Electric buses to be manufactured in Hungary

Chinese automobile manufacturer BYD is establishing Europe’s first electric bus factory in Komárom, NW Hungary with an investment of HUF 6.2 billion forints (EUR 20 mn), towards which the Hungarian government is providing a grant of HUF 925 million. Production is expected to already begin early next year, the plant will initially produce 200 buses a year and the world leader on the electric bus market will create 300 new jobs in two phases thanks to the investment project.

According to the Hungarian Minister
of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Péter Szijjártó, the production of electric buses
will both improve competitiveness and contribute to enabling Hungary to achieve
its global climate policy goals.

The Managing Director of BVD
Auto Europe Isbrand Ho stressed that when deciding on the site for the
company’s first European assembly center, important factors included the
central location of Hungary and Komárom, engineering knowledge and experience
relating to bus production and the Government’s measures aimed at facilitating
economic growth.

“Hungary was once one of the
great centers of bus production and through this investment we would like to
help Hungary become one of the frontrunners in electric powered bus
manufacturing”, he said. The new plant will also include a paint shop that
applies state-of-the-art technology, a research center and a testing center, he
told reporters, adding that BYD is also planning to enter the European market
with further zero emission vehicles.