The company behind the planned electric car factory in Szeged, BYD Auto Hungary, has been registered with a capital of approximately HUF 192 billion. The first two halls of the factory will be located north of the ELI-ALPS laser research institute, in the 300-hectare industrial park near the city’s border, adjacent to Route 5, and not in the nearby Liliom Residential Park. While the EU executive body investigates Chinese electric car manufacturers, the people of Szeged welcome the arrival of the Asian giant, according to an article by business site Világgazdaság.
The report reveals that BYD Auto Hungary has been registered with a capital of approximately HUF 192 billion, which is twice the annual budget of the city. The facility, serving the European market, will be built in Szeged’s 300-hectare industrial park, adjacent to the ELI-ALPS laser research institute and the Science Park.
The Chinese auto giant, creating thousands of new jobs, will execute the entire production process here,
excluding battery production and chemical activities.
The first two halls will be constructed north of ELI-ALPS, next to Route 5, and not in the vicinity of Liliom Residential Park. Locals, as interviewed by Szeged TV, express joy over the investment, with a focus on job creation. Many anticipate BYD’s acquisition of the 300-hectare land from the municipality, accelerating developments afterward. The report also mentions that while the government can exempt industrial tax, as demonstrated with the Iváncsa battery factory, current regulations protect county-level cities like Szeged.
The European Commission is investigating Chinese electric car manufacturers for potentially keeping vehicle prices low through unfair state subsidies.
BYD, SAIC, and Geely are among those involved in the inquiry. Gergely Gulyás, Hungary’s Minister leading the Prime Minister’s Office, emphasized that the Hungarian government supports free trade and dismissed concerns about the European Commission investigation, stating that the government has committed to infrastructure development and will disclose the approved amount of state aid when endorsed by the European Commission.
According to Szeged Television’s News, production at the plant is expected to commence in the second half of 2025, with the government allocating approximately HUF 47–48 billion for infrastructure development and pledged state support. Szeged’s Deputy Mayor, Sándor Nagy, mentioned that city revenues from the industrial tax will increase during construction, with full-scale production expected to take three to four years to reach.
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Sources: Hungarian Conservative/Világgazdaság/Szeged TV
