The Czech automotive industry kicked off 2025 with a mixed performance as car production fell 14 percent year-over-year to 113,826 vehicles in January. However, there’s a silver lining in the electric vehicle segment, which saw a remarkable 70 percent increase, with 15,917 electric vehicles produced, accounting for 14 percent of total production.
The slowdown is primarily attributed to decreased demand in key Western European markets. Zdeněk Petzl, Executive Director of the Automotive Industry Association, points to declining new car registrations in major export destinations such as Germany, France, and Italy.
Škoda Auto, the country’s largest manufacturer, reported an 11.7 percent decrease in production to 72,350 vehicles. The company’s commitment to electrification is evident in its production of 11,463 electric vehicles, including both battery-electric and plug-in hybrid models. This shift is partly driven by the launch of their new electric model, the Elroq.
Hyundai’s Nošovice plant experienced a more significant decline, with production dropping 30 percent to 21,240 vehicles. The plant maintained its focus on electrification, producing 2,360 pure electric vehicles and 2,094 plug-in hybrids. Meanwhile, Toyota’s Kolín facility bucked the trend, posting a 1.3 percent increase to 20,236 units – its best January performance in five years. The hybrid Yaris HEV dominated Toyota’s production, representing over 55 percent of output.
This January decline follows a record-breaking 2024, when Czech automakers produced 1.4 million vehicles, marking a nearly four percent increase from 2023.