The future of the Szentgotthárd car manufacturing plant is secure even after the change of owners at Opel. The government will cooperate with the company in the interest of extending the range of its Hungarian suppliers, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó announced at a press conference regarding the project of the Szentgotthárd plant.

The Minister said from 2020 the plant in Szentgotthárd will manufacture for PSA several engine varieties of the type which has been elected engine of the year three times. Until then the plant will continue its current activities, he added.

Mr Szijjártó highlighted that the French concern PSA had bought Opel from General Motors last year. Following this, the government immediately contacted the new parent company to start talks about the future of the Szentgotthárd plant as the acquisition of a large international company may often lead to major changes and the streamlining of operations, he added. According to the Minister, the new owner’s plans appear to indicate that Europe’s second largest car manufacturer looks upon the plant in Hungary using advanced technologies as a major priority in its wider operations.

Mr Szijjártó stressed that according to current data the dynamic growth of the automotive industry may also continue in 2018 as the sector’s output in January increased by 10 per cent, and 9 of 15 the major investments brought to Hungary this year have been made in the automotive industry. The capacity of the largest tier one suppliers is expanding continuously, since January Audi has also been manufacturing electric motors in Hungary, and Daimler’s new plant in Kecskemét is currently being built. Consequently, Hungary may continue to remain one of the great European powers of car manufacturing, he added.

Grzegorz Buchal, Opel Szentgotthárd’s Chief Executive said at the press conference that the projects necessary for the new manufacturing process had already begun. Half of their plans are being realised with the involvement of local suppliers. The advanced manufacturing technology, competitiveness and performance are all arguments in favour of the Hungarian plant, he added. The Chief Executive urged the assistance of the state in infrastructure developments, and therefore, he said, they wish to continue their cooperation with the government.

(MTI)