BYD launches trial production in Hungary amid land disputes and hiring push
Electric vehicle manufacturer BYD has initiated trial production at its new plant in Szeged, Hungary. The company also inked a cooperation deal with the city's University of Engineering, signaling progress in its local expansion. Meanwhile, queries persist regarding land acquisitions for the factory site.
The factory occupies a 300-hectare plot, with 200 hectares of expropriated agricultural land. Some landowners contested the expropriation, and courts later discovered that purchase prices had been set irregularly—above government-prescribed levels. Szeged's mayor has now proposed waiving the city's claim for the price difference in the 2026 budget.
BYD has already hired 960 workers, with around 70% being Hungarian, mostly from Szeged itself. The company plans to recruit more staff from the wider region and northern Vojvodina, including foreign guest workers. A dedicated commuter lane at the Röszke border crossing is also in the pipeline to facilitate cross-border employees.
Production capacity and employment will grow gradually over the coming years. The city's unemployment rate currently stands at just 1.3%, one of the lowest in Hungary. Szeged has prior experience integrating non-European residents, which may ease the influx of foreign workers.
The plant's trial phase is now underway, with BYD fortifying ties to local education through its university partnership. As production ramps up, the factory will depend on both Hungarian and international workers. The city's management of land compensation and workforce integration will influence the project's long-term impact.
