Career

Audi employees in the world - Ádám Peres

2026. 11. 05.

For Ádám Peres, each step came naturally: from Jedlik School to Széchenyi István University, then to Audi Hungaria, and later to his first international assignment, which he took on as a new father. His move from production technology planning in Győr to Wolfsburg showed him what it is like to sit on the other side of the table. At the Volkswagen Group headquarters, he works in the central department responsible for production strategy.

Please tell us about the years before you joined Audi.

Audi Hungaria is my first employer. I joined the company in the year I graduated and have built my entire professional career here. I inherited my interest in technology from my father, so the Jedlik Ányos Technical School of Mechanical Engineering and IT was the natural choice for my secondary education. From there, I went straight on to study mechanical engineering at Széchenyi István University. A trainee program then brought me to production technology planning at Audi, where I had the chance to prove myself from early 2016. It worked out, and I became a full-time employee that same year.

What area did you work in at Audi Hungaria? What were your day-to-day tasks and responsibilities?

Before my assignment, I was a technical project manager in production technology planning. My project team and I carried out projects for the launch of new combustion engine types. In that role, I was in daily contact with several Group sites, including the department in Wolfsburg responsible for production strategy. Alongside day-to-day project coordination, this gave me the opportunity to play an active part in shaping company strategy.

What are you most proud of in your career here?

During this period, we were preparing the strategy for introducing the new EA211 petrol engine generation, designed to meet Euro 7 requirements. Several Group sites were competing for the production contract. At the same time, the EU regulations and the many technical requirements that followed from them kept changing. I am proudest of my project team's performance. Even though we had to redesign our plans several times, we kept presenting professionally sound, credible and robust solutions to the Group. We stayed motivated throughout and showed that, compared with the other competing sites, Audi Hungaria was ready to deliver the project.

What motivates you most in your work?

What motivates me most is giving direction and structure in complex situations and achieving results together with my colleagues. I enjoy strategic thinking, setting shared goals and supporting a team's development. I find it especially inspiring when different perspectives and interests come together in a common direction and lead to tangible results.

How did the opportunity for an international assignment come about? Why did you take it on, and what appealed to you about it?

The international assignment was essentially the next step in my professional development. I was working more and more on Group-level and strategic topics, so it felt logical to gain direct experience in an international environment. On the one hand, I wanted to grow professionally and get a better understanding of how the Group works. On the other hand, I was attracted by the chance to test myself in another country, in a different cultural and organizational setting. I had always expected an assignment at some point, but the offer came just as my wife and I had moved into a new house and were expecting our first child. Fortunately, both the sending and the receiving side were flexible and agreed to postpone the start of my Wolfsburg assignment to a time that suited us better.

Did you move to Germany alone or with your family?

We moved together. Relocating was a major family decision, and my wife supported me all the way. It was a particularly big step because our daughter was only six months old when we boarded the plane to Germany with just a few suitcases. Looking back two years later, I can only say it was absolutely the right decision.

Where do you work now, and what are your day-to-day tasks?

I currently work at Volkswagen's headquarters, in the central department responsible for production strategy. My main task is comparing different electric motor production concepts and investment options, and preparing the related strategic decisions. To do this, I work with several sites and specialist departments and prepare analyses and project evaluations that support management decisions. My work is strategic, international and highly collaborative. Compared with my job in Győr, I am now on the other side of the table. That calls for a different perspective and, of course, for a neutral and fair approach when preparing decisions that also affect Audi Hungaria.

What is your relationship like with your colleagues there?

Besides my German colleagues, I regularly work with people from many different cultural backgrounds, including Turkish, Greek, Spanish, Czech and Chinese colleagues. As a Hungarian, joining such a diverse team was a very positive experience. From day one, I felt much more welcomed, supported and met with openness than I had during earlier project changes back home.

What are the main differences between the workplace culture there and at home?

Besides being open, people here are perhaps more careful about where each person's responsibilities begin and end.

Which personal and professional qualities do you think are essential to succeed on an international assignment? What advice would you give to those preparing for one, and what should they definitely do before leaving?

In my view, the most important qualities are openness, adaptability and independence. On an assignment, you face many new situations, both professionally and personally. My advice to anyone preparing to go abroad is to get to know yourself as well as possible before you leave, be curious about the new culture, and see the assignment not only as a career opportunity but also as a chance for personal growth.

How do you spend your free time? What have you seen in the area so far, and where have you traveled? What has been the most beautiful, impressive or memorable experience? Is there anything you would still like to see or visit?

We spend most of our free time traveling and hiking. We try to make the most of the assignment and explore as many places as possible in Germany and the neighboring countries. We have visited several cities in northern Germany, such as Hamburg and Bremen, and we often go hiking in the Harz Mountains. Wolfsburg's location is especially convenient because the Nordic countries are fairly easy to reach by car. One of our most memorable experiences was a three-week road trip through Denmark, Norway and Sweden, where the closeness to nature and the beauty of the landscapes amazed us. During this year's summer holiday, we spent another three weeks driving home to Győr through Switzerland, Italy and France, which was also unforgettable. Next, we would like to explore more of northern Germany, especially the North Sea and Baltic Sea coasts and their seaside resorts.

What do you miss most from home?

Most of all, I miss our family and friends, and also sailing on Lake Balaton, where I have had some successful races. Luckily, I haven't had to give up sailing here either. Lake Tankumsee near Wolfsburg is home to several sailing clubs, and I joined one of them last year. This means I can take the club's boats out whenever the weather and my schedule allow.

How often do you visit home?

Volkswagen allows employees to work remotely from abroad for 20 days a year, and I make regular use of this. As a result, we can travel home for a week roughly every three months without my having to take vacation. I work during these weeks, but it is still a great opportunity to spend more time with family and friends.

Could you imagine continuing to live abroad after your assignment ends?

Yes, I could. The assignment has been a very positive experience for us, and we would be happy to get to know other countries and cultures too. So another opportunity in Europe or overseas could be an option in the future.

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