Czech car production falls 4.1% in 2021, return to growth possible in 2022

PRAGUE - Czech passenger car production fell by 4.1% to 1.105 million vehicles in 2021 as global chip shortages hit production, although a return to growth could come already in 2022, the Czech Automotive Industry Association (AutoSAP) said on Tuesday.

"We estimate that up to 300,000 vehicles... were not produced in 2021 in the Czech Republic because of the chip crisis," association director Zdenek Petzl said.

"We could return to growth values in 2022, although the situation with chip supplies and other components remains difficult."