Prime Minister Viktor Orbán was present while the cornerstone for a test track for both manned and driverless cars was laid in Zalaegerszeg today.
“The future has found Zalaegerszeg,” PM Orbán said at the ceremony, expressing hope that the track whose construction costs 40 billion HUF (129.1m EUR) would be unique not just in Hungary but in all of Europe.
With this investment, “Hungary will propel itself onto the world map of auto industry R&D and testing and we Hungarians will take a step towards becoming an auto industry hub of central Europe,” the prime minister said.
This will present opportunities to car companies present in Hungary, people working or looking to work in this field, research centers as well as suppliers, PM Orbán added.
According to government sources, the test track is a major investment for Hungary, one which cannot be rivaled or found within 500 kilometers of its borders.
Construction work is due to continue on the new dual carriageway this year, which will be the country’s first intelligent road for testing self-driving cars.
The new R-76 route will link the M7 highway with Zalaegerszeg and will be built on an area of nearly 250 hectares.The road will run close to Sármellék Airport and will take 24 months to build.
Hungary’s auto industry is fast becoming a European leader in the sector, embracing digital transformation and development, which has led to international investments and expansion projects.