Hungary's Komárom accelerates as hub for electric bus production

A small Hungarian city on the Slovak border is emerging as a key player in Europe's green transition.

Komárom is home to a factory run by Chinese automaker BYD, one of the world's leading electric bus makers. 

The plant, opened in 2017, has already produced more than 700 buses. Now, it's set to expand.

This factory employs more than 500 people today, but under a planned new expansion underway, that number could double. 

Most of the buses built here carry BYD's latest battery technology. They can travel up to 400 kilometers on a single charge.

The buses are quiet, modern, and fully electric. 

"Our bus has really good quality, very good energy consumption," said Daochun Zhang, managing director of BYD Europe Commercial Vehicles.

The Komárom plant builds 18-meter articulated buses for cities across Europe. BYD is also considering producing the chassis for its double-decker electric buses used in London.

Hungarian officials say the investment reflects strong ties with China.

"In Hungary, we choose connection and mutual respect," said Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó. 

"We believe in working together globally. This is a great opportunity—when East and West join forces, big things happen. Hungary and China working together are already delivering real results."

Headquarters

BYD is also moving its European headquarters to Budapest this year. For Hungary, the company's growing footprint means jobs, innovation, and momentum toward climate goals.

For Komárom — a city of fewer than 20,000 — the expansion means economic opportunity. For Zhang, it's also personal.

"Komárom is very important for Hungary and this city has been very friendly to us," Zhang said. "That's one of the reasons why we want to expand our plant here."

From London to Lisbon, electric buses from Hungary are already in use. As the Komárom factory grows, more could soon be on the way.

In a region once best known for its history, Komárom is quietly helping drive the future — one electric bus at a time.