Competitiveness Outlook of the Automotive Industry in the V4 Countries

Abstract The aim of the paper is to analyze the possibilities of the automotive industry development in the V4 countries in the near future. Automotive is one of the most important industries in the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia. However, it faces significant challenges on both the demand and supply side. The shortage of qualified and relatively cheap labour force, once the important comparative advantage of these countries is becoming a major problem in sustaining the competitiveness. Meanwhile the rise of protectionist policies and trade tensions also pose a significant threat to the exportoriented industry. The third important source of change is the technological advancement. Industry 4.0, electromobility and self-driving cars are reshaping the whole business model. In order to stay competitive, the V4 countries have to take all these factors in account and try to adjust their policies to these changes in environment.