Solaris shines on

Bolechowo-Osiedle-based manufacturer Solaris Bus & Coach is increasing sales despite the financial crisis on global markets. According to the firm, this might be a result of the fact that more people are opting for public transport rather than driving their own cars.

"Maybe it seems paradoxical, but for the time being the crisis is acting in our favor. In a situation in which financial difficulties are emerging, people first of all limit their driving. Interest in public transportation, meanwhile, is growing. Until European cities are in good shape, we have nothing to worry about," Krzysztof Olszewski, president of Solaris, told Puls Biznesu.

"The rise in value of the euro has been a godsend for exporters such as Solaris," Aleksander Kierecki, editor of public transport industry website Transinfo.pl, told the daily. "Besides, purchases by local authorities are relatively constant," he added.

Preparations for the Euro 2012 soccer championship have also helped the company, since there has been a boom in demand for buses in Polish and Ukrainian host cities. "We hope to be able to enter the Ukranian market when the political situation there stabilizes," Olszewski said.

This year the firm is expected to manufacture over 1,000 buses, and plans for 2009 envisage production of 1,300 units. The firm's main markets are Germany, Scandinavian countries and Central Europe, though it hopes to improve sales to France and Italy.

In mid-July, the firm signed its largest-ever contract, a E80 million deal with the City of Athens' transport company, E.THE.L. According to the contract, Solaris will produce 320 city buses for the transport company.

The firm is also developing its own line of trams, with sales scheduled to begin at the beginning of 2010.