The Cost of Turning Hungary into an Electric Vehicle Battery Giant, or the Battery Superpower Status through the Eyes of Stakeholders

Lengyel Lilla (2023) The Cost of Turning Hungary into an Electric Vehicle Battery Giant, or the Battery Superpower Status through the Eyes of Stakeholders. Külkereskedelmi Kar.

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Absztrakt (kivonat)

"Hungary will become an electric vehicle battery giant." Such statements have echoed in the media recently, sparking unanimous disapproval and significant public outcry. The topic came into the spotlight in August 2022 with the announcement of the expansion of the Chinese Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Limited (CATL) in Debrecen, and it has remained a recurring subject since. Concerns from the public primarily revolve around the environmental impact of the factories and potential strain on water resources, but the issue is much more complex.In Hungary, the role of the manufacturing industry, especially the automotive sector, is substantial. As a key player in economic development, the automotive industry contributes significantly to the GDP1 , accounting for approximately 20% of the national GDP2 (Madár, 2023). However, the sector’s negative impact on the ecosystem necessitates a transition to sustainability. This transition involves the shift towards electric vehicles, requiring a substantial increase in the production of electric vehicle batteries, hence the importance of battery production. However, due to the planned investments, our role in the global value chain (GVC) of the automotive industry, specifically in battery production, goes together with low value addition. This has implications beyond the labour market, affecting areas such as energy imports and long-term economic development. Thus, the topic is important and relevant from multiple perspectives.The primary goal of my research was to create a study that clearly outlines the projected status of being a battery giant and, as part of that, the consequences of upcoming investments in electric vehicle battery production for all stakeholders. The original aspect of the research lies in providing a comprehensive, objective picture of the effects of boosting domestic battery production, encompassing environmental, economic, and social aspects, on the full spectrum of stakeholders. The focus of the research is on the CATL plant being built in Debrecen, the largest investment in Hungary to date and the second-largest capacity battery plant in Europe. The results provide a good starting point for industry-level conclusions and assessing the impact ofother investments. Additionally, my research contributes to expanding scientific knowledge, being the first to analyse CATL's GVC. Additionally, I have prepared the GVC analysis of Northvolt to underline the specifics of CATL.Therefore, in my research, I seek to answer how sustainable CATL's global value chain is and what impact it has on stakeholders. The highest value of the research lies in its comprehensive analysis, extending to all stakeholders. Beyond commonly researched environmental impacts, such as water and energy requirements, the research presents the investment's job creation potential, analyses supply chains, examines the demand side of the supply chain, and considers the roles of various government and regulatory bodies, as well as the influence and interests of the public and environmental groups.The thesis was conducted using a secondary research methodology. The main sources include domestic and international literature on the topic, grey literature (public policy documents, strategies), databases (Central Statistical Office (KSH) Information Database, Eurostat database, OECD TiVA database, etc.), Hungarian press releases, news, and professional events, conferences. Beyond synthesizing the existing literature, various source types were used to map and analyse the global value chain of CATL from the perspective of stakeholders, keeping the research goal in mind. I prepared a comparative case study, too, to illustrate the key GVC characteristics of CATL through the case of Northvolt.A section of the paper was submitted and presented at the Budapest Business University Scientific Students' Associations3 Conference on the 30th of November, 2023 (Lengyel, 2023).Supported by the ÚNKP-23-2-I. New National Excellence Program of the Ministry for Culture and Innovation from the source of the National Research, Development and Innovation Fund.

Intézmény

Budapesti Gazdasági Egyetem

Kar

Külkereskedelmi Kar

Tanszék

Nemzetközi Gazdaságtan Tanszék

Tudományterület/tudományág

NEM RÉSZLETEZETT

Szak

Nemzetközi gazdaság és gazdálkodás (angol)

Mű típusa:	diplomadolgozat (NEM RÉSZLETEZETT)
Kulcsszavak:	CATL, EV battery, Global Value Chains, stakeholders, sustainability
SWORD Depositor:	Archive User
Felhasználói azonosító szám (ID):	Archive User
Rekord készítés dátuma:	2024. Feb. 22. 10:28
Utolsó módosítás:	2024. Feb. 22. 10:28

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