Chinese automaker BYD has appointed former Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto to lead its external relations and new business development as it steps up efforts to localize production in Europe. Szijjarto resigned from Hungary’s parliament to take on the international role, drawing on his extensive diplomatic experience in both Beijing and Brussels.
The timing of the appointment coincides with BYD’s preparation to begin vehicle assembly at its first European passenger-car facility in Szeged, southern Hungary. The plant is scheduled to start producing vehicles in the fourth quarter and is viewed as a key element in the company’s strategy to mitigate tariffs on imported battery electric vehicles and streamline delivery times within the European Union.
While Szijjarto does not have a background in automotive engineering, his deep understanding of European political and regulatory frameworks is expected to help BYD navigate challenges such as local employment commitments, supply-chain integration and relations with EU institutions. During his decade in office, Szijjarto championed Hungary’s “Eastern Opening” policy, which prioritized economic ties with China and Russia and drew significant investment into the country’s automotive and battery sectors.
Under his tenure, Hungary secured major projects from Chinese electric‐vehicle makers and battery manufacturers, laying the groundwork for growing industrial cooperation. BYD already operates a bus manufacturing plant in Hungary, where cumulative output reached 1,000 electric buses by September 2025. The company is expanding that facility by an additional 29,000 square meters to increase production capacity for buses and trucks.
BYD’s Szeged passenger-car plant is being developed in phases, with initial plans to produce the Dolphin Surf compact electric model by late 2025. However, the launch has been pushed back by about a year, reflecting delays in equipment installation. Although local production will help address EU trade measures and reduce delivery lead times, higher labor and energy costs in Europe could limit the Hungarian plant’s utilization and profitability during its early operations.
Source: CnEV Post (https://cnevpost.com/2026/07/16/byd-hires-hungary-ex-foreign-minister/)
