Car sales down 14 percent in first quarter

Car sales fell by 14 percent year-on-year in the Czech Republic in the first quarter of this year, the country’s car importers association said on Tuesday. Škoda, the most popular manufacturer on the Czech market, saw a fall of 18 percent in sales between the start of January and the end of March. Analysts said both households and companies were reluctant to purchase a car in an uncertain economy; they expect a return to growth at the end of the year.