Former Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto has left parliament to join BYD, taking on an international executive role as the Chinese new energy vehicle (NEV) maker accelerates its expansion across Europe.
Szijjarto announced on Facebook that he has accepted a position at BYD, where he will oversee the company’s external relations and the development of new business lines. He described BYD as one of the automotive industry’s biggest success stories over the past two decades and the world’s leading NEV manufacturer.
His appointment comes as BYD pushes ahead with its European localization strategy, including the construction of its first passenger vehicle manufacturing plant in Europe.
Veteran Diplomat Joins BYD’s Global Expansion
Szijjarto spent years serving as Hungary’s foreign minister and played a central role in attracting Chinese investment to the country. During his tenure, he became one of the strongest advocates of Hungary’s “Eastern Opening” policy, encouraging investment from China and supporting the expansion of Chinese electric vehicle and battery manufacturers.
According to Bloomberg, Szijjarto was among the leading architects of the Hungarian government’s efforts to strengthen economic ties with China, a strategy that often distinguished the country from other European Union members.
At BYD, his experience is expected to extend beyond diplomacy. As Chinese automakers expand their presence overseas, companies increasingly face challenges involving regulatory compliance, government relations, local manufacturing policies, supply-chain development and labor commitments across Europe.
Hungarian Factory Nears Production
BYD announced plans in December 2023 to build its first European passenger vehicle production facility in Szeged, southern Hungary.
The project is being developed in multiple phases and is expected to become one of the company’s primary manufacturing hubs for the European market.
BYD Executive Vice President Stella Li said in June that vehicle assembly at the plant is scheduled to begin in the fourth quarter of this year. The company is currently installing production equipment at the site.
The revised timeline means production will begin about a year later than originally planned. BYD had previously expected the facility to start manufacturing the Dolphin Surf compact electric vehicle before the end of 2025.
Europe Becomes a Strategic Market
The Hungarian factory forms a key part of BYD’s long-term strategy to localize production in Europe.
Manufacturing vehicles within the European Union is expected to help the company reduce the impact of tariffs imposed on battery electric vehicles imported from China while shortening delivery times for European customers.
However, higher labor and energy costs compared with China could affect production efficiency and profitability during the plant’s initial operating phase.
Hungary has already become one of BYD’s most important European manufacturing bases. The company operates an electric bus factory in the country, where cumulative production surpassed 1,000 vehicles in September 2025.
BYD is also expanding that facility with an additional 29,000 square meters of production space to increase manufacturing capacity for electric buses and trucks, further reinforcing Hungary’s role in the company’s European growth strategy.