The production of vehicles of all types in Ukraine in January-March 2013, according to preliminary data, decreased by 2.7 times compared to the same period in 2012, to 6,974 units, the Ukrautoprom association has said on its official Web site.
As reported, in January-February production fell by three times year-over-year, first due to the idle period of some large automobile plants in early 2013.
The association said that in the first quarter of 2013 Ukrainian plants produced 6,434 passenger cars, which is 2.7 times down year-over-year, 244 trucks and commercial vehicles – four times down, and 296 buses, a fall of 48.3 percent year-over-year.
Ukrautoprom also said that in March 2013, automobile production narrowed by 2.4 times on March 2012, to 3,223 units, including a decline of 2.4 times in the production of passenger cars, to 2,979, a fall of 3.2 times in the production of commercial vehicles, to 115, and a fall of 2.3 times in the production of buses, to 129.
Compared to February 2013, a rise of 10.4% in vehicle output was seen in March 2013. A rise of 11.8% was registered for passenger cars, the production of trucks and commercial vehicles did not change, and the production of buses posted a 7.2 percent fall.
According to Ukrautoprom, ZAZ in the first quarter 2013 cut production by 2.6 times, to 3,366 units, including a decline of 2.4 times in the production of passenger cars, to 3,275, a fall of 7.5 times in the production of trucks, to 63 and a fall of 6.6 times in the production buses, to 28.
As reported, in the first quarter of 2013 ZAZ planned to produce 4,000 vehicles, and 30,000 over the whole of 2013.
In March 2013, the plant cut production by 30% on March 2012, to 1,882, which was 24 percent up on February 2013. Last month the plant produced 1,831 passenger cars, a decline of 25 percent year-over-year, and only 11 trucks compared to 156 in March 2012, and 20 buses (20).
Bogdan Corporation posted the larger fall in production, making only 1,175 vehicles in the first quarter of 2013, which is 4.1 times down year-over-year.
Over the period, Bogdan’s plants produced 1,040 passenger cars, a decline of 4.3 times, and 64 trucks, a decline of 3.3 times.
A slight rise in production (1 percent) was seen only in production of buses and trolleybuses – 71 units.
In March alone, Bogdan’s plants produced only 299 vehicles, which was only 12 percent of the March 2012 indicator, but 30 percent up on February 2013.
Bogdan production 271 passenger cars in March (11 percent on March 2012, and a two-times increase on February 2013), 24 trucks compared with 97 in March 2012 and four buses compared to 18 year-over-year.
As reported, in 2013, Bogdan Corporation plans to boost passenger car production by 25 percent on 2012, taking into account the start of production of two new models.
The Ukrautoprom association said that in the first quarter 2013 Etalon Corporation’s plants – the Boryspil and Chernihiv automobile plants – considerably cut production: the plant in Boryspil produced 63 vehicles, which is 2.8 times down year-over-year (including 58 buses and five trucks), while the plant in Chernihiv made only eight buses compared to 56 buses year-over-year.
The Boryspil plant produced 38 buses in March alone, which is 42 percent down on March 2012, while this is two times better than in February 2013.
The Chernihiv plant made four buses.
Eurocar retains the decline in production, making 1,519 Skoda cars in the first quarter of 2013 (a decline of 2.7 times year-over-year), including 727 cars in March, which is 2.7 times down on March 2012, but 14 percent up on February 2013.
Kremenchuk car assembly plant, part of the AIS Group, cut production of Ssang Yong cars by 43 percent, to 600, including 150 cars made in March, a 44 percent fall year-over-year.
Cherkasy Bus Plant, producing the Ataman buses using Isuzu kits and trucks, cut production by 20 percent in the first quarter of 2013, to 66, including a fall of 6 percent in production of buses, to 65.
Only AvtoKrAZ, the sole producer of heavy trucks in Ukraine, and Chasiv Yar Buses plant, producing Ruta buses on the basis of Russia’s GAZelle buses, showed growth in March 2013 year-over-year – by 7 percent and 27 percent respectively.
In the first quarter of 2013 AvtoKrAZ cut production by 31 pecent, to 111 trucks, and Chasiv Yar Buses posted a 25% rise in production, to 66 buses.
Anton Rus plant in Kherson is still idle. Lviv Bus Plant did not give its indicators.
As reported, Ukrainian vehicle producers in 2012 made 76,281 cars and buses, which was 27.1 percent less than in 2011, including 69,687 cars (28.6 percent less), 3,359 buses and trolleybuses (10.1 The production of vehicles of all types in Ukraine in January-March 2013, according to preliminary data, decreased by 2.7 times compared to the same period in 2012, to 6,974 units, the Ukrautoprom association has said on its official Web site. less) and 3,235 trucks and commercial vehicles (2.9 percent less).
Automakers consider the situation in the industry to be critical, and expect that it will improve after the introduction of imports duties on passenger cars with 1-2.2 liter petrol engines from April 13, 2103 and further steps of the state to support the sector.
The decision caused a negative reaction not only among Ukrainian car importers, which started challenging the decision in courts, but also from the EU and WTO.
