Solbus hopes foreign sales will drive home success

During 2006 its sales hit 139 buses, meaning its market share fell by 3% to stand at 11%, giving it sixth place. The negative impact on revenues was partially offset by rising sales of higher-margin items, with revenues down only slightly, to zl.59.3 million from zl.61 million in 2005. "A major factor driving the sector's performance last year were local elections, with many local authorities placing large orders for urban buses. But since we focus on longer-distance buses and have no exposure to the urban bus market, this mostly benefited our competitors," says Michal Slizak, Solbus' marketing director. Solbus, which had hitherto relied mainly on licensing agreements with SOR of the Czech Republic, now wants to expand the production of its own buses, allowing it to launch forays into Western markets, mainly Scandinavia, Italy and Germany. (Puls Biznesu, p. 1, 8) R.M.