(Reuters) – The COVID-19 pandemic poses new demanding situations for Car manufacturers in Central Europe. Below are figures on the manufacturers of the region and their contribution to the economies of Hungary, the Czech Republic and Slovakia, the countries of the region that count to the maximum in the automotive industry.
Population: 9.8 million.
The contribution of the automotive sector to GDP is about four to 6%, and accounted for almost one third of trade production and 21% of exports in 2019.
The sector employs about 170,000 people.
GDP FORECAST for 2020: Government forecasts 5% (OECD projection for 8% drop)
AUDI – Production is being carried out in 3 shifts at its automotive plant, however, parts of the engine plant returned to their total capacity until mid-July. Last year it manufactured 164,372 cars and 1.969 million engines, but refused to give a forecast for this year’s production due to the unpredictable situation. Plan a week-old maintenance shutdown at the auto plant in August. In maximum portions of engine production, a two-week shutdown or relief in operation is planned.
DAIMLER: Now runs in two groups, but is expected to return to 3 groups from the first week of August. It declined to comment on orders or expected production and manufactured about 190,000 cars last year. Plan a summer closure from August 17 to 23.
SUZUKI: restarted production in late April on a single shift and returned to two groups on July 13. Since this year, it manufactures hybrid cars for European Union markets. Last year, it manufactured approximately 180,000 cars, and expects production to decline by 20% than expected. You have scheduled a summer maintenance to prevent from August 10 to 21.
OPEL: its engine factory restarted on May 13 and is now operating at full capacity on 3 computers.
BMW: The company said in mid-May that the structure of its plant in Hungary would be delayed “a few months.” BMW announced in 2018 that it would invest one billion euros ($1.18 billion) to build a plant in Hungary.
Population: 10.7 million.
The share of GDP in the automotive sector is about 10% and accounts for more than 20% of exports.
Czech automakers produced 1.43 million cars in 2019.
The automotive industry employs another 180,000 people and about one million in total.
GDP FORECAST: Government forecasts a decrease of 5.7% (compared to OECD forecasts of 9.6%)
SKODA AUTO: a component of the Volkswagen Group and the country’s largest exporter, delivered 1.24 million cars in 2019, the highest of which was produced in its Czech factories. He has completed production again, he has stated that the production will be in demand.
TPCA: a joint venture between Toyota Motor Co and Peugeot, has been operating at full capacity since June, the stops have resulted in a production loss of 40,000 vehicles.
HYUNDAI ENGINE CZECH MANUFACTURE: component of Hyundai Motor Co., produced 309,500 cars in 2019. He announced in June his goal of returning to the three-team operations in the component at the time of the year, as he has noticed some improvements.
Population: 5.5 million.
The percentage of GDP in the automotive sector is about 13% and accounts for about a share of commercial production.
Slovakia is the world’s largest manufacturer of capita-compatible products, with 1.1 million cars manufactured in 2019.
The sector employs approximately 275,000 people and in.
GDP FORECAST: Government forecasts a 9.8% decrease (compared to OECD forecast of 9.3%)
** VOLKSWAGEN SLOVAKIA – the country’s biggest producer manufactured 377,750 vehicles in 2019. It said current production was in line with plans but declined to give a forecast for 2020 output. The Slovak government has aimed to gain further Volkswagen investments at the plant after the German carmaker backed away from a new site in Turkey.
KIA MOTORS SLOVAQUIE: executes a two-team operation and aims to reintroduce a third team in September, after the planned summer close. It produced a record 344,000 cars in 2019. Production fell by 27% year-on-year in the first part of 2020. The company plans to increase the percentage of eco-friendly cars in its production.
PSA SLOVAQUIE GROUP – A 55-day closure resulted in a production loss of 72,000 vehicles. He produced a record 371,152 cars in 2019. CEO Martin Dzama quoted through the Slovak media saying that the plant would face a long and complicated stretch if it did not win the production of a new style within the group.
JAGUAR LAND ROVER: the country’s top plant introduced in 2018. He restarted production in May and said in June that he was gradually expanding production.
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Reporting through Krisztina Than in Budapest and Jason Hovet in Prague, edited through Timothy Heritage
All quotes were delayed for at least 15 minutes. See here for a complete list of operations and delays.
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