Career

Spanish Roots, Hungarian Success: At the Forefront of the CUPRA Terramar

2024. 10. 11.

Having been a part of the SEAT team for 28 years, Alberto Minarro Pelegrin has been working as a project manager at Audi Hungaria since 2022. One might think that moving from the Mediterranean culture to our country would bring significant changes to the life of the Spanish expert, but Alberto strongly disproves this notion.

Alberto Minnaro Pelegrin traded the beaches of the Mediterranean for the banks of the Rába, the Mediterranean sunshine for Hungary’s four seasons, and the delights of Spanish cuisine for the flavors of Hungarian dishes when he moved to Győr with his family in 2022. As a member of the SEAT/CUPRA team, he came to oversee the project of Audi Hungaria’s latest model, the CUPRA Terramar.

Where did you come from, and how did you join the Audi Hungaria team? 

I have been working at SEAT’s pre-series center for nearly 20 years, participating in numerous SEAT and CUPRA projects. I also spent a short period in Wolfsburg in 2018 for the launch of the Tarraco. I began my adventure in Győr in September 2022 at the Analysis Center/Pilothalle as a project manager. In addition to participating in the launch of the CUPRA Terramar, I will also be working on the project for the successor model of the Q3. I plan to stay in Hungary until the summer of 2025.

How different is life in Hungary compared to what you were used to in Spain?

I read a lot about Hungarian culture, the nation’s history, and gastronomy, and I familiarized myself with many Hungarian topics before my trip. I was surprised because I thought the mentality and worldview of Hungarians would be completely different from mine, but I would say it is more similar to the Spanish attitude, especially in terms of flexibility. We quickly find solutions to arising questions together, and they always have a good idea. We almost immediately got on the same wavelength with my colleagues, they quickly accepted me, and I felt at home among them.

What is your role at Audi Hungaria? 

I work in the Pilothalle as the project manager for the CUPRA Terramar project. My main task is to achieve and successfully manage all the important milestones of the pre-series period for both the Terramar and the Q3 successor model’s production launch. And perhaps I feel like a kind of bridge between SEAT’s Spanish side and the local site, especially in the areas of technical development and quality assurance. I know the colleagues there very well, and I strive to bridge the difficulties arising from distance and cultural differences. The Terramar project team consists of experts from four countries, so it is truly a very international team, and initially, we had to harmonize, get used to the working processes and different communication styles of each culture. For me, it was a fantastic intercultural experience, and I believe it also contributed to the project’s success.

You came to Hungary with your family. How did they manage to integrate?

Indeed, my wife and our two children came with me to Győr. My daughter studies at the University of Győr, but she is currently in Italy on an Erasmus program, and my son attends the Audi School. Perhaps it was the hardest for him to integrate because he had not encountered the Hungarian or German language before, but over time he made friends, just as our whole family became part of the community. The first weeks and months were more difficult for all of us, especially during the winter period when one can feel more isolated due to the cold and early darkness, which we were not used to in Barcelona. But over time, friendly gatherings, get-togethers, and family programs filled our days. We quickly adapted to the rhythm of life, and I really like that here in Hungary, we have dinner earlier, and we still have time to talk at home and spend quality time together.

When it comes to Hungary, a foreigner is always asked about our gastronomy. How do you like Hungarian cuisine?

Oh, we have become very fond of it! Every summer, we organize a joint cooking event with colleagues. I am open to everything, and I really like the flavors and Hungarian specialties here. Perhaps the only thing I miss is Spanish ham.

What has been the biggest challenge for you in your work and life here?

Previously, I worked in the pre-series center, but not as a project manager; I was responsible for certain areas. So my current role required a complex perspective. I had to get to know the project’s structure, my colleagues, and define the goals and milestones. I am very grateful to the entire APH team and all my colleagues because they have been a tremendous help from the very beginning.

From a family perspective, as I mentioned, it was initially more difficult for my son. He didn’t like going to school because he didn’t have friends and couldn’t talk to anyone. However, over time, he managed to integrate, and we all love living here.

What surprised you about Hungary?

I was surprised by the openness of the people, their mentality, flexibility, and the similar values they hold in terms of relationships, valuing family and friends. They were open to me from the very beginning, and I felt at home from the moment I arrived. My other SEAT colleagues also experienced this; the welcoming attitude and friendliness greatly contributed to us feeling at home and integrating so quickly.

How do you like the city of Győr?

In Spain, we live in a small village of a thousand people near the mountains, close to Barcelona. As is typical in a small settlement, there weren’t many opportunities for shopping or cultural activities. I find Győr to be an ideal place; it is a livable city, just big enough for my daughter to attend university and for my son to have fun with his friends. There are many opportunities for family programs, and the atmosphere is similar to Barcelona. When the weather is nice, the streets and restaurant terraces are full.

How do you spend your days off?

My mother is 90 years old, and I miss her very much, as well as my family, so I often fly home to visit them. In the summer, we organize family trips around the area. We have already visited Croatia, Poland, Austria, and all over Hungary. In the summer, we organize family trips around here; we have already been to Croatia, Poland, Austria, and all over Hungary.

If you could choose, what car would you drive around the streets of Győr? 

My favorite car is always the one I am currently working on, and of course, now it is the CUPRA Terramar. It feels like my child. I can’t wait to see it on the streets.

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