The Czech Republic’s automotive industry has witnessed a significant surge in the production of passenger cars, with a remarkable increase of 28.5% from January to the end of April, resulting in a total of 464,444 vehicles. This positive trend was announced by the Association of the Automotive Industry, signifying promising prospects for the Czech automotive sector.

One notable highlight is the growth in the production of electric vehicles, with a total of 56,143 electric cars manufactured during the January to April period. The share of electric vehicles in domestic production has risen to 12%, marking a notable increase of 1.9 percentage points compared to the previous year. This surge in electric vehicle production reflects the industry’s response to the growing demand for environmentally friendly transportation options.

Škoda Auto, the leading Czech car manufacturer, has made a significant contribution to the overall production figures. By the end of April, Škoda Auto’s domestic plants had manufactured 296,851 passenger cars, representing a substantial 40% increase compared to the previous year. Furthermore, the production of electric vehicles within the Škoda Auto brand reached 31,411 units, accounting for 10.6% of their total production. Among these, 26,024 cars were battery-powered, while 5,387 were plug-in hybrids.

Other manufacturers in the Czech Republic have also experienced positive results during this period. The Hyundai plant in Nošovice reported a production increase of 10.3%, resulting in a total of 114,650 cars. Notably, 14,705 vehicles were purely electric, while 10,025 were plug-in hybrids. Similarly, the Toyota plant in Kolín witnessed a production rise of 14.9%, reaching 52,943 cars, with hybrid vehicles constituting over 53% of their total production.

However, the production of buses and motorcycles faced challenges during the first four months of the year. The production of buses decreased by 248 units compared to the previous year, with a total of 1,407 buses manufactured in the Czech Republic. Additionally, Jawa Moto, a renowned motorcycle manufacturer, experienced a substantial decline of 70% in production, manufacturing only 266 units during the same period.

Despite these challenges, the Association of the Automotive Industry remains optimistic about the industry’s overall growth. It highlights that the chip crisis continues to impact specific segments of the industry, with manufacturers and suppliers needing to navigate fluctuating deliveries throughout 2023. Nonetheless, the robust growth in the production of passenger cars, particularly electric vehicles, brings renewed optimism to the Czech automotive sector and contributes positively to the domestic economy.