Hungarian automotive industry: week 46

Manufacturers

Audi is preparing to launch the serial production of electric cars in late-2018, early-2019, which will coincide with the start of production of electric motors at the Hungarian plant, Audi Hungaria Motor Kft. CEO Peter Kössler said last week.

Kössler said the prototypes are already in production at the unit. The Győr-based plant is set to supply the AG's electric lineup with e-tron power plants.

Last week, Audi Hungaria Motor Kft., the German premium brand’s local subsidiary, and the Audi Hungaria Independent Trade Union (AHFSZ), representing the interests of nearly 7,000 members, entered into wage talks for the upcoming year, Audi Hungaria communications director told autopro.hu.

In its initial bid, AHFSZ is demanding a HUF 55,000 (€180) wage increase for all employees effective from 1 January 2017, and fringe benefits totalling HUF 650,000 (€2,100).

2,000 workers are prepared to heed to the strike call in Kecskemét. The Free Trade Union of Engineers and Technicians announced last week that it had made an agreement with Mercedes-Benz Kecskemét on a 12 percent wage increase for 2017 and an additional 7 percent increase for 2018, with monthly salaries being further boosted by wage supplements.

However, Béla Balogh, chairman of Vasas Trade Union, said the agreement is invalid so long as the representation of the workers’ interests are being enforced by Vasas, the trade union with a much larger interest share among workers, and they did not agree to the proposed agreement.

Rába is focusing on the European and Russian markets, István Pintér, President and CEO of Rába Járműipari Holding Nyrt., said at the company’s press conference held last Wednesday in Budapest. Without going into details, he said the Hungarian company has already found a new Russian partner in the market of off-road vehicles.

Suzuki’s modernisation programme in Esztergom has been successfully completed. Thanks to the development project, Magyar Suzuki will manufacture 210,000 cars this year, a new record in its history in Hungary.

Magyar Suzuki Corporation continues its brand offensive programme launched back in 2014, which set as its target to introduce a brand new in Europe every year. Next year, the company will launch the new Ignis compact city SUV.

Suppliers

The Hungarian government has signed a strategic partnership agreement with Chinese automotive interiors supplier Yanfeng. Chinese Yanfeng Automotive Interiors is the 71st company to have signed a strategic partnership agreement with the Hungarian government.

Service providers

West Hungarian railway transport company GYSEV has announced to further expand its vehicle fleet. This time around the company has sourced refurbished railway coaches from Austria.

ABB celebrates 25 years in Hungary. ABB celebrated the anniversary with a conference, where major players of the local and international industry gave presentations on the opportunities of Industry 4.0, today’s leading technological trend, and the Internet of Things (IoT), with a special focus on automation and energetics.

A new, historically significant Jaguar plant is currently under construction in Slovakia. Austria-based Magna Steyr has been contracted by the British manufacturer to build the car maker’s first electric model. In a couple of years, the Austrian company’s Graz plant is set to manufacture 13,000 units of the new I-Pace.