Matador Inc., a tire producer based in Púchov, plans to have 9.6 billion Sk ($300 million) in sales of its goods this year, 22 percent more than in 1996, company officials announced. Total revenues should reach 12.3 billion Sk, of which 590 million Sk will be invested, officials added.
Matador's most important contract is supplying tires for the Czech car maker Škoda Mladá Boleslav, of which 600,000 tires will be supplied for Škoda Felicias. After tests are completed on Škoda's Octavia model, Matador will supply tires for it too. In the Czech Republic, the company also has contracts with Avia Daewoo and Škoda LIAZ, while the Russian car maker Lada Togliatti will purchase 700,000 tires this year. Matador employs 4,450 people and will spend 74.2 million Sk on social programs this year.