Chinese electric builder chooses European home for new factory
HUNGARY BYD has confirmed its commitment to the European market with the announcement of a €20m investment in a bus assembly plant in the northern Hungarian city of Komárom.
Production, which will initially focus on electric buses and forklifts, will start in the first quarter of 2017. Eventually up to 300 people will be employed and the factory will be capable of assembling up to 400 vehicles a year on two shifts. It will have its own R&D Centre and battery test facility and the name of the Hungarian subsidiary – BYD Electric Bus & Truck Hungary Kft – suggests a move into other sectors.
Speaking at a ceremony at the Hungarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade in Budapest today, Isbrand Ho, BYD Europe’s Managing Director, said: “Today’s announcement reinforces our company’s commitment to the European market. This is our first manufacturing facility but it won’t be our last – we are actively looking for other locations.
“We chose Hungary both because of its central location in Europe and its long tradition of engineering excellence and indeed bus making as well as the very friendly welcome we have received from the authorities here.”
The Mayor of Komárom, Attila Molnar thanked BYD for its decision to choose his city and mentioned that creating jobs was the priority.
Duan Jielong, the Chinese Ambassador to Hungary said: “BYD, as a Chinese enterprise integrating R&D technology, automobile and new energy, is a pioneer in the aspect of new energy vehicles and has been devoted to realizing zero emission urban public transportation. It’s no surprise that the sales of the BYD electric bus is growing fast in European countries such as the UK, France and the Netherlands as the diesel era comes to an end.”
Peter Szijjártó, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade in Hungary also welcomed BYD and pointed out Komárom is the only manufacturing plant outside China besides California and Brazil. He highlighted the fact that BYD was not just building a manufacturing plant but also opening a battery testing unit and R&D centre.
