Czech car sales rise 9.8 pct in first half

...95,602 units, the Car Importers' Association (SDA) said on Monday.

Czech new car sales have been rising as the central European economy grows at record speed of over 6 percent, but shipments of used cars from western Europe have been growing even faster.

The association said passenger car sales rose by 5.92 percent to 67,560 units while light utility vehicle sales jumped by 20.28 percent to 28,042 units.

Many Czechs have been using a provision allowing entrepreneurs to buy passenger cars with bars separating the trunk (or boot), and list them as utility vehicles.

This allows them to claim a sales tax rebate but obscures the car sales statistics.

The sales growth in the two segments combined slowed down from 12.9 percent year-on-year expansion seen in the first quarter alone.

Domestic maker Skoda Auto continued to lead both segments with 36.75 percent share on the car and 24.35 percent share on the light utility vehicle market.

Main importers in both categories were Renault , VW and Ford .