21/1/2025 |Articles are machine translated
Production of the new generation of the Škoda Kodiaq in Kvasiny. | Photo: Škoda Auto
Despite a number of challenges, domestic car manufacturers managed to increase production by 3.9% year-on-year in 2024, reaching a historical high of 1,452,881 passenger cars produced. Production of trucks also performed well, with 1,522 (+6.3%), motorcycles (+20.4%) and trailers over 3.5 t, with a total of 2,020 completed trailers and semi-trailers (+11.9%). On the other hand, the bus categories (4,489 -14.5%) and small trailers up to 3.5 t (15,842 -6.4%) recorded a decline in production. Electric vehicles accounted for 7.8% of the total annual production of domestic manufacturers. 113,232 pure battery and 37,930 plug-in hybrid passenger vehicles and 245 pure battery buses rolled off the lines of domestic manufacturers in 2024. However, compared to the beginning of the year, the pace of vehicle production continued to slow at the end of the year.
“Despite deteriorating conditions, whether it is unstable supply chains, the negative impact of geopolitical conflicts, slow economic development or persistent high energy prices, the automotive industry managed to achieve extraordinary results in 2024. Total passenger car production in the Czech Republic increased by 3.9% year-on-year to a historically record volume of 1,452,881 passenger vehicles produced. These figures are clear evidence that the Czech automotive industry remains a key pillar of the domestic and European economy. It turns out that the growing regulatory pressure on the share of electric cars in sales comes at a time when customer interest in purchasing them is declining. This will further complicate the already complex environment that European regulation creates for the industry in 2025. Therefore, it is essential that the European Commission takes the following steps in rapid succession. First, it clearly declared that fines for a low share of electric cars are counterproductive under the given conditions. In the course of 2025, it will then present a revision of the CO2 target system for vehicle manufacturers, which will ensure true technological neutrality and give customers the choice of how their vehicles are powered. Thirdly, it will propose a real industrial policy that will support the competitiveness of EU production against global competition and will mean a reduction in the price of vehicles purchased for customers. The basis of such a proposal must be a revision of the existing regulatory framework and the removal of unintended negative impacts of regulations that often cannot be fulfilled or are in conflict with each other. On the contrary, another European regulatory marathon, as we witnessed between 2019 and 2024, will not help either the climate or the industry, and last but not least, the customer,” says Martin Jahn, President of the Czech Automotive Industry Association.
In 2024, a total of 1,452,881 passenger vehicles were produced in the Czech Republic, i.e. 3.9% more year-on-year than in the previous year 2023. More than 93% of the cars produced (1,350,958 units) went to foreign markets. Vehicle exports thus recorded a 4.5% increase year-on-year. A total of 101,923 vehicles were placed on the domestic market, i.e. 7% of total production. Compared to exports, domestic sales of passenger vehicles recorded a year-on-year decrease, in this case by 3.5%. A total of 151,162 electric cars were produced from January to December, and their share in domestic production represented 10.4%. A total of 113,232 battery BEVs and 37,930 plug-in hybrid vehicles were produced. The electric vehicle segment recorded a 16.4% decrease year-on-year.
The largest domestic automaker, Škoda Auto, which accounts for 61.7% of the total production of passenger cars in the Czech Republic, produced a total of 896,933 cars (+3.7%) in its domestic plants in 2024. 84,476 vehicles (9.4%) were placed on the domestic market, while 812,457 vehicles (90.6%) were directed to foreign markets. 96,534 electric cars (BEV and PHEV) were produced at the Mladá Boleslav automaker from January to December, i.e. 10.8% of the brand’s total production. Of these, 79,932 were purely battery-powered vehicles and 16,602 were plug-in hybrid vehicles.
A total of 330,890 vehicles were produced at the Nošovice plant of the Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Czech automaker in the twelve months of 2024, i.e. 2.8% less than in 2023. Of the total number of vehicles, 33,300 had a purely electric and 21,328 had a plug-in hybrid drive. Overall, electric vehicles produced in Nošovice accounted for 16.5% of the brand’s total domestic production. More than 95% (316,066 units) of the vehicles produced were destined for foreign markets, the remaining 5%, i.e. 14,824 vehicles, were placed on the domestic market. The Korean automaker’s total production in the Czech Republic represents 22.8% of the share of passenger vehicles produced.
A total of 225,058 completed cars rolled off the Toyota Motor Manufacturing production line in Kolín in 2024, which is 32,631 and 17% more vehicles than in the same period in 2023, which was affected by a number of shutdowns caused by suspended subcontracting of production components, especially in the spring and summer months. The Kolín manufacturer contributed 15.5% to the total production of passenger vehicles in the Czech Republic, with half of its production being represented by the hybrid model Yaris HEV.
Bus production recorded a slight year-on-year decrease, mainly due to the order-based nature of production. In 2024, a total of 4,489 buses were produced in the Czech Republic, i.e. 764 fewer (-14.5%) than in 2023. Of the total number of buses produced, 899 were intended for the domestic market (+25.7%) and 4,924 were for export (-11%). Iveco Czech Republic in Vysokomyt produced 4,040 buses (-14.8%) and another 604 buses in the form of built-ups, which are completed at the sister plant in Foggia, Italy. The SOR plant in Libchav also recorded lower year-on-year production results, in which a total of 416 buses were produced, i.e. 76 fewer than in 2023. More than 79.5% of production, i.e. 331 buses of this brand were placed in the country, the remaining 20.4%, i.e. 85 buses, were destined for export. On the other hand, KHMC recorded a higher production trend with a value of 31 minibuses produced, which it produced by 11 pieces more than in 2023. A significant year-on-year increase (+744.8%) was recorded in the production segment of purely electric buses, of which a total of 245 pieces were produced from January to December. 193 of them came off the production lines of Iveco Czech Republic and 52 came from SOR Libchavy.
Tatra Trucks, the only truck manufacturer among the members of the Association of the Automotive Industry, experienced another successful year. Year-on-year, it increased production by 90 units (+6.3%) to a total of 1,522 trucks. The Kopřivnice brand’s production was directed both towards export (969 units) and domestic sales, for which 579 Tatra trucks were intended.
Traditional motorcycle manufacturer Jawa Moto reported a year-on-year increase in production by 154 motorcycles (+20.4%). In January-December 2024, a total of 909 motorcycles rolled off the domestic brand’s production line, of which 478 (52.6%) were destined for foreign markets and 431 (47.4%) were sold in the Czech Republic.
In the trailer segment, 17,862 trailers and semi-trailers were produced from January to December, i.e. 4.6% less year-on-year. The overall decline in the segment was mainly ensured by the company Agados, which mainly produces small trailers up to 3.5 t. In 2024, it produced a total of 15,842 of these, i.e. 6.4% less than in the previous year. In the Czech Republic, the company sold 8,350 units (-9.5%). 7,080 units were exported (-4.1%). In the segment of large trailers over 3.5 t, Agados manufactured 3 units of equipment. The manufacturer in the segment of large trailers and semi-trailers, Panav, also recorded lower production year-on-year. It produced 489 units of large trailers in the Czech Republic (-5.2%). Of the total production, 419 units were sold domestically and 67 units were exported. On the other hand, Schwarzmüller recorded higher year-on-year production results, where a total of 1,528 trailers and semi-trailers were completed in 2024, i.e. 19.1% more than last year. Of the brand’s total production, 1,396 units were exported abroad and 220 units were sold domestically.
