Rheinmetall Plant to Be Built in Szeged

The foundation stone of the new factory of the German automotive and arms manufacturer Rheinmetall was laid in Szeged, SE Hungary this Tuesday.

At the event, Christoph Müller, head of the Rheinmetall Power Systems division, said the Szeged plant will be the group's first hybrid site, where civil business and defence technology activities will be carried out under one roof.

In the first phase, a 15,000-square-meter plant will be built on an 85,000-square-meter site next to the ELI ALPS laser research center, providing jobs for 300 highly skilled specialists. The site offers further possibilities for expansion, he said.

Szeged will be the fourth Rheinmetall site in Hungary, alongside the combat vehicle factory in Zalaegerszeg, the ammunition factory in Várpalota and the digitalization center in Budapest established with its industrial partner 4iG, the director said.

He stressed that Hungary provides an investor-friendly environment for businesses. The government and the investment promotion agency HIPA have been supportive, open and friendly, which is no longer common in Europe.

The world automotive industry is undergoing a huge transformation from internal combustion engines to battery vehicles. The Szeged plant will be Rheinmetall's 22nd plant with the primary aim of promoting electromobility, Christoph Müller said.