The German vehicle maker’s VP Glenn Schmidt said at a press event on Tuesday that since the model is performing much better than expected, the second shift for production was launched in the Debrecen plant in February, earlier than originally planned.
He noted the company chose Debrecen due to its proximity to European markets, its established supplier base, and the available, highly skilled workforce.
The decades of manufacturing experience of the Hungarian automotive industry also played an important role in the decision, he added.
Schmidt said BMW Group does not support the application of tariffs or other trade restrictions against Chinese competitors, but at the same time considers it important to create balanced competitive conditions.
The Chinese market is characterized by extremely strong competition and technological innovation, which Schmidt believes contributes to technological development and maintaining global competitiveness.
In a panel discussion before he noted that in China, the share of plug-in hybrid and electric vehicles has risen to over 50% in sales, despite the country not setting a goal of full electrification or banning internal combustion engines.
Instead it has built up its auto industry with targeted industrial policies and support for local manufacturers and suppliers. In contrast, in Europe, barely one in five new vehicles is currently electric, and strict rules have been put in place to achieve full electrification.
The automotive industry needs predictable long-term strategic directions, he said.
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