- Slovakia became in 2012 the largest car producer in the world relative to its population(171 vehicles produced per 1000 inhabitants), arriving well before the Czech Republic and South Korea. Slovak automotive industry (assembly and equipment) employs around 75,000 people.

- Slovakia has increased its position to 7th position in Europe in terms of production (behind the Czech Republic), while the country is in 19th place in Europe in terms of population.

- Three carmakers operate now in Slovakia: the Volkswagen group (Bratislava) which manufactures Volkswagen (Up, Touareg), Audi (Q7), Seat (Mii) and Skoda (Citigo) vehicles, the Hyundai-Kia  group (Zilina) which manufactures Kia (Cee'd, Sportage, Venga) vehicles, the PSA group (Trnava) which manufactures Peugeot (208) and Citroën (C3 Picasso) vehicles.

- The annual current installed capacity is 400 000 vehicles for the Volkswagen group, 300 000 vehicles for the Hyundai-Kia group and 300,000 vehicles for the PSA group, i.e. altogether one million vehicles per year. The BMW Group is also planning to move to Slovakia and Hungary over the next few years.

- Vehicles produced in Slovakia are mainly destined for the European Union, but other markets are growing in importance, such as North America or Russia.

- To respond to  the American market very demanding of luxury cars, the three largest Japanese carmakers Toyota, Nissan and Honda had launched specific brands in this segment in 1989, respectively: the Lexus, the Infiniti and the Acura.

- These brands were in competition not only with the American brands Cadillac and Lincoln, but also and more to the point German brands such as Audi, BMW and Mercedes.

- The three Japanese luxury brands will gradually be set as equals in the U.S. market with two American brands and the three German brands. However, worldwide, the volume of their total sales never exceed 730 000 units per year (a record achieved in 2007), against 3 to 4 million units annually for the three German brands.

- Their distribution is restricted in Europe, by a market attached to traditional and historical brands. On the other hand, the three Japanese luxury brands are not so present on all markets (particularly in Asia), unlike Audi, BMW and Mercedes.

- In 2012, these three brands sold 660,000 vehicles worldwide, three-quarters of which in the U.S. Lexus remains the most international brand with 30% of its sales outside the U.S.. Infiniti sells only 20% of its car models outside the U.S. and Acura only 2%.

- Despite a series of recommendations from the Chinese government urging motorists and manufacturers to turn to low-emission vehicles, only 7,748 hybrid and electric vehicles were sold in China in the first quarter of 2013, of which 4033 hybrid "classic" , 2874 301 electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids.

- Such a low level of sales is achieved even though  buyers of plug-in electric and electric vehicles are eligible for a bonus of 60,000 Yuan (7,420 euros) and 50,000 Yuan (6,180 euros), respectively. In contrast, Chinese motorists acquiring a "classic" hybrid model receive a premium of only 3,000 Yuan (370 euros).

- In comparison, Japan has purchased 154,234 hybrid and electric vehicles in the first quarter of 2013. Europe bought on its side15,000 such vehicles in the same period and the USA 150,000 vehicles.

- Despite the high premium level offered, hybrid and electric vehicles are on low demand in China. An immature market (equipment market and not renewal) market,  a non adequate product offer, and prices too high (in comparison with combustion engine  vehicles) may explain the poor sales of such vehicles in China.

- The environmental plan of the Chinese government, however, could help boost sales in the coming years.