Posted on 01/12/2026 5:56:59 AM PST by T.B. Yoits
In yet another major blow to the German automobile labor market, Mercedes has announced it will be relocating production of its A-Class from Rastatt, Germany, to Kecskemét, Hungary. While Hungary’s foreign minister is taking a victory lap, Germany’s largest opposition party is sharply crticizing the government as signs grow that Germany’s automobile market is faltering.
Trade Minister Péter Szijjártó has officially confirmed Mercedes move, writes Budapester.
Szijjártó credited the success to “an economic policy based on sound common sense and a stable government that continually attracts new investment projects from global companies in America, Asia, and even Germany.”
However, the news is not being welcomed in Germany, with the Alternative for Germany (AfD) pointing out the dire economic situation the country is facing.
“Mercedes-Benz has stood for German engineering excellence and Germany’s economic upswing for decades. Yet, like many automakers, the company is cutting jobs in Germany and expanding in other countries. As a result, the entire production of the A-Class is being relocated to Hungary. 20,000 employees are expected to lose their jobs as a result,” wrote AfD politician Christian Abel on X.
“This is a direct consequence of Friedrich Merz’s green climate and energy policies. To make Germany an attractive industrial location again, a genuine economic policy turnaround is needed through the termination of the energy transition, the combustion engine ban, the abolition of fleet emission limits, and the elimination of state-mandated reporting requirements. If this is not possible within the EU, Germany must seriously consider a Dexit,” he wrote.
Mercedes’ decision proves that investors embrace Hungary’s political stability, low taxes, and highly skilled workforce, with the Kecskemét plant its largest production site in Europe; only in China does the group have a larger capacity, notes Budapester.
Mercedes is also setting up its first R&D center in Hungary.
(Excerpt) Read more at rmx.news ...
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Oops
Germany was having trouble, what a sad sad story....
Congrats to Hungary—on the road to living long and prospering.
bkmrk
D’oh
Mercedes has lost their way.
Mercedes was faced with a choice; hire some of the invading swarthies who can’t do the simplest of jobs, or move production to Hungary which has kept the swarthies from invading.
None of this is complicated or unexpected. The EU is mostly made up of brain dead, ideologically suicidal idiots.
Wow, who wudda thunk that?
Capital investment wants stability, low taxes and a skilled work force.
This must be a new concept, most Germans never heard of it. S/OFF
I wonder how many Germans intend to relocate to Hungary. Not just for their previous job but because they don’t want to live in a country overrun with swarthies.
They can move to Poland, as long as this time, they don’t go around like they own the place.
Oh and don’t forget the Greens imported the third world “workers” to supplement the decreasing German work force. Great plan Germany!
Mercedes have a terrible repair record.
This is like moving production to right to work states. German workers council worse than our unions is to blame.
Mercedes has not made a reliable car since the ML350 about 10 years ago. And, that car was designed by accountants so everything is cheapo.
The real Mercedes ended in 1999 and the last handmade MB was in the E320 Cabriolet in 1994.
Before that, the best car ever made was the 1989-1991 W126 (S-Class). Kings and President rode in it with pride.
At least maintenance and repairs are cheap ; )
Benz has a history of taking something that works well like a self leveling shock absorber that uses a central control unit and compressor that can be replaced for 30bucks and 20 minutes with a module that has integrated control computers and compressors that require maintenance and cost 3grand to replace and over an hour of labor.
I’ll take a 72 Satellite over any Benz its more reliable and cheaper to run and it looks better too.
Hungary gets about half its electricity from a big nuclear power plant. They are currently building another which will double energy production and make the country nearly self sufficient in electricity. No feral muslim invaders and no Gaia worship for Hungary. They’ve opted to remain a European Christian country and have a modern economy instead.
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