The Alba Regia was a Hungarian microcar project produced by both the Ministry of Metallurgy and Machine Industry in conjunction with the Vehicle Developing Institute in 1952/1953. In 1955 three engineers were commissioned to work on the car; Ernő Rubik, Pal Kerekes, and Geza Bengyel. Along with two employees, József Zappel and József Horvth, the group conceived of the Alba Regia, named for a Roman city, and the Balaton, named for Hungary's Lake Balaton.