According to preliminary results, Slovakia produced 1.07 million cars in 2025, compared to roughly one million cars in 2024, representatives of the Slovak Automotive Industry Association (ZAP) reported at ZAP's annual press conference on Tuesday, estimating vehicle production in 2026 at 1.02 million, followed by 1.08 million in both 2027 and 2028.
According to ZAP President Alexander Matušek, last year Slovakia produced 196 vehicles per 1,000 inhabitants, with the automotive sector accounting for approximately 52 percent of total industrial output.
According to Matušek, payroll taxes in Slovakia remain too high. "This is what the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has been saying - we've been heading in the opposite direction for a long time, and Slovakia has stalled when it comes to catching up with advanced economies as well. The only thing we can do is to reduce the cost of labour because we have long ceased to be a country with cheap labour," he explained.
Companies in Slovakia are curbing their investments, he stated, adding that no new investments are currently underway, while companies are primarily focusing on maintaining existing facilities.
"We must actively seek to regain the trust of investors," said Matušek. According to him, the automotive industry in Slovakia won't disappear overnight, but it will slowly fade away.
"Unfortunately, this process has already begun. Our warning is that this process must be reversed. Restoring our competitiveness must be our main task, and we must regain it," stressed Matušek.
Source: TASR
