A state-of-the-art, 15,300 sqm production hall was officially opened in Debrecen. The facility developed as a build-to-suit project by Panattoni Hungary and the OTP Real Estate Investment Fund, will supply chassis systems to the BMW plant in Debrecen. Following the recent opening of a similar facility in Kecskemét, this is ZF’s second such investment in Hungary. The nearly HUF 7.5 billion investment, carried out in close cooperation with the local municipality, showcases 21st-century sustainable solutions and will create 220 new jobs in the North-Western Economic Zone.
Panattoni Hungary, the Hungarian subsidiary of the world’s leading industrial real estate developer, ensured the protection of natural habitats, adherence to sustainability principles, and compliance with BMW’s strict manufacturing requirements throughout the development process. As a result, a complex industrial ecosystem has been established on a previously unused site—complete with road networks, utilities, and associated industrial infrastructure. Despite the demanding expectations, the project was completed on schedule, allowing ZF Chassis Modules to begin production according to its planned timeline.
“Following our project in Kecskemét, we are proud to announce the successful completion of another high-tech, complex industrial real estate development here in Debrecen as well. The project proceeded at an accelerated pace and was completed on time, perfectly reflecting Panattoni’s core values: agility, efficiency, and reliability in industrial real estate development,” said László Kemenes, Managing Director of Panattoni Hungary.
The new facility, which manufactures front and rear axles, plays a key role in the supply chain of BMW’s Debrecen plant. “The plant assembles front and rear chassis systems in just-in-sequence scheduling—producing them in the exact order and technical specification required by the automotive production schedule. At full capacity, 35 vehicle chassis systems will be manufactured and delivered to BMW every hour. Highly automated production lines—separate for front and rear axles—carry out 22 to 24 individual operations. To ensure continuous production, logistics, based on BMW’s forecasts, manage the supply, storage, and line delivery of nearly 500 different components from over 60 suppliers,” explained Csaba Varjassy, Plant Manager of ZF Chassis Modules Hungary.
The facility, powered by electric heat pumps and operating without local CO₂ emissions, has been fully tailored to meet the client’s specific needs. According to Varjassy, mass production is expected to start in August 2025.
The project was financed by the OTP Real Estate Investment Fund. Panattoni and the OTP Real Estate Fund have partnered on several milestone domestic projects, including the development of Rossmann’s new logistics hub in Hungary. “It is of paramount importance to us to participate in projects that create long-term sustainable value. In the Debrecen facility, ESG considerations also played a major role: the building aims to achieve BREEAM Excellent certification, and special lighting and biodiversity protection measures were implemented to safeguard the environment,” emphasized Gábor Jandácsik, Managing Director of the OTP Real Estate Investment Fund.
