Imports of flood damaged new may follow boom in sales of used cars

According to the latest report on the second-hand car market prepared by Eurotax, demand is gradually increasing. Due to the poor economic situation people are reluctant to buy a new car. Although in March 2002 the government drastically increased excise on used vehicles in order to curb imports it is clear that this had very limited effect. By the end of July 142,596 se cond-hand cars were imported this year, and every tenth car is around four years old and almost half are over ten years old. Analysts say that the government even triggered an increased import of used cars for several weeks by announcing new import duties and at the same time delaying enforcement of the new regulations. In related news, it is possible that car market might be deluged by cars damaged by this year's flood in the Czech Republic and Germany. Skoda Auto Polska admitted that floods damaged their German d istributor car warehouse. Skoda declared that it will not sell such cars, however independent importers may be tempted to do take up the offer. (Rzeczpospolita, B4) A.Z.