Car sales crash

Only one in every 20 Poles is planning to buy a car, says a recent report by TNS OBOP. What is worse, out of this tiny group as much as 80 percent want to buy a used car.

"The drop in new-car sales in Poland is dramatic. In 2005, there were 235,251 new cars sold; [this] is the worst result since 1993," says Magdalena Sawińska from TNS OBOP.

The main reason for this crisis is the huge number of used cars that are crossing the border from Western Europe. Last year 800,000 used cars were imported to Poland, 90 percent of which were more than eight years old. Considering the competitive price of imported used cars, and the financial situation of the bulk of Polish families, it is no wonder that people here opt for the cheaper vehicles.

The general economic condition of society is a principle factor influencing the automotive sector. According to Sawińska the low sales of brand new cars in Poland will continue in the upcoming years.