“Hungary is ready in all respects to also be one of the most successful countries in Europe in the digital automate industry era, following its existing success in the automotive industry’s traditional era”, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó declared in Zalaegerszeg.

After inspecting the construction of city’s new 45 billion forint (EUR 144 million) vehicle test track, which will also be suitable for the testing of self-driven and electric cars, the Minister spoke about the fact that in a manner that is unique in Europe, the Zalaegerszeg test track will enable vehicles to be not only be tested in a city and road environment. Following agreements with Austria and Slovenia, cross-border test roads will also be provided for developers, meaning vehicles can also be tested on cross-border infrastructures, he explained.

“The automotive industry is leading the modern industrial revolution that is currently going on throughout the world via the development of self-driven and electric cars. Hungary is also creating the foundations for its continued success in the new automotive industry era, one of the important elements of which is the Zalaegerszeg test track, which will be fully complete by 2020”, Mr. Szijjártó said.

“The largest German development companies with an interest in new automotive technologies such as Bosch, Continental and ThyssenKrupp are already performing research and development activities in Hungary”, he added.

In reply to a question from Hungarian news agency MTI, the Minister said negotiations are currently ongoing with 150 of the world’s leading car manufacturers, parts suppliers and IT companies with relation to the use of the Zalaegerszeg test track. In reply to another question, he said: “Thanks to the Zala County facility, Zalaegerszeg is now in the front lines of the global automotive industry revolution”.

Member of Parliament and Ministerial Commissioner for the test track László Vigh recalled that the construction of the test track was announced two years ago, and the foundation stone was ceremoniously laid last May in the presence of Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. The first technical building and the tarmacking of two stretches of track were completed by the end of March with a “Japanese rate of work”, and the construction of the main reception building is also already underway. A complete “intelligent city” is also being built where vehicles can be tested among roads, pavements, traffic lights and buildings in the “Zala County Silicone Valley”, the MP said.

(MTI)