BME’s Department of Automotive Technologies Gets Mini for Educational Use

The vehicle was handed over to Zsolt Szalay, head of department, and Márk Lelkes, head of the Innovative Vehicle Technologies Research Group, for educational purposes.

The vehicle is not road-legal and cannot be sold; it will exclusively serve educational and research purposes in laboratory environments, supporting hands-on learning for students. The fully electric, all-wheel-drive vehicle will serve as a valuable educational tool for teaching electric mobility, powertrain diagnostics, and energy management.

The official handover ceremony took place on 27 October at Rack Autó, BMW’s dealership in Budaörs. The car was presented to the university representatives by Éva Csomor, qualification & retail HR manager for Hungary and Romania, and Róbert Rák, head of customer service at BMW Group Hungary.

“Electromobility represents not only technological progress but also a change in mindset — one that requires the active involvement of young talent. With this initiative, we are strengthening our presence in higher education as well, contributing to the competitiveness of Hungarian engineering students and to shaping the future of the automotive industry,” said Éva Csomor.

“This is a long-term initiative focused on developing the next generation of professionals. Collaborations like this ensure that future engineers can learn using state-of-the-art technology. Our technical trainers are also ready to support university instructors in gaining a deeper understanding of the vehicle’s diagnostic and drivetrain systems,” emphasised Róbert Rák, highlighting the long-term goals of the initiative.

“We are very pleased about this collaboration and grateful to BMW Group Hungary for this generous donation. The vehicle will play a significant role in both laboratory courses and research projects. We hope this handover will be the first milestone in a long-term partnership that creates new opportunities in automotive education and research,” added Zsolt Szalay.

The Department of Automotive Technologies places growing emphasis on inspiring young people and promoting careers in engineering. Partnerships with industry leaders such as BMW Group Hungary are essential to ensure that students engage with real, cutting-edge technologies during their university studies.

The collaboration between BMW Group Hungary and BME’s Department of Automotive Technologies represents an exemplary step in bridging academic knowledge and practical industry experience — and sends a strong signal of the automotive industry’s commitment to supporting the next generation of engineers.

Rector's Office, Directorate of Communications