Hungary is the first in the Central and Eastern European region to sell the pure electric vehicles.Continue reading
The government will launch a program worth HUF 60 billion (EUR 156 million) in November to support the spread of electric cars, including the development of a charging network and discounts for the purchase of electric vehicles, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó announced in Shenzhen, China.
The minister said that under the program, 170 new high-capacity electric charging stations will be built along the busiest roads in Hungary with HUF 30 billion (EUR 78 million) in the next two and a half years.
Another 30 billion will be used to allow companies, such as sole proprietorships, taxi drivers, and car-sharing companies to buy electric vehicles, minibuses, or vans at a discounted rate,
he explained.
The foreign minister also spoke about the revolutionary transformation of the automotive industry, being the backbone of the European and global economy, and which he said was of huge importance for the environment. He warned: “Today, 14 percent of emissions in the world are caused by road transport, buses, cars, trucks, lorries. And if we cannot make road transport electric, the fight against climate change will fail, and we will fail to achieve our environmental goals.”
He stressed that Hungary is leading the sector’s electric transition. “It has been a long time since Hungary has been at the forefront of the technological revolution that is shaping the global economy,” he pointed out.
The minister said that he had informed the president of the Chinese BYD, the world’s largest electric car manufacturer, about the government’s planned support program. The president welcomed the program, especially as the company had started selling its vehicles in Hungary a few days ago. Péter Szijjártó also emphasized that Hungary is an important market for BYD and that the company already produces electric buses in Komárom (northern Hungary).
He underlined that
the electric car industry will take the place of the traditional car industry, whether we like it or not, that is a fact, and there is no way to change that. The question is whether Hungary wants to lead or fall behind.”
“We want to lead the way, because this will further strengthen Hungary and the Hungarian economy, and create more and more jobs for the Hungarian people,” he added.
Via MTI, Featured image: Facebook/Szijjártó Péter