Bohdan Corporation sees 22% drop in car output in H1
KYIV. July 9 (Interfax-Ukraine) - Bohdan Corporation, one of Ukraine's largest automobile market operators, produced 7,541 cars in the first half of 2012, down 21.8% on the same period of 2011, the company said in a press release.
The corporation produced 643 cars in June, down 21.1% on the previous month and 71.4% less than June 2011.
"The disappointing downward trend in car production continues," the corporation said. The company considers the situation in the industry to be critical amid a lack of government support for car manufacturers.
The rate of import growth has exceeded that of production 50% on the Ukrainian car market since 2010. The share of car imports climbed from 52% to 68% in 2008-2010 and it was 72% in 2011.
Utilization of Ukraine's production facilities (Bohdan Corporation, UkrAuto, Eurocar, KrASZ) does not currently exceed 20% and the number of jobs at these plants has more than halved since 2008.
Bohdan Corporation was established in February 2005 to implement investment products aimed at creating production of all types of transport vehicles in Ukraine.
The corporation has two plants: one that produces cars in Cherkass with 120,000 - 150,000 capacity (Lada and Hyundai cars as well as its own brand) and a bus and trolleybus plant in Lutsk with 6,000 capacity.