Former Hungarian Foreign Minister Szijjártó Joins BYD to Lead External Relations and New Business Development

Péter Szijjártó, former Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, has resigned from his seat in parliament to join Chinese electric vehicle maker BYD, where he will oversee external relations and new business development. During his tenure as minister, Szijjártó consistently promoted investment by Chinese automakers in Hungary. BYD is currently constructing its first European passenger car plant in Szeged, southern Hungary, with equipment installation still underway. In June this year, Li Ke, Executive Vice President of BYD, stated that the plant would begin full vehicle assembly in the fourth quarter of 2024—approximately one year behind the original schedule. Previously, in September 2023, Li had indicated that the Szeged facility was expected to start production of the all-electric Dolphin Surf model by the end of 2025.