Foreign automakers in Slovakia made about 580,000 vehicles last year, much the same as in 2007 after demand slumped in the fourth quarter, the economy ministry has said.
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“We expect the total number to be between 570,000 and 580,000 units,” Vahram Chuguryan from the economy ministry’s press department told Agence France-Presse (AFP) as two of the country’s three car makers announced their results for 2008.
The Association of Automotive Industries had expected Slovakia to produce 640,000 vehicles last year after output almost doubled in 2007 versus 2006.
PSA Peugeot Citroen said it increased output in its plant northeast of Bratislava by 5% to 186,397 units in 2008.
“For 2009, we don’t expect output to fall below this mark but planning is very difficult these days,” local spokesman Peter Svec told AFP.
Kia said its plant near Zilina, northern Slovakia, produced 201,000 cars last year, up 38%, but would fall back sharply this year.
“We estimate our output will be about 170,000 cars in 2009,” spokesman Dusan Dvorak told AFP but added the numbers changed every day, reflecting falling demand in Europe.
