Serial production of new, fully-electric Mercedes model has started in Hungary

Mercedes-Benz launched serial production of the fully-electric GLB model at its base in Kecskemét (Central Hungary) on Monday.

Mercedes a success story in Hungary

Speaking at the launch, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó said the launch spelled “great success” for Kecskemét and Hungary.

In a statement issued by his ministry, he noted that the base in Kecskemét would soon be able to turn out 350,000 vehicles annually, bringing Hungary closer to its goal of producing 1 million cars a year. He added that the company had also brought R+D activities to the base. Mercedes employs around 4,500 people in Hungary.

Szijjártó said Hungary had become a “bastion in Europe” of the electric vehicle industry. He added that 452 automotive industry investments, with a combined value of HUF 6,800bn, had been undertaken in Hungary over the past eleven years.

Szijjártó said Hungary’s low taxes, economic and physical security, and its pool of skilled labour had brought investors to the country. He added that Hungary was one of just three countries in the world where all three premium German carmakers had manufacturing bases.