The European automotive industry is expanding its R&D presence in Central and Eastern Europe, driven by electrification, autonomous driving, and digitalization. This article highlights key R&D and prototyping centers established by major OEMs and Tier1 suppliers in Hungary, Poland, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia.
Since 2025, Poland has attracted major foreign manufacturing investments across EV batteries, renewable energy, semiconductors, consumer goods, and food. Projects by U.S., Chinese, Korean, European, and Taiwanese companies highlight Poland’s role as a nearshoring hub and a key player in Europe’s green and digital industrial transition.
Since 2025, Hungary has seen a surge of foreign manufacturing investments beyond Asia, led by Germany, the US, Switzerland, the UK, and Denmark. Projects include BMW’s €2 billion EV plant in Debrecen, Mercedes-Benz’s €1 billion Kecskemét expansion, GKN’s new driveshaft factory, Stadler’s rail vehicle hub, LEGO’s large-scale packaging plant, Verbio’s green catalyst facility, GE Vernova’s power equipment upgrades, and Emerson’s expanded R&D centers. Backed by government incentives and EU decarbonization goals, these investments highlight Hungary’s growing role as a European hub for EVs, green technologies, and nearshoring.
The Visegrád Four (V4) countri…
