AVIA’s Sales Increased by a Third Last Year

Prague – Letňany's AVIA did well in the last year - both the sales of vehicles and revenues increased significantly. In 2010, a total of 479 vehicles were made; 448 vehicles were sold, including 157 in the Czech Republic. Sixteen vehicles went to Russian market; 50 AVIA vehicles were exported to other territories. Cabins and chassis units for Smith “Newton” electric vehicles represented 50% (225 items) of total sales.

Marcus Pauels, Avia Ashok Leyland Motors CEO, says about the previous year: “We consider last year very successful – the total sales reached 337 million CZK; a 32% increase over 2009. Sales revenue was 35% over 2009. And for selling spare parts and other services, we collected 20% more than the year before. After last year’s decline (down to a total of 285 units), interim vehicle production capacity grew by 68%, reaching the 2008 level. Introducing our brand to new markets has also been successful – we are penetrating the North-American continent and the Middle East, and we sell in the Russian market.”

At home, AVIA sold 157 vehicles. Despite a decline compared to 2009 (226 vehicles), last year is evaluated positively. Michal Bačkovský, Marketing Manager and Company Spokesman, says: ‘In the second half of the year, as part of a new customer care complex commitment we call Service+, we introduced a new Maintenance Programme, i.e. a beneficial tariff for inspections during the warranty period. For two special models – Bivoj in the Czech market and Ecopraktik in Slovakia, we got 30 new contracts signed.’

AVIA returns to the Czech Postal Service:  11 vehicles by AVIA were delivered in 2009; our authorised partner from Western Bohemia won a demanding tender, supplying the Czech Postal Service with 9 more vehicles. Other important customers, who added AVIA vehicles to their truck parks in 2010 are, for example, Moravské naftové doly a.s.; Vinohrady Hospital, Prague; the Technical Services of Olomouc and Lipník nad Bečvou; Horstav Construction Company; Severomoravské  Vodovody a Kanalizace a.s.; and Callidus Trading, an important supplier of security devices.

AVIA's customers in Slovakia include the Ministry of Interior of SR that added a mobile STK on an AVIA chassis to its fleet.

AVIA vehicles actively participated in removing the consequences of last August’s flooding in North Bohemia. AVIA’s authorised partner, JPP servis, provided the emergency task force with technical equipment (among other things 5 AVIA vehicles with container loading mechanisms and 20 containers) to help clean out the consequences of the flash flood. At the same time, 11 employees of JPP servis assisted in Hrádek nad Nisou; Višňová; and Raspenava. The work of both people and technology was appreciated by the Mayor of Raspenava, Josef Lžičař, and the head of Raspenava’s voluntary Fire Brigade, Jaromír Hanzl.

Since 2006, Avia Ashok Leyland Motors s.r.o. has been part of the Hinduja Group alongside with the second largest automobile company in India - Ashok Leyland. Thanks to the support of a strong concern (9 production plants; operation in over 30 markets on three continents), in the recent years, AVIA has started the process of returning onto world markets, including product portfolio expansion. Production of AVIA Ashok Leyland Motors covers the class of motor trucks of total weight from 6.5 to 12 tons. It has become successful with its customers for its high durability; perfect driving manoeuvrability; variety of versions; and low operating costs of its vehicles. In 2010, the plant in Letňany produced 479 vehicles supplied to markets in Europe, USA, and Asia. Last year, Avia Ashok Leyland Motors s.r.o.’s earnings for the sales of goods and services reached 337 million CZK (increasing by 32 % compared to 2009). On 31.12. 2010, the Company was providing employment for 208 people.