Cutting-edge Technology Arrives at the Debrecen BMW Factory

Hungary’s example proves that economic cooperation between East and West is not only possible, but also legitimate due to the interdependence of the two countries, and that this has extremely positive effects, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó said in Debrecen (eastern Hungary) on Monday.

At the inauguration ceremony of BMW’s training center, the Minister noted that the first 100 students started their three-year studies in September, and that current and future employees of the German company’s Debrecen plant will learn to use the most modern technologies available.

He stressed that

it is a sign of the utmost confidence in the Hungarian people that BMW is setting up a new, currently non-existent, all-electric platform production plant in Hungary.

Moreover, the cooperation between BMW, the government, and Debrecen will ensure that the necessary workforce is always available.

“The government has provided HUF 25 billion (EUR 65 million) to the university to expand the capacity of the technical engineering faculty and to create a new research institute for automotive engineering. (…) The vocational training center is also now working with more than 12,000 students,” he added.

Szijjártó recalled that

the last decade and a half had been a period of crises, and the world economy had been turned upside down twice in recent years, but there was one process that nothing could stop: the electric transition of the automotive industry.

“Well, I think that without any pretension or exaggeration, based on the facts alone, we can safely say that Hungary has become the European champion of this electric car transformation and we are among the world leaders,” he added.

He added that this was due to the fact that

companies from the West and the East, especially from Germany and China, had found a way to cooperate in Hungary.

This is of course due to the lowest taxes in Europe and the most competitive investment environment in Europe, but it is also due to the foreign policy strategy based on mutual respect, enabling Hungary to build and maintain civilized relations with both the East and the West.

Szjjártó described BMW’s investment in Debrecen as an important milestone, as it means that all three German premium car brands (Audi, BMW, and Mercedes) will now have factories in Hungary. Furthermore, he said, it has also triggered huge Chinese investment, as evidenced by the fact that five of the world’s ten largest battery manufacturers in the East have now committed to Hungary.

“Thus we have shown that not only is East-West economic cooperation possible, but it is also legitimate because of the interdependence and has extremely positive effects, such as the creation of jobs and the use of the latest technology.”

Finally, the minister stressed that

the electrification of the car industry is a foregone conclusion, without which it would be impossible to meet climate targets, as road transport accounts for roughly 14 percent of emissions.

He also pointed out that the production value of the domestic automotive industry exceeded HUF 10,000 billion (EUR 26 billion) for the first time last year, backed by balanced and stable growth.

Via MTI, Featured image via Photo via Facebook/Szijjártó Péter