19/12/2024 |Articles are machine translated
Vehicle production at the Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Czech Republic plant in Nosovice | Photo: HMMC
From the beginning of the year to the end of November, a total of 1,365,816 passenger vehicles were produced on the lines of domestic vehicle manufacturers, i.e. 5% more than in the same cumulative period of the previous year. However, compared to the beginning of the year, the pace of production continued to slow down towards the end of the year. Bus manufacturers recorded lower year-on-year results, with 3 996 buses produced in the period, down 14%. Motorcycle production, on the other hand, performed well, with a total of 864 completed machines. Production in the electric vehicle category currently represents 10.5% of total vehicle production. In the first eleven months, a total of 107 998 pure electric and 35 695 plug-in hybrid vehicles were produced.
“Although it can be expected that the full-year production volume will surpass not only the 2023 values but also the historical highs of domestic production, it turns out that the stagnation on the European markets in the third quarter is also negatively impacting domestic producers and suppliers. November was the second month in a row when fewer vehicles were produced year-on-year, and a similar figure can be expected for December. Even the coming months will not be nearly as favourable in terms of production and sales as they were in the first half of this year. This is confirmed by the ECB’s economic forecasts, which expect GDP growth of just over 1% for the next two years. This situation is also reflected in the development of the share of electric vehicles in total sales, which has fallen to 13% year on year, further upsetting production planning. Yet, by 2025, European CO2 regulation already prescribes that this share should be around 24%. Otherwise, the European car industry faces draconian sanctions that will only lead to further reductions in overall production and sales, reduced investment and job cuts. It is therefore essential that the European political representation starts to perceive the market reality and urgently reconsider the inflexible targets set,” says Zdeněk Petzl, Executive Director of the Automotive Industry Association.
In the first eleven months of this year, 1,365,816 passenger vehicles were produced in the Czech Republic, i.e. 5% more than in the same period of the previous year. In the period under review, 143 578 electric cars were produced, accounting for 10.5% of domestic production. A total of 107,883 battery BEVs and 35,695 plug-in hybrids were completed.
Škoda Auto, the largest domestic carmaker, produced 844,721 passenger cars (+4.6%) at its domestic plants in January-November. 91,625 electric cars (BEVs and PHEVs) were produced, i.e. 10.9% of the brand’s total production. Of these, 76,262 were battery vehicles and 15,363 were plug-in hybrids.
Hyundai’s Nosovice plant produced a total of 310,250 vehicles in the first eleven months, 2.3% less than in the same period last year. Of the total number of vehicles, 31,621 were pure electric and 20,332 plug-in hybrids. Overall, electric vehicles produced in Nosovice account for 16.7% of the brand’s total domestic production.
In the period under review, 210,845 complete cars rolled off the Toyota Motor Manufacturing production line in Kolin, 35,196 vehicles and 20% more than in the same period last year, which was affected by a series of shutdowns caused by a shortage of certain parts for production. Almost half of production was accounted for by the Yaris HEV hybrid model.
Bus production recorded a slight year-on-year decline, mainly due to the order-driven nature of production. In the first eleven months, a total of 3,996 buses were produced in the Czech Republic, i.e. 648 fewer (-14%) than in the same period last year.
Iveco CR produced 3,634 buses (-15.5%) in the Vysočina region and another 597 buses in the form of built-ups, which are being completed at its sister plant in Foggia, Italy. The Libchavsky SOR plant recorded a year-on-year higher production result, with a total of 331 buses produced, i.e. 8 units more than in the same period last year (+2.5%). KHMC also recorded a higher production trend, with 29 minibuses produced, 11 units more than last year (+61.1%).
A significant year-on-year increase was recorded in the segment of pure battery buses, of which a total of 115 units were produced from January to November, i.e. 89 electric buses and 342.3% more than last year. 76 of them were produced by Iveco CR and 39 by SOR Libchavy.
Traditional motorcycle manufacturer Jawa Moto has reported a year-on-year increase in production. In January-November, a total of 864 motorcycles (+18%) rolled off the domestic brand’s production line, 132 more than in the previous year in absolute terms.
