And last week, along with Prime Minister Orbán, Audi cut the ribbon on the new expansion of its Győr facility. More than just an investor, Audi has become part of Hungary.

In the new expansion, the car maker will produce, from start to finish, Audi’s fast A3 Limousine. That’s a particularly big deal because a complete Audi production line is a new development. Previously, it was partial assembly. At a sum of 900 million euros, the investment will bring Audi’s work force in Hungary to well over 9,000. That number is expected to grow even further with the further investment in Audi’s new logistics center, expected to be finished later this year. Last year, Audi produced 35,000 cars in Hungary. With this new investment, Audi forecasts that in their 20th anniversary year in 2014 they will turn out 125,000 vehicles here.

Another part of the investment is the Audi Engine Factory, which is the largest engine factory of its kind any where, producing some 2 million engines annually.

According to Rupert Stadler, Audi’s general manager, Hungary has become a strategic pillar in the company’s production capability. When they chose to invest in Győr, Hungary 20 years ago, it was with an eye to make it the heart of production in this part of Europe. And that’s what it has become.

Audi’s investment, as I mentioned, goes beyond production capital.

Audi has a long lasting relationship with the university in Győr, the István Széchenyi University, where they set up a dedicated Audi Department that provides specialized training to engineers that the factory then turns to for its highly skilled worked force.

The Orbán Government has stabilized the country’s financial and fiscal health after eight years of mismanagement, reigning in deficits and cutting debt. We’re taking further measures now to safeguard those achievements. As we begin to see signs of growth, we are grateful to have strategic investors like Audi who see Hungary as part of their long-term strategy and who have contributed so much to our economy.

Source: A Blog About Hungary

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