Romania is knows for low-cost cars and the Logan scheme. Serbia wants to follow its example. Slovakia produces German SUVs. The Czech Republic is a Skoda country, but also a class mini producer. Turkey specialised in commercial cars and busses. Russia hosts plants of most car industry big names. Ukraine is the Chinese producers' heaven. All the countries in the region have a strong car industry and saw plants opening even during the last two years.
Russia - Extreme diversity, from outdated cars to new models
AvtoVAZ producing Lada is by far the biggest producer, but is currently in huge troubles. It used to build around one million cars every year, but last year it could not get pass 800,000. Mass redundancy is expected. Renault bought 25% of the company. GAZ is the second largest car builder in Russia, producing Volga and a range of commercial cars. The company owned by billionaire Oleg Deripaska received state aid worth of 600 million dollars and might strike a deal with Opel. UAZ is a third big local producer, building SUVs, buses and commercial cars.
Ford produces here Mondeo and Focus. General Motors makes SUVs Hummer, Cadillac and Chevrolet. Renault is also on the market with Logan. A less known producer, Avtotor, builds luxurious cars in a Russian enclave bordered by EU countries. BMW is also produced here by Avtotor. VW, Nissan, Toyota are other big car industry names that are produced at the Russian plants.
Poland - Under the huge Fiat plant sign
Poland hosts the biggest car plant in the region: Fiat at Tychy. GM produces its best seller: Astra, but also Chevrolet. The country produces many mini cars and other models under 15,000 euros. Starting September, Ford Ka is producing here and the manager is happy that the cirisis increases the sales. Volkswagen are building here Caddy and Transporter TS at the pla
