In 2020, Audi Hungaria, together with E.ON Hungaria, installed a solar farm of 160,000 square meters on the roofs of two buildings at the Audi Hungaria logistics center. Under the current agreement, Smart Solar Kft. will provide the Győr-based company with renewable energy for the next 25 years with this new 18 Megawatt installation. The innovative solar tracking technology, with active panels on both sides, can produce almost 30% more energy in the same area than conventional systems.

“Sustainability has always been a priority in Audi Hungaria’s strategy. Carbon neutrality is a key action area of our Mission:Zero environmental program. In addition to energy efficiency, an important part of our actions in this area is to generate the energy we need from renewable energy sources on or near our site. With the expansion of our solar park, we are continuing on the path of sustainability – I am proud to say that Audi Hungaria is becoming even greener,” said Michael Breme, Chairman of the Board of Management of Audi Hungaria.

The solar farm will generate electricity for Audi Hungaria, while also improving the stability of the Hungarian electricity grid. The two companies’ experts are also taking biodiversity conservation into account when expanding the solar park: For example, the solar power plant site will be planted with a flowering lawn and microhabitats to ensure that the industrial facility remains close to nature and thus regenerate the native local habitat.

Audi Hungaria has been balance sheet carbon neutral since 2020. Audi Hungaria has won a special Environment award in 2024 at the HVG Green Leaders Awards in the REC (Renewable Energy Certificate) category, as the company covers an exceptionally high proportion of its energy needs from renewable energy sources. The company is the largest industrial user of geothermal energy in Hungary. It currently covers more than 90 percent of its thermal energy needs from this renewable energy. In addition, Audi Hungaria transports parts, powertrains and vehicles between the production sites in Ingolstadt and Győr by carbon-neutral “green trains”.

The company looks to the future: in 2024, it launched an ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) Master’s program in cooperation with Széchenyi István University in Győr, where future environmental professionals are trained with the help of the company’s experts.