Downhill course
Figures from Poland's manufacturers and importers show sales of new passenger cars last month totaled just 19,363 units, down almost 20 percent from March, when 23,949 cars found buyers, and over 57 percent fewer than in the same month a year earlier.
On a year-to-date basis, the Polish market sold a total of 85,380 new cars until the end of April, down 40.5 percent, or 58,149 units fewer, than the same period a year ago.
All the top players in the Polish new-car market remained right where they were in March, but they saw their sales fall, both on a monthly basis and year-on-year. The only brand in the top 10 which managed to buck the downward trend was Honda, finishing off in tenth place.
Founder of the Samar car market research company Wojciech Drzewiecki said: "Poland's new VAT law, introduced last May, sent new-car sales soaring as thousands of buyers rushed into showrooms to buy cars available with tax exemptions that are now gone. "After the period of particularly strong sales in the first four months of 2004, the market saw demand take a plunge, reaching levels around 20,000 units a month."
On a year-to-date basis, the Polish market sold a total of 85,380 new cars until the end of April, down 40.5 percent, or 58,149 units fewer, than the same period a year ago.
All the top players in the Polish new-car market remained right where they were in March, but they saw their sales fall, both on a monthly basis and year-on-year. The only brand in the top 10 which managed to buck the downward trend was Honda, finishing off in tenth place.
Founder of the Samar car market research company Wojciech Drzewiecki said: "Poland's new VAT law, introduced last May, sent new-car sales soaring as thousands of buyers rushed into showrooms to buy cars available with tax exemptions that are now gone. "After the period of particularly strong sales in the first four months of 2004, the market saw demand take a plunge, reaching levels around 20,000 units a month."
