Szijjarto, PM hold talks with Mercedes chief, top executives in Stuttgart

“All this will help put Hungary among the winners of a new global economic era,” Szijjarto said, according to a statement from the foreign ministry.

The talks took place “in a fundamentally decisive period” in the automotive industry which is undergoing “a revolutionary transformation”, Szijjarto said.

“This is a situation when not only automotive companies, but also countries are competing for the opportunities, investments and developments that will decide which countries will be among the winners of the new era in the future, and which will either suffer a disadvantage or will be unable to take full advantage of this emerging industry,” the foreign minister said. He said Hungary was on the right track “to belong among the winners of the new era of the automotive industry,” adding that “this will bring several new jobs, modern technologies and economic growth to Hungary”.

Mercedes-Benz is a key stakeholder in the global automotive industry and a frontrunner in the global transition to electromobility, said Szijjarto. It is also key for Hungary’s economic growth as it is implementing an investments worth 600 billion forints (EUR 1.5bn) in the country, he added.

The investment being implemented in Kecskemet, in central Hungary, will create capacity to make conventional, hybrid and fully electric vehicles, Szijjarto said, adding that Mercedes-Benz would increase its workforce in Hungary to 8,000-9,000.

“The expansion of Mercedes’ capacities is good news for the entire Hungarian corporate sector, and the entire Hungarian economy, since 42 percent of Mercedes’ suppliers are Hungarian companies,” the foreign minister said.

Orbán meets Mercedes-Benz chief

Prime Minister Viktor Orbán had a working lunch with Ola Kallenius, the chairman and chief executive of the Mercedes-Benz Group in Stuttgart on Wednesday, the prime minister’s press chief said.

The talks focused on the upcoming Hungarian EU presidency’s plans to improve Europe’s competitiveness and develop its economy, as well as the status of Mercedes-Benz’s current investment projects.