Hungarian automotive industry: week 43

Last weekend, Mercedes-Benz Manufacturing Hungary welcomed its 20,000 visitor, who was welcomed by the plant's director.

Ferdinand Piëch, the chairman of VW AG's supervisory board, along with a number of engineering students from the Vienna University of Technology, paid a visit to Audi Hungaria to have a look at the plant's manufacturing activities.

Engineering students from Vienna paid a visit to Audi Hungaria

Last week we tested the Opel Meriva and the Opel Zafira, both equipped with an engine manufactured in Hungary.

Last week we reported that Audi Hungaria Motor Kft. would launch the mass production of the new Audi TT Roadster in early-November. The first car will be driven off the production line by PM Viktor Orbán.

Last week we also presented the most powerful Audi TT. The 310bhp car, to be featured in a DTM support race, is manufactured exclusively at the Győr-based Audi plant.

Siemens has opened a dual training centre in Budapest. Siemens rebuilt its former training workshop with a view to accommodating dual, practice-oriented training as a result of a project of over HUF 600 million. The German company will now be able to train as many as 100 students.

Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orbán (left) and Minister for National Economy Mihály Varga (right) at the inauguration ceremony of Siemens's new training centre

Miskolc-based machine builder Digép has manufactured a HUF 1 billion machine-tool. The 280-ton counterblow hammer, with a capacity of 400 kJ, was handed over to and tested by Sammi Metal, a South Korean customer, at Digép's production site.

Flex-Coop has built a new metal structure manufacturing production hall. Thanks to the investment, the company, manufacturer of metal frame systems, will create 20 jobs in Bátonyterenye Nógrád county.

Last week we visited the Oroszlány plant of exhaust pipes and turbocharger housings manufacturer Wescast, where an extraordinary recruiting day was held. The company is hiring operators thanks to increasing order volumes. Half of the 300 candidates who showed up at the recruiting day met the company's requirements.

Recruiting at Wescast Oroszlány

Hungary's Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade made a promise in Luxembourg, that by 2015, a motorway would lead to the Romanian border, while by the end of 2016, the Hungarian motorway would join the motorway in North Transylvania.

Hungarian railway company MÁV-Start has launched its new IC+ coach, which will transport passengers across the country. State Secretary János Fónagy said that the revival of Hungary's railway industry could be the driver of Hungary's reindustrialisation.

Last week an e-taxi charging station was handed over in Budapest. The investment was financed by Graphisoft Park and Budapest Taxi.

Taxi e-charging point handed over in Budapest

The price of fuels saw a considerable decrease last week, reaching its lowest point for several years. It is certainly good news for motorists and haulers, however some economies, such as Russia are not so pleased with this decreasing tendency.

The forint did not seem to be affected by global and national economic and political developments. On October 22, Hungary's currency was flat at 307 against the euro.