Hungarian subcontractors halt work at BYD's Szeged plant over unpaid wages

Several Hungarian subcontractors have stopped work on the BYD electric‑vehicle plant under construction in Szeged, citing failure to receive payments stipulated in their contracts. Sources say 30–40 pieces of machinery are idle and that while many Hungarian crews have halted, Chinese workers continue under the same conditions. The stoppage follows a series of safety incidents, including a fatal accident in February and a serious injury to a Chinese worker in May, prompting concerns over work‑site safety.

The dispute has also drawn attention to environmental compliance issues. A government investigation resulted in a 10 million‑forint fine for BYD Auto Hungary over alleged violations of its environmental permit after contaminated soil was transported onto nearby farmland. BYD has been contacted for clarification on the number of subcontractors affected and the payment delays. Similar labor‑payment problems have been reported at a BYD plant in São Paulo, Brazil, according to international watchdogs.