Transport and Investment Minister Vitézy Dávid said self-driving taxis could appear in Budapest in the near future, even as Hungary’s rail system remains behind on fundamental upgrades. He made these remarks at the Forbes Next Big Thing event, held in a packed hall at Etele Cinema.
The event and the discussion
The final speaker of the Tuesday event was introduced by Forbes editor-in-chief Zsiborás Gergő, who noted that Vitézy is the first 30/30 alumnus to reach a ministerial post. The conversation focused on the future of transport: how technology is reshaping cities, the potential role of autonomous vehicles, and whether Hungary will see high-speed trains running at 300 km/h.
Names from past transport leadership, including Lázár János, came up on stage; Vitézy referred to his predecessors not only in critical terms.
What Vitézy addressed
The minister discussed several core issues affecting the transport system. He explained why it can take up to a full day for a freight train to cross Hungary and outlined the types of rail upgrades needed to make transport better suited to future demands. He also said that significant changes are imminent for Budapest and suburban public transport.
On stage Vitézy answered questions about his current biggest intellectual challenge, how much is being allocated for procurements, and what the ministry most urgently lacks — he provided responses to these topics during the Forbes conversation, with details given at the event.
Why this matters
Technological advances, especially autonomous vehicles, can change the structure and operation of urban transport by enabling faster and more flexible services. At the same time, without basic modernization of rail infrastructure, the conditions for international freight transit and faster passenger services will not be in place. Vitézy also invoked China’s example: over twenty years China built one of the world’s fastest rail networks, offering lessons for Europe.
Questions for the future
Topics raised at the event included when the first self-driving taxis might appear in Budapest, why a freight train’s transit across Hungary can take a day, which rail improvements would yield visible results, and what role previous leadership played in creating the current situation. The discussion addressed a number of concrete problems and opportunities; the minister presented further details on timelines and investment amounts during the event.
Photo: Fejes Márton
