The strain running through Slovakia's car industry is no longer abstract. Schaeffler, the German automotive and industrial supplier, has confirmed it will cut hundreds of jobs at its Slovak plants as the country's car sector struggles — and the measures target part of its bearing production. The pain will unfold slowly rather than strike at once: Miroslav Janota, who heads the company's operations in Slovakia and the Czech Republic, says the planned steps at the Slovak plants stretch “over a four-year period, from 2027 to 2030.”
The demand data explains the pressure. Slovakia's new car market edged down 2.3% year-on-year in September to 7,021 units, dragging the year-to-date tally down 5.5% to 63,733 registrations. When showrooms quieten, the squeeze travels fast up the supply chain — and component makers are usually the first to feel it.
Yet the sales charts hold a genuine surprise. The Škoda Kamiq has topped Slovakia's best-seller ranking for the first time, finishing September as the country's best-selling vehicle. In a shrinking market, Slovak buyers are consolidating around the compact SUV — and around one brand in particular.
