Opel plant foundation stone laid

Construction work of a new Opel engine factory began this Tuesday with the laying of the foundation stone in the southwestern Hungarian town of Szentgotthárd. The new plant will manufacture engines of the latest technology.

The new investment project will cost EUR 500 million and is planned to be completed by the end of 2012. The General Motors project will receive state subsidies amounting to HUF 5.5 billion (EUR 20-21 million) from the Hungarian government.

At the foundation stone laying ceremony, prime minister Viktor Orbán stressed that his government views General Motors as a long-term cooperation partner. He added that Hungary helps Europe by offering good investment opportunities, contributing to production investments not leaving the region.

The new plant in Szentgotthárd will manufacture three new engine families that will conform to the highest, Euro-6 technical parameters. The project will create some 2,500 jobs directly and indirectly in the region.

Szentgotthárd already houses an Opel plant that has produced 360,000 cars, 6.5 million car engines and 5 million cylinder-heads since it was established 20 years ago.