Developments in Esztergom – Péter Szijjártó visits Magyar Suzuki plant

Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó has paid a visit to the factory in Esztergom. Following discussions with the management of Magyar Suzuki, he toured the site to review ongoing developments, some of which are being carried out with government support. During the meeting, it was noted that the Japanese parent company’s nearly 35 years of sustained confidence in Hungary and its continuous investment in the Esztergom production facility have played a key role in driving growth of the Hungarian economy.

The plant development programme — scheduled for completion by the end of this year across all units of the Esztergom facility — focuses on factory modernisation, improved efficiency, optimal utilisation of existing capacity, a flexible response to future demand, and the achievement of carbon-neutral operations. Digitalisation and automation are at the heart of the investment. The multi-phase expansion of the plant’s machinery and equipment, spanning nearly two and a half years, represents a total investment of HUF 9.3 billion, of which HUF 1.9 billion is provided by the government in the form of financial support.

In line with its commitment to cost efficiency, Magyar Suzuki within the framework of the current investment, new robots have been installed in the paint shop and automated the underbody protection line. The welding and assembly shops have been enhanced with additional track-based Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs) and sensor-equipped Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs) capable of navigating around obstacles. In the bumper plant, new painting robots and a Regenerative Thermal Oxidiser (RTO) system are being installed — a significant step towards sustainability and zero emissions. The welding shop now features a new nut-welding cell, while press machinery has been modernised in the press shop.

One key element of the large-scale development initiative was a supplementary energy investment completed in February of last year. The on-site solar power plant now makes a significant contribution to the company’s carbon-neutral goals. This project, aimed at reducing dependency on external electricity sources and improving energy efficiency, now covers over 8 percent of the plant’s total electricity needs. As a result, the company reduces its indirect CO₂ emissions by more than 1,700 tonnes every year, achieving cost savings of HUF 270 million.

In addition to the solar array, the company has also relied on its own heat pump systems since 2022. These units contribute to the heating and cooling of various production areas by utilising residual and waste heat from industrial processes. The entire factory's supply of hot water for social facilities is also produced using this system.

During his visit, Péter Szijjártó met with the management of Magyar Suzuki to discuss the company’s role in Hungary’s automotive industry. He also received an update on how the latest steps towards becoming a smart factory and the ongoing modernisation efforts are impacting on production at the Esztergom site.

Róbert Krisztián, Deputy Managing Director of Magyar Suzuki, emphasised that the plant’s development not only enhances efficiency and capacity, but also provides a significant boost to the company’s R&D activities. Magyar Suzuki has accumulated extensive knowledge and experience over nearly 35 years. Hungarian engineers implement 20 to 25 technological projects every year, each certified by the National Research, Development and Innovation Office. These efforts strengthen not only Magyar Suzuki’s competitiveness, but also its strategic role within the broader Suzuki Group.

Further information:
Zsuzsanna Bonnár-Csonka
Head of Corporate Communications
Magyar Suzuki Corporation
Phone: +36 33 54 1309

Company information
Magyar Suzuki Corporation was established in 1991 and is currently still the only European manufacturing unit of the company. The company contributes to the livelihood of approximately 10,000 people through its partners, suppliers, and a nationwide network of 78 dealerships.

The Esztergom plant started production in October 1992. Currently Vitara and the new S-CROSS models are manufactured here in hybrid versions as well. The corporation also exports to countries as far away as Mexico, New Zealand and Japan. In addition to manufacturing vehicles for the domestic and international markets, the company also sells imported cars, motorcycles, and outboard engines. The company is the 12th largest one in terms of revenue in the country according to 2023 data.

The outboard motor business of Magyar Suzuki is a constant presence on the market, with an increasingly outstanding performance every year, and plays a leading role in the motorization of boating in Hungary. From the autumn of 2017 Suzuki Marine was made a regional hub on overseeing business and sales activities across Central and Eastern Europe including Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Romania, Serbia, Bulgaria, Montenegro, Northern Macedonia, Bosnia and Albania.

Magyar Suzuki Corporation also plays a significant role in the motorcycle business in the region, providing motorcycles to thirteen countries (the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia, Romania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo and Montenegro, Azerbaijan, Latvia, Estonia, and Albania) from its center in Esztergom.