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The Prime Minister stressed that while three and a half decades previously, after the fall of communism, it had been an open question whether the country would be able to join modern western economic systems, and it had been clear that for this we needed the technologies of foreign investors, “Audi was the first Western European automotive company that said ‘we’re coming, we believe in you, we see the future in Hungary, we’ll be successful, we’ll do it together with you here.’”
Mr Orbán explained that for Hungary Audi was “not just an automotive company,” not just an economic issue. Audi’s present, future and fate also mean a special commitment for Hungary, and for the Hungarian government, he said.
Addressing the factory’s management, engineers and workers, the Prime Minister stated that “you can always count on the Hungarian government, also in the future.”
He added that the commitment of the workers and engineers working here was a decisive factor in Audi’s decision to invest and carry out a development in Hungary. Without Hungarian workers, this factory would not be able to achieve the high quality that makes Audi competitive worldwide, and without Hungarian engineers, the Győr Audi would not be where it is today, the Prime Minister pointed out. “Hungary is proud of the Hungarians working in Győr,” he added.
The Prime Minister said that what is going to happen to European automotive production is not just an abstract economic policy question, but a crucial, tough question for the 160,000 Hungarian families whose fates and livelihoods are tied to motor vehicle production.
Mr Orbán highlighted that, seeing the situation of the European automotive industry and the entire global automotive industry, the most competitive line of business was no longer that of politicians, but that of companies manufacturing cars.
Today, there is the keenest competition in the whole world in the automotive industry, he laid down. He drew attention to the fact that one could also lose, not only win in this race. Audi, too, will need all its knowledge in order to preserve its place within the VW concern, the same as Volkswagen, too, will have to do its best in order to preserve its place in the world’s car production, he underlined.
We are facing serious challenges, he said, mentioning the war, increasing energy prices and Brussels among the toughest challenges. The latter is regrettably not controlled by the chief executives of automotive companies, but by bureaucrats who have no idea what a car manufacturer’s competitiveness depends on. He spoke about China as a new competitor, adding that this is a tough race, and a major challenge.
Mr Orbán said the celebration of Audi’s new model is at the same time a good opportunity to reinforce our self-confidence. Amidst such challenges, it is very difficult to stay alive and to preserve our positions. This new model gives us all – it certainly gives Hungary, but it is to be hoped, also Audi – self-confidence and perhaps also self-esteem in that we are able to stand our ground in this competition.
If it is able to conjure up and manufacture such new models time and again, then Audi has a future, he laid down.
The Prime Minister pointed out that the entire European automotive sector was compelled to now sail through stormy waters. If country leaders, capital owners, motor vehicle manufacturers and the Brussels leadership are unable to forge an alliance, if they fail to cooperate and fail to subject everything to the success of large European car manufacturers, then they may cut off the branch they are sitting on and will not be able to stand their ground in the race.
He underlined: it is very important that they realise that bureaucrats cannot determine production technologies, and neither can they tell people what to buy.
We must believe in that the economy and freedom on the market make us competitive, and must liberate European industry from under bureaucratic oppression, he stated.
This is a shared interest of Hungary and the Audi concern, and so this is our message to the Brussels bureaucrats: Give us back the freedom of industry and consumers, the Prime Minister said.
Mr Orbán argued that if consumers and factories were given their freedom back, then they would be able to stand their ground in the race even during the present difficult, stormy times. If, however, they do not give our freedom back, then we will not be able to preserve jobs, will not be able to preserve our factories, he warned.
He added, however, that we had high hopes, and even robust evidence – and Audi’s new model testified to this – proving that if we are allowed to work in peace, if Germany, German car factories, Hungary and Hungarian factories are allowed to work in peace, then we are able to manufacture world-class and competitive products.
Then Audi has a future, the engineers and workers working here will have incomes, and their families will have security, Mr Orbán said.
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