Leading Czech bus maker Karosa, which is owned by Iveco, sold a record-high 1,883 buses during 2005, a growth of 180 units year-on-year, reported Karosa Sales Director Petr Rusek. In breaking the 1,800 vehicle threshold. Exports to Western Europe played the main role where last year’s sales rose considerably year-on-year, especially in Italy and Germany. Further improvements are expected in these markets during 2006.

Karosa recorded their highest jump in Italy, where more than 200 buses manufactured by the Czech firm have were sold last year, three times last year’s figure. In 2006 further rises are expected. Exports to Germany broke the barrier of one hundred buses, i.e. a three-fold year-on-year increase thanks to an order from the German Army, and this year looks set to involve further increases involving dozens of buses.

Despite this great dynamism, these two markets were nowhere near attaining the volumes of exports made to Karosa's premium market, France. A total of 879 buses found their way to France last year, 8.4 percent up on 2004. An interesting point is the fact that the recent success of Karosa's bus exports to France has served to significantly affected the overall trade balance of the Czech Republic with France. Statistics regarding mutual trade show that buses (delivered exclusively by the company) now represent the fifth largest commodity exports from the Czech Republic to France.

Karosa are gratified that their products can hold their own in the demanding and competitive environment of Western Europe, which places the greatest demands on quality, technology and the operating costs of the buses purchased. Exports to Western Europe are expected to rise in 206 also, and will thus help support the total planned sales for Karosa, which should exceed the 2,000 buses barrier.
 

Neighbouring country Slovakia accounted for 144 units, while 65 went to Russian oil giant Surgutneftegaz. In contrast though, sales to the Czech market fell to 391 units, from 475 buses in 2004. "The Prague municipal transport company did not buy any buses last year," said Rusek. In the past, Karosa has sold about 100 buses a year to the capital city, Prague.

Meanwhile just before Christmas firm orders were finally put in place, following the announcement earlier in 2005, of a huge public tender by Paris Public Transport (RATP) for a delivery of a total of 1,171 vehicles. It followed months of waiting while Paris decided who to select as its suppliers for the planned expansion of its vehicle fleet. In the end there were two winners, with the larger contract going to Irisbus. The administrative board of RATP announced that almost 75 percent of the order would be supplied by Irisbus with 871 Citelis buses (365 of which have already been ordered). The remaining 300 vehicles would be supplied by Scania (125 Omnicity vehicles have already been ordered). The low-floor Citelis bus is offered by Karosa in either standard format or an articulated version which is based on an entirely new vision of urban transport.

Iveco took the whole of Karosa over after Renault left the Irisbus set-up, the joint venture the French firm had entered into with Iveco, three years after the JV had been formed on 1st February 1999. Karosa - now one of the Czech Republic's leading industrial companies - employs around 1,500 staff and build a range that includes, city buses, intercity buses (which straddle between bus and coach), coaches and mini buses, which are modified from the Iveco Daily van range.

Karosa sales 1995-2005 (total/exports): 1999 (1235/673), 2000 (1251/778), 2001 (1319/749), 2002 (1554/1054), 2003 (1522/1014), 2004 (1703/1014), 2005 (1883/1492).