Chinese automaker BYD announced the appointment of Péter Szijjártó, former Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, to a senior position. The politician announced his move to the company on July 15, 2026, stating that he was leaving parliament and starting work at one of the world's largest manufacturers of new energy vehicles.
According to Szijjártó, at BYD he will be responsible for the company's external relations and the development of new business areas. In his statement, he called the manufacturer "one of the most successful automotive companies of the last two decades" and a global leader in new energy vehicles.
The appointment comes amid BYD's active expansion in Europe. In 2024, the company began construction of its first European car factory in the Hungarian city of Szeged, and later signed a strategic cooperation agreement with the Hungarian government. The document provides for the establishment of BYD's European headquarters and a research and development center in Budapest.
In recent years, Hungary has become one of the key European centers for the Chinese automotive industry. In addition to BYD, CATL, EVE Energy, Sunwoda, and Nio, which is developing European production of battery swap stations, are implementing large investment projects in the country.
BYD's production facility in Hungary is designed to produce up to 300,000 vehicles per year, making it one of the company's largest projects outside of China. At the same time, a local supply chain for components and batteries is being formed, designed to ensure the development of European production.