Orbán: Audi is a matter of the heart for us
Prime Minister Orbán recalled that Audi was the first Western European car manufacturer to invest in Hungary after the fall of communism, making a decisive bet on the country's future. That early investment, he noted, was rooted in trust and a shared vision for success. 'Audi was the first to say: We are coming, we believe in you, we see the future in Hungary, and we will make it happen together,' he said. This, he added, created a unique bond between Hungary and the German automotive giant — one that has since grown into a strategic partnership.
The third-generation Q3, now rolling off the line in Győr, combines efficiency, driving dynamics, and comfort. It includes mild hybrid and plug-in hybrid options, the latter offering up to 120 kilometers of electric range. Production fully utilizes the plant's annual capacity of 185,000 units, including both the Q3 and the Cupra Terramar. The Győr facility remains a central supplier of powertrains within Audi and the Volkswagen Group.
Audi Hungária's importance to the national economy is significant. In 2024, it generated €8.6 billion in revenue, producing over 179,000 vehicles and 1.58 million powertrains. The company accounts for approximately 7 percent of Hungary's total exports.
Addressing the workforce, Prime Minister Orbán stressed that the plant's success relies not only on capital and infrastructure, but on the skills and dedication of Hungarian engineers and workers. 'Hungary is proud of those working in Győr,' he affirmed, reiterating the government's ongoing support for the automotive sector.
The prime minister also warned of challenges ahead. With global competition intensifying and the automotive industry undergoing major transformation, he noted that Europe's carmakers are sailing 'through stormy waters.' He cited geopolitical tensions, soaring energy costs, and regulatory pressure from Brussels as serious obstacles, and urged EU leaders to abandon overregulation and return freedom to industry and consumers alike.
In conclusion, Prime Minister Orbán framed the new Audi Q3 not only as a technological milestone but also as a symbol of confidence in Hungary's future. 'This new model gives all of us, and certainly Hungary, renewed confidence—and hopefully, a sense of pride,' he said.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Budapest Times
a day ago
- Budapest Times
Final details confirmed for 3% housing loan program, new state support for public employees
Key eligibility criteria include being over 18, having two years of continuous income and social insurance contributions, which may include employment in a neighboring country for Hungarian commuters. Applicants must not have held full ownership of an urban residential property in the past ten years, with partial ownership capped at 50% or HUF 15 million in property value. The loan is capped at HUF 50 million with a fixed 3% interest rate over a maximum of 25 years. It may be used for buying or building new or used homes, including farmhouses. Price limits are set at HUF 100 million for apartments and HUF 150 million for detached homes or rural properties. A 10% down payment is required, and although beneficiaries must reside in Hungary, permanent residence at the purchased property is not mandatory. Usage rights may not be transferred, but rental is permitted. In addition, the government has introduced an annual HUF 1 million housing support for public service employees—such as teachers, doctors, police officers, and soldiers—which can be applied to mortgage payments or down payments. The benefit will be tax-advantaged, aligned with existing cafeteria rules, and final regulations will be determined at next week's cabinet meeting. The cabinet also extended the rural grocery store support program to settlements with under 5,000 residents. All eligible applicants will receive their requested funding, despite demand exceeding available funds by over HUF 6 billion. Addressing international affairs, Minister Gulyás strongly criticized the recently announced EU-U.S. customs agreement. He argued the deal contradicts Europe's strategic and economic interests, stating that if Hungary had negotiated independently, it would have secured better terms. He criticized the European Commission for overstepping its mandate by committing to investment concessions without proper authorization and labeled the agreement as an example of 'unauthorized administration of power' that also binds the EU to obligations it cannot fulfill.
