NIO committed to green transformation of Hungary, Europe

Chinese electric vehicle maker NIO is committed to achieving the green transformation of Hungary and the rest of Europe by relying heavily on the local workforce.

NIO opened its first factory outside China in September 2022 in Biatorbagy, a town about 20 kilometers from the Budapest city center. The NIO Power Europe Plant manufactures battery swapping stations for the European market.

Zhang Hui, vice-president of NIO Europe, said the plant is serving as the manufacturing, service and research and development center for charging products on the continent.

"This factory has a long-term and great significance for NIO's overall overseas production layout, helping to cultivate talent and accumulate experience abroad," Zhang said.

He said the operation of the plant greatly enhances NIO's energy deployment and service efficiency in Europe, and improves user experience for European customers.

Dozens of battery swapping stations assembled by the plant are currently operational in Europe.

Meanwhile, a European Business Service Center of NIO has been set up in Budapest to provide technical support, along with employee training and other services, to the carmaker's European customer base.

NIO has 2,400 battery swapping stations in the world, where customers can get a fully charged battery for their EVs in less than four minutes in a container-sized unit.

Zhang said he believes that NIO's innovative energy solutions will play an active role in low-carbon economic development and environmental protection through its battery swapping stations made at the Hungarian plant.

These stations have "a long-term and positive impact on the green transformation of Hungary and Europe as a whole, especially in the current tight energy supply situation in Europe", he said, referring to the energy crisis in Europe following the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

"The application of these technologies helps to accelerate electrification and smart transformation in these regions, thereby achieving green development goals," he said.

Zhang said that NIO's development in Hungary and Europe has always followed the core principle of localization, and its key management team in Hungary primarily comprises Hungarian professionals.

Lajos Kecskemeti, senior manager of human resources at the NIO European Business Service Center, said he became NIO's first employee in Budapest about three years ago. While he had worked with Chinese companies before, it was the first time he started working for one.

"It's very interesting to work for a Chinese company. We have a lot of things in common, but also learn a lot from each other," he said, adding that he learned more about China and Chinese culture after joining NIO.

"In Hungary, Chinese companies have a good reputation," Kecskemeti said, noting how proud he felt driving his NIO electric car in Budapest, "as it always draws a lot of attention".

Istvan Rohoska, who works in the financial department of the service center, said he was attracted by NIO's innovative products and was really happy to join NIO at an early stage.

He said he felt no "culture shock" working for a Chinese company. "It was like joining another European company, pretty much similar to my previous experiences."

In 2023, the NIO Power Europe Plant won the 2022 Innovative Product Investment Award from the Hungarian Investment Promotion Agency for its innovative battery swapping solution. Its business service center in Budapest was recognized this year as the "most promising emerging business service center in Central and Eastern Europe".

Zhang, the vice-president, said that Hungary is an important part of NIO's globalization journey.

"Through our investment and presence in Hungary, we aim to bring advanced Chinese technology and innovation concepts to the electrification and smart transformation of the Hungarian automotive industry," he added.