Nokia factory to close, Audi might help

Microsoft Corp announced on Thursday that it plans a "phased exit" from the town of Komárom, W of Budapest, where Nokia employs 1,800 people. The Hungarian arm of German carmaker Audi said they might be able to help those that will be laid off from Nokia.

Microsoft will slash up to 18,000 jobs, or 14% of its workforce, in a bid to transform the recently acquired Nokia phone business into a cloud-computing and mobile-friendly software company, terminating overlaps and the Hungarian Nokia unit is affected in this process.

Audi Motor Hungaria Ltd., based in nearby Gyõr, told the financial website portfolio.hu on Friday that it will shortly contact Nokia’s representatives "with whom we will certainly find the opportunity to make an attractive offer for the adequately qualified labor."

As Péter Lõre, communications director of Audi Motor Hungaria Ltd. said, over the past five years the company hired 5,000 new employees as the Gyõr plant (northwest Hungary) was expanded. Now, the company has an 11,000-strong headcount there and they keep growing. "Audi is constantly looking for new employees, but primarily professionals with adequate skills, not only for the car making but also for the engine plant and other areas.

By November Nokia is to lay off 1,800 employees from its Komárom plant, as a result of Microsoft’s decision. Including suppliers and sub-contractors the livelihood of some 2,000 people will be negatively affected. Nokia was responsible for one of the largest layoffs of the last few years too when it sacked 2,300 employees in early 2012, more than halving its 4,400 headcount.