Budapest Times
2 days ago
- Budapest Times
Szijjártó: Two key world political figures trounced von der Leyen in a single week
Péter Szijjártó, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, said two key world political figures trounced President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen in a single week. The foreign minister added that multiple tariffs must be paid for European goods in the US from now on, while von der Leyen had been afforded a greeting in China more in line with the arrival of a tourist than an official representative of the bloc. 'The European Union is basically now the butt of humiliation and ridicule in world politics,' a ministry statement quoted him as saying. No one, he added, could afford to speak about Donald Trump or Chinese leaders, as many European politicians had done, in a demeaning way without bearing the consequences. He said crude and vulgar comments about Trump had 'backfired', adding that tariffs of 2.5 percent on European cars and other goods would now rise to 15 percent. Minister Szijjártó said it was shameful 'that such a person represents the European Union'. Meanwhile, the minister expressed hope that a rift would not develop between President Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. 'The world has become a safer place since the American and Russian presidents started talking to each other,' he said. Minister Szijjártó accused Western European leaders of attempting to undermine US peace efforts, calling such efforts 'extremely irresponsible and criminal'. Had Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Western European politicians 'not hindered' Trump's efforts, the settlement of the war might be 'much closer', he added. He said Western European leaders had turned the war in Ukraine into a global problem, 'and even a European war'. Referring to the 'Hungarian peace mission' last summer, he said most of his EU counterparts had savaged him for trying to promote a ceasefire and peace negotiations. 'Donald Trump has solved things in the rest of the world, but in Europe … they are trying to suppress and shame normal, conservative, patriotic, peace-loving politicians,' he said. Minister Szijjártó said that as long as a national government was in power, Hungary would be a good place to live. But if a 'puppet government at the mercy of Brussels comes to power', there would no longer be a government to fight Hungary's corner against 26 EU member states.
Budapest Times
2 days ago
- Budapest Times
Orbán: We must restore moral equilibrium – Brussels must pay the price
In a forthright exchange with Polish journalist Michał Karnowski, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán addressed the shifting power dynamics in Central Europe, the erosion of democratic norms in Poland, and the growing rift between sovereignist governments and Brussels. The prime minister began by reaffirming Hungary's unwavering support for Poland in light of recent political persecution. 'In Hungary, we say once a friend, always a friend,' he stated. He denounced the crackdown on Poland's conservative leadership and the silence from EU institutions. 'What's going on in Poland is unacceptable—it's shameful that the European Union says nothing, even supports it,' he added. PM Orbán introduced the concept of 'moral equilibrium,' arguing that Brussels must be held accountable for its double standards. 'I'm not a man of revenge… but what they have done to Poland and Hungary cannot be accepted. Brussels must pay the price,' he declared. Reflecting on Poland's recent presidential election, PM Orbán described President Karol Nawrocki's victory as a turning point. 'It's essential… a chance to reshape Central European cooperation,' he said, praising past successes of the V4 alliance and expressing hope that it could regain strategic weight in EU decision-making. He accused Berlin and Brussels of trying to dismantle this regional influence, calling the move 'obvious and deliberate.' The interview also touched on the EU's proposed multiannual financial framework. The prime minister rejected it outright, calling it a 'war budget.' He criticized the allocation of a quarter of its resources to Ukraine and warned against turning the EU into a military actor. 'I agree with spending on defense—but from national budgets, not the EU's common pot,' he said. He also emphasized that Hungary will not support any future budget unless Brussels unfreezes Hungarian funds. 'First, they have to give it back. Then we can negotiate,' he said. Turning to Ukraine, PM Orbán reiterated that peace is only possible through a direct meeting between Presidents Trump and Putin. 'This war is not between Ukraine and Russia—it's between the West and Russia,' he noted. He also criticized President Zelenskyy's rejection of his earlier peace proposal, calling it 'a mistake.' The prime minister warned as well about what he called the EU's 'biggest corruption scandal'—covert financing of media and NGOs. He announced plans for Hungarian legislation banning foreign funding of politically active NGOs, stating, 'If you're involved in politics, you should follow the same rules as parties.' On migration, PM Orbán issued a stark warning: 'My generation stopped the Muslim influx on our southern border. The next generation will have to defend our western border.' He concluded by framing Hungary's political divide as one of 'patriots and sovereignists' versus 'internationalists and imperialists.'
