Mercedes anniversary in Kecskemét: is Hungary a refuge for troubled industries from Western Europe?

If we can guarantee there is cheap energy, then the European automotive industry, Mercedes-Benz and its factory in Kecskemét will also remain on its feet, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said speaking at the 140th anniversary event of Mercedes-Benz in Kecskemét (Central Hungary) on Thursday.

Orbán: Hungary is a refuge for the automotive industry

Orbán said there is a big battle being fought in Hungary to ensure affordable energy for factories and households. Troubled industries from Western Europe are increasingly appearing in Hungary, which has become a kind of “refuge” because, compared to the general conditions in Europe, workers work better here, energy is cheaper, regulations are more flexible, and the chances of success are greater.

At the same time “we are under great pressure,” he said, adding that recently Hungary has been placed under an oil blockade from Ukraine and we are also under great pressure to join the misguided green and energy policies of Western Europe.

We must not only stay out of the war, but also away from bad green transition policy, because if this is not successful, Hungary will not be a refuge for troubled Western European industry, “we will not be Noah’s Ark, but rather the Titanic,” Orbán said.

Hungary will help expanding the Mercedes factory

He assured the workers at the Kecskemét plant and the Hungarian and German leadership that they will not let Hungary be dragged into a war, nor allow budgetary resources to be taken out of Hungary, nor permit a flawed energy policy to be forced on us.

We will protect your jobs under all circumstances and we will provide our German friends with all the help they need to expand the Kecskemét factory, you can count on this, Orbán said.

Orbán called Mercedes’ Hungarian operation a real success story, indicating that the factory is currently undergoing expansion and will soon double its capacity. He said it was “heart-warming news” that such a world-class factory now employs 5,000 Hungarian workers.

For Hungarians this factory is not only about producing good cars, but also about the fact that if we set our minds to it, in 14 years we are capable of building on a field and operating one of the most modern factories in the world, he said.

The success of the Mercedes factory in Kecskemét is a matter of self-esteem for Hungarians. Anyone who is capable of building such a factory in a field is capable of anything, Orbán said.

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