Hungary to subsidise electric car purchases again from November
According to a ministry statement, Szijjártó said that the programme, which will be launched in November, will provide HUF 30 billion to build 170 new high-capacity electric charging stations along the busiest roads in Hungary over the next two and a half years.
The other HUF 30 billion will allow companies, such as sole proprietorships, taxi drivers and car-sharing companies, to buy electric vehicles, minibuses or vans at a discounted rate, with subsidies, he added.
The announcement is not new, as the government first announced the launch of a new e-mobility scheme at the end of August.
The minister did not say what the government will use to finance the programme, but given the dire situation of the state budget, it is likely that it will not be implemented solely from national resources. Similar measures have been undertaken as part of the recovery plan, so it is likely that funds will be reimbursed if an agreement is reached with the EU.
Szijjártó said that he had informed the President of BYD, the world's largest electric car manufacturer, about the government's planned support programme, and he welcomed this, especially in light of the fact that the company started selling its vehicles in Hungary a few days ago. Szijjártó also pointed out that Hungary is an important market for BYD, which already produces electric buses in Komárom.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán held talks in Shenzhen on Thursday with Wang Chuanfu, the founding chairman of BYD. At the BYD car factory, the PM was informed about the company's structure and activities in Hungary - the operation of the bus factory in Komárom and the battery assembly plant in Fót - and then the latest electric car models produced by BYD were presented.
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