Hungarian automotive industry: week 36
Mercedes-Benz builds new plant in Kecskemét with €1 billion investment, suppliers hand over major development projects, dual education is on the rise. Let’s recap what week 36 brought in Hungary’s automotive sector.
Manufacturers
Students have enrolled in two new courses Audi Hungaria’s in-house training programme. This September, the company launched vehicle maintenance and alternative vehicle propulsion technician courses.
The joint dual training portfolio of Győr-based manufacturer with Széchenyi István University has also been expanded with a full-time electrician engineering BSc course.
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| Yoshinobu Abe, new head of Magyar Suzuki Corporation |
It was announced last week that Magyar Suzuki Corporation, celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, will be headed by a new managing director, Yoshinobu Abe.
After talks with Daimler Buses boss Hartmut Schick and Mercedes-Benz Hungária Kft. Jörg Schmidt, Hungary’s economy minister Mihály Varga announced that Mercedes-Benz is set to carry out a €2 billion cumulative investment in Hungary in the near future.
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| Hungary’s economy minister Mihály Varga (right) with Daimler Buses boss Hartmut Schick |
Suppliers
U.S.-based Dana announced last week to launch a €48 million investment in Győr in early-2017.
Poland-based Alumetal group has handed over a new aluminium cast manufacturing plant, built with a €30 million investment in Komáromt. The investment has created 150 new jobs.
Dávid Krasznay, head of Parafix, said the company is continuously hiring new employees. Their current headcount has exceeded 150, to be doubled thanks to a future investment.
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| Alumetal hands over new plant in Komárom |
Dale A. Martin, president and CEO of Siemens Hungary, announced last week that the group’s Hungarian engineers will play an important role in the development of electric drive systems. In an interview with Autopro, he spoke about dual education, keeping workforce and a unique, Hungarian-developed electric vehicle.
Service providers
Over a thousand charging stations in Budapest: the General Assembly of Budapest approved last week an agreement with the Ministry of National Economy on the construction of an electric vehicle charger infrastructure.
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The Budapet Transport Centre (BKK) said last week that the organization sees no obstacle in purchasing Hungarian-built buses during metro-substitution periods. According to BKK, the public procurement process does not hold any limitations for Hungarian-made vehicles in any way.
Education
The first academic year kicked off at Hatvan-based Community Higher Education Training Centre, built based on an initiative by local manufacturer Bosch.
The Budapest Business School (BME) has also honoured Robert Bosch Elektronika boss Volker Schilling with an academic rank for his achievements in the local dual education programme.
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| Dale A. Martin, president and CEO of Siemens Hungary |
Siemens has announced to launch a new dual master’s course in cooperation with the Budapest University of Technology and Economics (BME).
According to the two parties, partnerships such as this are the future for corporations and universities alike.
