Automotive debts decreased by PLN 11 million. What is the reason?
The liabilities of companies from the automotive industry have decreased over the last year by over PLN 11 million – according to data from the National Debt Register (KRD). The authors of the report pointed out that the decline in debt is due to a market slowdown, not a rebound.
Unpaid liabilities of car and car parts sellers and automotive services have decreased over the last 12 months from PLN 457.7 million to PLN 446.6 million. In the opinion of KRD experts, this is still a very high amount. The number of debtors decreased from 13.2 thousand. up to 12.5 thousand However, it is visible a slight increase in debt per company on average. It currently amounts to 36.3 thousand. PLN, i.e. by PLN 3,000. PLN more than a year earlier.
Which industry segments have the largest debts?
They are the most burdened with debts car salesmen, on which there is PLN 179.9 million of total debtnext car services and workshops – PLN 157.9 million and suppliers of automotive parts and accessories – PLN 73.6 million. The liabilities of manufacturers of parts and accessories amounted to PLN 24.2 million, and those of vehicle manufacturers – PLN 10.8 million.
“Until 70 percent automotive debtors are sole proprietorships. 8.6 thousand JDGs are responsible for over PLN 255.7 million of unsettled liabilities, which is PLN 29.7 thousand. PLN per company. Although this amount does not seem high, in the case of a small workshop or automotive store, it may determine solvency. For comparison: commercial law companies have a total of PLN 191 million in arrears, and the average debt there is PLN 51.3 thousand. PLN” – it was announced.
6.1 thousand people are in debt. workshops and services. In the authors’ opinion, this is due to the difficult market realities in which these companies operate.
“Most workshops in Poland are sole proprietorships, often operating locally, without financial or investment support. Their business model, in addition to the ongoing service of individual customers, is based largely on B2B relationships with companies such as insurers, fleet managers or lessors, which order repairs but settle the receivables only after a long time. In practice, this means that the workshops first have to buy parts and perform the service themselves, and often wait for weeks for payment. For micro-enterprises, this is a huge burden” – said the president of the National Debt Register of the Economic Information Office, Adam Łącki, quoted in the information.
The main reasons for the problems of the automotive industry
The authors of the analysis pointed out that last year the industry faced numerous problems: falling demand for vehicles with classic drives, costs resulting from tightening ecological standards, slowdown in fleet orders, growing competition from Asian suppliers and the related price pressure.
According to experts, the too slow transformation towards electromobility stopped investments and research and development projects in plants. Due to lack of orders, many companies have limited shift work and are conducting group layoffs. According to the estimates of the Polish Automotive Industry Association quoted in the analysis reductions from 2024 to September 2025 covered 10-15 thousand. employees.
“Already over 20 percent of the entire industry are companies that have lost, or may soon lose, the ability to meet their payment obligations on time. More and more entities finance their current operations at the expense of their partners because they extend deadlines and pay invoices selectively. For parts suppliers, importers and lessors, this means the risk of capital freezing,” said Sandra Czerwińska from Rzetelna Firma, quoted in the analysis.
The percentage of companies with high transaction risk is growing
At the same time, there is an increase in the percentage of companies with moderate and high transaction risk. A year ago, they constituted 14 percent, now every fifth has this status.
“They are also a negative phenomenon cascading congestion across the entire chain – from component manufacturers to retail dealers. The more delays, the more often companies have to demand payment and be very careful when granting trade limits,” Czerwińska noted.
List of creditors
The largest creditors of the automotive industry include companies from the financial sector, including: securitization funds, banks, lessors and insurers, to which the industry owes over PLN 337.5 million. Obligations towards trading companies amount to PLN 32.7 million, telecommunications companies – PLN 16.6 million, energy suppliers – PLN 11.3 million, a fuel sellers – PLN 7.5 million.
