Munich/Debrecen. Preparations for the future BMW Group plant in Debrecen, Hungary have reached another important milestone. Following successful preparation of the land by the City of Debrecen, the BMW Group will take official possession of the land by the end of May. Péter Szijjártó, the Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and the mayor of Debrecen, Dr László Papp, presented Michele Melchiorre, head of BMW Group Plant Debrecen, the results of the site preparation. With today’s presentation, the official handover process is started and will be finalized by end of May.

"We are very pleased with the progress this project has made and we were able to start with first construction work on plant infrastructure as planned. We would like to thank the City of Debrecen and the Hungarian government for their trust and very professional cooperation," said Michele Melchiorre at the land transfer. Melchiorre continued: "We remain committed to the plans for the new plant in Debrecen. However, the global economic situation due to coronavirus pandemic has also an impact on construction, there will be adjustments to the plant construction schedule. The complex timeline is now under review, we assume the delay will be several months.

“A pandemic created an unexpected and extraordinary situation. At such a volume of investment we need to take it natural that the schedule of the construction might have a few months of change. However, I would like to emphasize that every step will happen according to the contracts, there is no need to change any contractual frame. Today the site has been handed over to BMW, the plant will be built and Debrecen will become a very important center of the global automotive industry” – said Péter Szijjártó the Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

“The City of Debrecen set up the industrial area for hosting BMW’s new plant at a record speed, in only one and a half years. The excellent cooperation with BMW and the Hungarian Government helps us build positive and perspective future both in our city and in the Eastern region of our country. The arrival of BMW opens up new horizons for us in the economy and the education. Furthermore, it significantly strengthens the international recognition of Debrecen“ said Dr. László Papp on the occasion of the business meeting.

Péter Szijjártó, Dr. László Papp and Michele Melchiorre viewed the progress so far during an on-site tour of the property in the northwest of the city. Over the past 12 months, the 400-hectare site has been levelled and connected to infrastructure. More than 2,098,000 m³ of soil was removed and backfilled, and around 123.000 meters of underground pipes and about 12.000 meters of rainwater ditches laid. The first 500 piles, which will later ensure the stability of the buildings, have already been laid.