Hungarian automotive industry: week 4 2017 edition
The workers at Audi Hungaria Zrt. held a two-hour warning strike last week. Bosch announced to build a new CEE logistics hub in Hungary. Let’s recap what the fourth week this year brought in Hungary’s automotive sector.
Manufacturers
Out of Audi Hungaria Zrt.’s 10,500 employees, 1,500 workers took part in a warning strike organized by the Audi Hungaria Independent Trade Union last Thursday.
All of them were employees on the engine floor. Although the strike resulted in a loss of production, it does not affect the supply of customers.
Following the demonstration, production went back to normal, and the trade union indicated that their primary objective is to continue wage talks with the Audi Hungaria management.
Suppliers
Bosch has announced to establish a new, advanced logistics centre in Hatvan to meet current and future customer demands and keep up with the ongoing growth of the CEE region.
The facility will handle input and output products as well as raw materials. The new centre will bring under the same roof transport, warehousing and operative activities.
 |
A new year brings new tasks but first and foremost we consider our priority the keeping and valuing of our employees, Charles Wassen, CEO of Dana Hungary told autopro.hu in an interview last week. Mr. Wassen gave an overview of the previous year and spoke about the company’s plans to build a new plant in Győr.
Employer branding is an area that needs further strengthening, as there are always employers around who offer a better pay and the biggest competitor in terms of trained workforce is the global market, Szabolcs Karaszek, HR director of Harman Becker Kft., told Autopro in an interview last week.
According to the HR director of Harman Becker, a vehicle systems company, it is clear that today it is the employers who are competing for potential labour force. The interview also brought up subjects such as the government’s public works programme.
 |
| Szabolcs Karaszek, Harman Becker Kft. |
Last week, Jászberény-based Jász-Plasztik Kft. announced a a HUF 2.85 billion (€9.2 million) capacity expansion development project, to be supported with a HUF 1.42 billion (€4.58 million) non-refundable government aid.
Founded 27 years ago, Jász-Plasztik, a company engaged in plastic processing, collects thousands of tons of plastic and battery waste for recovery every year – a volume expected to increase thanks to the investment.
On the first work day of 2017, we reported that Rekord Hajtómű- és Gépgyátó Kft. is buying heavy-purpose machinery to expand its production capacity. Last week, we revealed more details about the HUF 500 million investment project.
DS Smith announced last week to expand its Hungarian locations with a HUF 1 billion (€3 million) investment. The company has launched an innovation project aiming the development and market launch of paper based pallet, container and cover and other integrated systems at its Tiszaújváros-based production site.
 |
Service providers
An induction machine quickly pays for itself under regular use, Róbert Breitner, CEO of Inductor Gyártó és Fejlesztő Kft., said last week in an interview with Autopro.
Following the dismissal of the secretary of AMASZ (Aszód Trade Union of Automotive Employees), a labour union operating at Richard Fritz Kft., VDSZ and other trade unions held a solidarity demonstration at the company’s newly opened facility in Aszód to show their support.
The world’s largest fund managing firm will open a new innovation and technology centre in Budapest. New-York-based BlackRock has long-term plans in Hungary and plans to have a significant presence in Budapest by the end of 2017. The company will soon launch a recruitment campaign for the new location.
 |
Analyses
Connected and autonomous vehicles create gigantic quantities of data, and processing poses with new challenges and questions, it was revealed in the second part of an analysis by KPMG, published on our site.
