Hungarian automotive industry: week 37
Hungary´s automotive industry kicked off the autumn with announcements on major investments and opening ceremonies.
Manufacturers
On Tuesday, Audi Hungaria Motor Kft. inaugurated its second logistics centre in the region, dubbed LOC 2. At the opening ceremony Aud Hungaria CEO Thomas Faustmann bid farewell after directing the plant for over a decade.
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| Thomas Faustmann bids farewell after ten years of being CEO at Audi Hungaria Motor Kft. |
Last week, Opel opened a new training centre in Szentgotthárd, which will play a major role in the region's dual educational programme.
Opel also unveiled the new Astra in Budapest last week, which will make its debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show.
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| Opel opens training centre in Szentgotthárd |
Suppliers
Bosch has announced to carry out a HUF 9.3 billion investment in Miskolc, creating 425 jobs as a result. The announcement was made by a company representative and Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó last week.
Nyíregyháza-based Termaschinen Kft. delivered large scale equipment to Big Steel River, a manufacturer of sheet metals and other base materials based near the river Mississippi.
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| Rudolph Autóipari Logisztikai Kft. opens new logistics hall in direct vicinity of Audi's new logistics centre |
The 300th software developer started work at Continental's Veszprém-based operation. The company's latest employee is responsible for the coordination of brake control software development.
Continental-member ContiTech Fluid Automotive Hungária Kft. has also expanded its headcount, which now amounts to 3,000 people.
Service providers
On Friday, Rudolph Autóipari Logisztikai Kft. handed over a new logistics facility in the direct vicinity of Audi Hungaria's LOC2.
Education
Last week, we interviewed László Palkovics, Secretary of State for higher education, about recent changes in Hungary's tertiary education system. The automotive professional turned politician spoke about the transformation of higher educational institutes and Hungary's prospects in the auto industry. The full interview in English will be available later this week.
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| Pneumobil race at Kecskemét College |
Last week, vehicles powered by compressed air competed against each other in Kecskemét. The Pneumobil Gala Race at Kecskemét College lined up spectacular innovations designed and built by Hungarian engineering students.
Economy
The migrant crisis also raised its head in the auto industry. In spite of the government's current rhetoric, Hungary is amount the top countries in terms of employing foreign labour force.
In July, export volume in euro terms grew by 5.4 percent, while imports rose by 2.3 percent year-on-year. The surplus on foreign trade amounted to €674 million, €236 million more than in July last year.
In the same period, the volume of industrial production increased by 3–4 percent. The output of industrial production was up 3–4 percent in July year-on-year, with seasonal and work-day adjusted indices corresponding to non-adjusted data, reported the Central Statistical Office (KSH) last week.
