Report: Audi's expansion plans in Hungary drawing fire from environmentalists

Audi's plans to expand its Gyor factory in western Hungary have come under fire, with a local environmental group filing an appeal against the land-use permit issued to the German automaker by the European Commission in January.

Audi currently manufactures the A3 cabriolet, TT coupe and TT roadster in Gyor, and is looking to add the RS3 Sportback and A3 sedan to the portfolio. According to the news agency MTI, Audi wants to invest 900 million euros to boost annual production in Gyor to 125,000 vehicles, beginning in 2013, a move that would create up to 1,800 jobs.

Not everyone is bowled over by talk of jobs, though. MTI reports that the land-use permit is a precondition for Audi to get permission for expanding the facility. However, the environmental group that filed the appeal claims that the ruling that approved the land-use permit contained procedural errors. Additionally, the environmental group has voiced concerns that wildlife in the expansion area, which includes a portion of a nature reserve, would be negatively impacted by the swelling of the Gyor factory.

[Source: Automotive News – sub. req.]