According to the party's co-leader the attack on Ukraine has made it clear that the less dependent Hungary is on Russia, the safer it is.Continue reading
Győr’s Audi factory cannot escape the effects of the war in Ukraine either. Due to the uncertain situation, their production program will certainly be reshaped. “For the time being, all orders can be fulfilled,” the company’s Chairman of the Board announced. Audi’s big announcement this year is that SEAT models could soon be produced in Győr.
This article was originally published on our sister-site, Ungarn Heute.
“We are concerned because we see that what is happening in Ukraine violates international law,” began Audi Hungaria’s annual press conference. Alfons Dintner addressed the war in the neighboring country. The CEO of the Győr-based company said he hoped the situation could be resolved on the basis of international law. All they can do is try to contain the effects of the war at the factory in Győr. However, the uncertain situation makes it necessary to restructure the production program, Dintner explained.
At the press conference, Telex asked the director how long the Győr-based company will be able to serve its partners and whether there are any factories it can no longer serve. What is the expected loss of sales in engine and vehicle production, and how will this affect the factory’s more than 10,000 employees?
In his response, Alfons Dintner stressed that at the moment, they do not have any customers they are unable to serve. Without providing figures, he said that “of course they expect a loss,” but “we are at the beginning of the year and hope to make up the shortfall by the end of the year.” Staff are feeling the effects of the situation by “having to rearrange shifts,” as the wire harnesses needed for production were previously sourced from Ukraine. But this isn’t the first time Audi has resorted to this method, and it certainly won’t be the last either – shortages of semiconductors have caused a similar situation in the past.
They also said they have suppliers in the war zone: eighty in total. And Russian exports, which after all do not make up a dramatic part of the company’s functioning, were also halted in Győr in accordance with the group’s decision.
The big announcement for the company this year is that SEAT was considered to be an alternative, which means that it is possible that this type will soon be produced in Győr.
Last year, Audi produced more than 1.6 million engines and more than 171,000 cars at its Győr factory in Hungary. Audi Hungaria’s management also announced at its annual press conference on Thursday that the company achieved the third-highest sales in its history last year despite the global chip shortage. Audi Q3 models accounted for the highest number (102,833) while 59,693 Audi Q3 Sportback models were produced in Győr. Among the Q3 and Q3 Sportback models, 20,957 were plug-in hybrids. Of the Audi TT family, the company produced 6,534 coupés and 1,955 roadsters.
featured photo via Audi Hungaria