Czech 2006 passenger, utility car sales up 4.2 pct

...Importers' Association said on Friday.

The industry group said registrations of new passenger cars alone dipped 2.7 percent to 123,987, but the figures are skewed by a legal provision which makes it possible to sell slightly modified passenger cars labeled as utility vehicles.

This allows buyers to write off the value added tax. Light utility vehicle registrations jumped 26.8 percent to 49,491.

The Czech new car market, dominated by domestic producer Skoda Auto, has been dampened by imports of used cars from western Europe.

Skoda sold 51,833 passenger cars, down from 56,743 registered in 2005, with its market share dipping to 41.8 percent from 44.6 a year ago.

But its light utility vehicle sales jumped to 11,835 from 7,818 for a 23.9 percent share in that market segment.

Skoda was followed by Renault , Volkswagen and Hyundai .

[PRAGUE/Reuters/Finance.cz]