THE SITUATION AT TATRA

The atmosphere in Koprivnice is sad and negative, no wonder when 1600 were fired recently. Most people are convinced that Tatra will go down. Daughter companies like the power plant, casting department and galvanisation department have all been sold. In general one blames the americans who now own Tatra. Koprivnice’s major, Tichanek, talked the situation over with the government but was sent back to Moravia empty handed. As the Tatra Museum looses money, one fears it has to be closed. The city of Koprivnice has helped the museum out this summer by donating extra money so that the salaries can be paid, but one now fears September. Civil truck production is low but most departments are working the full week. At the very moment military trucks for India and Israel are on the production lines, the latter ones will be bare the new name of ATC as it is regarded as their first own product. First pix have appeared with Tatras carrying the ATC logo. Tatra’s website is more positive. They are in the running to build the Czech republic’s new army medium truck by buying the intellectual rights of an existing design. http://www.tatra.cz/enff/nakvoz/Tatra%20_%20N2_an.htm Tatra’s heavy kippers still do well in comparative tests and even won one this year http://www.tatra.cz/enff/srovnani/srov_en.htm Tatra was also presented at the Brno IDET defense technology fair http://www.tatra.cz/enff/idet/Tatra%20na%20Idet_EN.htm