Mercedes-Benz is launching a research and development (R&D) project in Kecskemét, marking the first time the premium German car manufacturer has chosen Hungary for one of its highest value-added investments.
The EUR 54.4 million project - about a quarter of which is covered by Hungarian taxpayers through a government decision to provide state support - will strengthen the strategic role of the Kecskemét site within Mercedes-Benz’s global production network in the field of car development. As a result of the investment, the company will be able to identify potential production issues at an early stage, significantly improving cost efficiency and product quality.
Kecskemét was selected for the project following strong internal competition between sites of the Mercedes-Benz network. The new process development solutions will be applied to vehicles built on the MMA and MB.EA platforms, also in Kecskemét. The Stuttgart-based company’s first Hungarian innovation investment is expected to create 25 new R&D jobs.
Mercedes-Benz has a long-standing partnership with Neumann János University in Kecskemét. The new project will further strengthen the cooperation between industry and higher education and create opportunities for engineering students to gain practical experience.
The R&D project runs in parallel with the previously announced expansion of the Kecskemét plant, an EUR 1 billion investment that will create 3,000 new jobs and double the plant’s annual production capacity to 300,000 vehicles. A new battery assembly facility is also being established on-site, making Kecskemét the largest automotive production base in Hungary. The expansion is progressing according to schedule, with production expected to start in 2026.
The Kecskemét plant opened in 2012 and employs around 4,500 people, according to the latest data from 2024. The facility produces the Mercedes-Benz CLA Coupé and CLA Shooting Brake models, as well as the full electric EQB. In 2024, the factory produced 146,000 vehicles. Globally, Mercedes-Benz employed around 175,000 people in 2024 and achieved revenues of EUR 146 billion.
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