Europe’s biggest drone factory could be built near Budapest

A Hungarian technology company based just outside Budapest is preparing to build what could become Europe’s largest civilian drone manufacturing facility, following a EUR 7 million investment round that is considered exceptional for the sector. The development shows the value of their innovative solutions and the rapidly expanding market for non-military drones.

Hungarian drone startup to receive huge boost. But what do they offer?

According to Forbes, ABZ Innovation, headquartered in Szentendre, has secured funding from an international investor consortium led by Germany’s Vsquared Ventures. The round also includes Hungary’s DayOne Capital and US-based Assembly Ventures.

The capital injection will finance a major expansion of ABZ’s production capacity, allowing the company to scale up manufacturing while staying firmly focused on civilian applications.

Founded in 2021, the company designs and produces so-called “heavy-duty action drones”, often referred to as work drones. These aircraft are capable of carrying payloads of at least five kilograms and are built for demanding professional tasks rather than hobby use.

Their devices are used across a wide range of sectors, including agriculture, industrial maintenance, logistics and film production. Depending on configuration, they can spray crops, distribute granular materials, clean building façades, transport equipment, or carry high-end camera systems.

Professional devices, not for the military

While drones have recently dominated headlines due to military use, the civilian market is expanding at remarkable speed. Lower-cost Asian manufacturers dominate consumer and hobby drones, but Europe has carved out a niche in reliable, high-performance machines designed for long-term professional use, with durability, safety and precision being increasingly decisive factors in this segment.

A key element of ABZ’s strategy is its strict commitment to civilian use. Unlike many Western manufacturers, the company has deliberately avoided developing dual-use or military-oriented drones.