manpower agency has started recruiting employees in Győr for various positions in automotive manufacturing, promising higher wages, free accomodation and a reimbursement of travel costs. It seems PSA's local plant is suffering from a shortage in manpower.
TechTogether
Győr-based SZEnergy Team is preparing for yet another successful year in 2016. The team is currently working on developments for the next Shell Eco-marathon.
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| SZEnergy is working on a completely new effort for this year's Shell eco-marathon race |
This year, the race will be held in a new country, on a completely new circuit. The 2016 Shell Eco-marathon will be held in London, UK; the virtual layout of the circuit is already available for the teams.
SZEnergy Team is working on their self-developed PMS power plant, to be bench tested in late-January and potentially fitted in the vehicle in March. In addition, the team is redesigning the vehicle's wheels, entire suspension, driver-assist system and most of the electronics – virtually the entire chassis.
