ALL IN ON HUNGARY
China-based EV manufacturer BYD has announced plans to move its European headquarters from the Netherlands to Budapest, Hungary, in the same country where the company has been constructing its first European car manufacturing facility in the city of Szeged since 2023. BYD has said the new space will create 2,000 new jobs, although its community impact wouldn’t stop there. With a goal of tapping into Hungary’s university, startup and supplier base, BYD will invest over $252 million to establish an R&D project base in the city. Its first $111 million project will focus on developing an AI-based driving technology system to enhance autonomous driving outcomes in various situations. Meanwhile, a $141 million project centers around BYD’s powertrain technology development to enhance EV performance and efficiency. As part of the project investment the company has committed to registering at least 50% of the patents produced by its R&D center in the country and prioritizing partnerships with local suppliers.
Photo courtesy of Gerresheimer AG
INCREASED PRODUCTION HEATS UP
Two years after Gerresheimer AG set out to expand its glass production facility in Lohr, Germany, construction is officially complete. Here, the company produces a variety of white and amber glass products used primarily within the pharmaceutical, cosmetics and food and beverage industries. The $100 million investment included the replacement of a glass melting furnace with a new oxy-hybrid furnace, which will reduce CO2e emissions by up to 40%. In addition, the company expanded production buildings, integrated new production machines, upgraded to a sustainable cooling system and included new power supply infrastructure. “Our investments in cutting-edge production technology, such as the new facility in Lohr, secure the future,” said Gerresheimer AG CEO Dietmar Siemssen. “With state-of-the-art facilities for high-value products, we are strengthening our competitiveness, securing long-term jobs in the region and making significant progress toward our ambitious sustainability goals.” Modernization of this facility is said to play a key role in supporting the company’s future growth.
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A ROBUST ARMS SUPPLY
England is set to gain a brand-new weapons manufacturing plant from leading arms manufacturer Rheinmetall within the next two years. Located about an hour northwest of Birmingham, the town of Telford was selected for the planned gun facility. The project comes as part of a larger $487 million initiative to strengthen the UK’s defense manufacturing over the next decade. “This isn’t just an investment — it’s a statement,” said Rheinmetall AG CEO Armin Papperger. “We are delivering the infrastructure, the technology and the ambition to put the UK at the forefront of the global defense industry. With the site now confirmed and key equipment already ordered, Rheinmetall is well on its way to turning its vision into reality.” The investment delivers a production capacity that will directly support the British Army’s goal to triple combat capability by 2030. The company’s announcement noted prioritization of local supply chains for steel and advanced manufacturing technologies that will be used during production.
Reports compiled and written by Alexis Elmore
