Ilustrative picture | Photo: VW
Between January and September this year, 913,148 passenger cars were produced in the Czech Republic, i.e. 9.8% more than in the same period last year. In September alone, 111 374 passenger cars were produced. Manufacturers in other segments of the motor vehicle industry also performed well. In the first nine months of the year, 3 862 buses (+11.1%), 1 433 motorcycles (+76.7%) and 907 trucks (3.7%) were produced. On the other hand, trailer manufacturers recorded a decline in production, producing a total of 18 583 trailers and semi-trailers (-23.6%) in the period. The electric vehicle segment continues to account for more than a tenth of domestic production of all motor vehicles. 98 637 electric passenger cars and 35 electric buses were produced.
“In light of the ongoing problems in supply chains, it is great news that the positive trend of recent months has been maintained and car production in the Czech Republic increased by 9.8% year-on-year. However, it should be taken into account that the almost 100% year-on-year increase in passenger car production for September is mainly due to the low production results in 2021, when the chip crisis broke out in full. Energy prices thus remain a major challenge for companies. Although the government has announced some measures in the interim, there is still no clearly defined solution for many medium and large companies. Without effective assistance in a sector as complex as the automotive industry, the failure of one or two key suppliers can bring the entire production chain to a halt,” comments Martin Jahn, President of the Association of the Automotive Industry.
Passenger vehicles
From January to the end of September, 913,148 passenger vehicles were produced in the Czech Republic, 9.8% more than in the same period of the previous year. In absolute terms, 55 217 more passenger cars were produced in the period. On a month-on-month basis, passenger car production increased by 98.3%, from 56,157 in September 2021 to 111,374 in September 2022. Exports also doubled year-on-year, from 49,157 in September 2021 to 103,993 in September 2022 (i.e. +111.6%). Domestic sales recorded a slight increase month-on-month (i.e. +5.4%), while domestic sales in the first three quarters fell by 11,816 vehicles year-on-year (i.e. -15.6%).
ŠKODA AUTO, the largest domestic carmaker, produced 513,508 passenger cars at its domestic plants in the first three quarters (- 0.2%), of which 60,601 vehicles (+ 117.3%) were produced in September alone. ŠKODA produced 51,875 electric vehicles (battery BEVs and plug-in hybrid PHEVs), i.e. 10.1% of total production. More than three-quarters of the electric cars produced were fully electrified vehicles (BEVs).
Hyundai’s Nosovice plant continues its growth trend. So far this year, it has produced a total of 242,900 passenger cars, 17.2% more than in the first three quarters of last year. Production was also significantly higher year-on-year in September, with 29,300 vehicles produced (+17.7%). Of the total, 22,292 vehicles were pure electric and 24,470 were plug-in hybrid, making electric vehicles account for more than 19.2% of total production.
At Toyota of Cologne, September production was also significantly higher year-on-year. In total, Toyota produced 156,740 vehicles (+42.4%) in the first three quarters of the year. Almost half of the production was hybrid vehicles (HEVs).
Buses
In the first three quarters, 3,862 buses were produced in the Czech Republic (+ 11.1%), 3,262 buses were exported (+ 2.6%), 519 buses were destined for the domestic market (+ 29.4%).
3 477 buses were produced in IVECO CR in Vyso Mity, i.e. 10.1% more than last year. SOR Libchavy managed to produce 355 buses in the first nine months of this year, i.e. 17.5% more than last year. Twenty-one of the brand’s buses are electric (i.e. a share of 5.9%). ŠKODA Electric produced 14 electric buses and the manufacturer KHMC 16 buses in the period.
Trucks
TATRA Trucks, which is the only manufacturer of trucks among the members of the Association of the Automotive Industry, produced 907 vehicles in the first nine months of this year, 32 more than in the same period last year (i.e. + 3.7%). Tatra’s production is almost evenly divided between the domestic market (447 units, + 80.2% year-on-year) and exports (417, – 35.2% year-on-year).
Motorcycles
The manufacturer JAWA Moto also continues to be very successful. In the first three quarterly periods, the company produced
The company was successful both in the Czech market (928 units / + 41.0%) and in exports (505 units / + 230.1%).
Trailers
On the other hand, the trailer segment recorded a decline in the overall total. Between January and September, a total of 18,583 trailers and semi-trailers of all sizes were produced, i.e. 5,727 fewer than last year (-23.6%). In terms of total numbers, the majority of production was by Agados, which specialises in small trailers up to 3.5t. It produced 16,646 units (- 26.5%), sold 9,546 units in the Czech Republic (- 32.0%) and 6,727 units abroad (- 18.0%).
The large trailers and semi-trailers category recorded a 17.5% increase in production. Schwarzmüller produced 1,598 large trailers, 20.8% more than last year. PANAV produced 339 trailers and semi-trailers (+4.0%).
