Mercedes-Benz has begun series production of its new, fully electric GLB model at its plant in Kecskemét, in central Hungary. Speaking at the site on Monday, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó said the factory will soon be able to produce up to 350,000 cars per year, bringing Hungary closer to its strategic goal of manufacturing one million vehicles annually.
At the production launch ceremony, Szijjártó stressed that the milestone is another key step in the German company’s development strategy. In his view, it strengthens the foundations of Mercedes-Benz’s future product portfolio and represents an important success for both Kecskemét and Hungary. He recalled that the company has built the group’s second plant and Hungary’s largest car factory in the city.
The minister noted that the Kecskemét site is frequently in the news for relocating production of new models to Hungary. He also highlighted efforts to shorten supply chains—particularly for electric-vehicle batteries—and added that for nearly four years the plant has been operating exclusively on renewable energy.
The site’s role is expected to expand beyond manufacturing. Szijjártó said bringing research and development activities to Kecskemét marked “a new dimension,” and that Hungarian engineers will play an increasingly important part in developing prototypes.
The factory currently employs around 4,500 people, making it the largest employer in the region. According to the minister, without the plant, Bács-Kiskun County would not have been able to more than double its industrial output over the past decade—from roughly HUF 1,800 billion to about HUF 3,800 billion.
Placing the announcement in a broader context, Szijjártó argued that successive global crises are reshaping the world order, with the automotive revolution playing a central role in shifting economic power. He said the transition to electric vehicles is steadily advancing and that countries’ future success will depend largely on the part they play in this transformation. In this narrative, Hungary is positioned as one of the European strongholds of the electric-car industry.
He also cited investment figures: over the past 11 years, Hungary has attracted 452 major automotive-related projects worth a combined HUF 6,800 billion, which he said created around 65,000 new jobs. Annual automotive production value is reported to exceed HUF 10,000 billion. Szijjártó emphasized that this would not have been possible without the confidence of German companies, adding that investors consider Hungary a country where the security of investments, jobs, and employees is guaranteed.
In conclusion, he pointed to Hungary’s low taxes and highly regarded workforce as key advantages. He also said Hungary is among only three countries worldwide where all three premium German car brands have production capacity.
