The government is putting considerable effort in making the country more attractive in the regional competition for the new Tesla electric car factory. Owner Elon Musk is expected to announce by the end of this year the location of its first European factory.
Hungarian company Autóipari Próbapálya Zala Kft. is developing a test track suitable for testing self-driving cars at Zalaegerszeg (230 km southwest of Budapest). All Tesla vehicles, including the new Model 3, have the hardware needed for full self-driving capability. CEO Elon Musk announced last year a new “gigafactory” battery production plant and an automated manufacturing research center.
According to online news portal Index, the Hungarian government is preparing the ground for winning the new Tesla investment by making a HUF 15 billion capital increase in Autóipari Próbapálya Zala Kft. The company is expected to complete the construction of the test road in the first half of 2018. This will be only the first element of a center to be built on 250 hectares and the government is prepared to invest as much as HUF 42 billion in the new facility, minister Laszlo Palkovics said.
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó has confirmed that the government is aiming to attract Tesla to Hungary. He added that a meeting between himself and the vice presidents of Tesla has already been scheduled to discuss the new European factory.
bbj.hu
