Tatra’s interim manager Petr Karasek speaks out

Tatra wants to fill the niches of the world market. Her current boss focuses mainly on discipline

15. 2. 2019

Last year probably will not belong to the most successful trips of Koprivnice car manufacturer Tatra Trucks, admitted in the program ČT24 Business by its interim CEO Petr Karasek. Some major project assignments for different countries have failed or have been postponed to this year.

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Interim head of the Tatras Petr Karasek in the Czech Business24

Last year there was a drop in manufactured cars, said Karasek, but added that it is also worth adding value. He reminded that the company produces many variants and the difference between the simplest and the most complex car is up to twelve times.

The Interim Director also mentioned the era since 2013, when the new owners entered the car, the Czech owners (Jaroslav Strnad and René Matera won it at auction). Since then, the company has been trying to find a new position on the world market. “He has a lot to invest in technical development and aftermarket development.” The result should be finding “niche markets” next to big players. They produce large-scale, are based on economies of scale, while Tatra in smaller series or even specials.

After the entry of new owners and restructuring, production was stabilized to 800, 900 cars per year to increase to 1200 or 1300, said Karasek.

Tatra TrucksFACTS

While Karasek was originally a crisis manager, he now sees his role differently as a substitute. It has been operating for two and a half months – he is behind the CEO, who did not follow the original plan. A few months in this role will continue until the owners find a new CEO.

In his second mission, Karas uses the knowledge of the previous one. “I’m trying to get Tatra into a process where it was a few years ago, because with some pressure to grow volumes, some mistakes have happened,” he said. He mentioned in particular a decrease in discipline in compliance with the rules set up five years ago. “Discipline is first and with colleagues we get it back. We are mentors. We are trying to get the Tatars to find a way to follow discipline, “said Karasek. He considers his managerial style as fair, even strenuous.

Tatra TrucksFACTS- Past and Present

The Interim Director emphasized the role of the domestic market. “We most appreciate the fact that we are a stable partner for the Czech army, for Czech firefighters, for the Czech rescue integrated system.” According to him, references from the domestic market also occupy the world.

Tatras customers often appreciate the ability of cars to cope in complex terrain. The army has special requirements – for example, the Czech Ministry of Defense plans to buy about 60 Tatra trucks for container transport. The Danish army wants to use the Tatra chassis for fifteen self-propelled howitzers. The world is also targeting freight wagons tailored to construction, forestry or agriculture.

“The biggest segment of exports is now the Middle East and India,” added Karasek.

Last year the company had 1,200 employees, now it’s just 1100. “We’d like to keep it between a thousand and eleven hundred. We want to focus on productivity, “said the interim director. He pointed out that the company would be employed in the workers’ professions, while technicians and administrators would experience natural fluctuations and reductions. “The bureaucracy has grown more than we need,” he said.

Tatra wants to fill the niches of the world market. Her current boss focuses mainly on discipline

15. 2. 2019

Last year probably will not belong to the most successful trips of Koprivnice car manufacturer Tatra Trucks, admitted in the program ČT24 Business by its interim CEO Petr Karasek. Some major project assignments for different countries have failed or have been postponed to this year.

Last year there was a drop in manufactured cars, said Karasek, but added that it is also worth adding value. He reminded that the company produces many variants and the difference between the simplest and the most complex car is up to twelve times.

The Interim Director also mentioned the era since 2013, when the new owners entered the car, the Czech owners (Jaroslav Strnad and René Matera won it at auction). Since then, the company has been trying to find a new position on the world market. “He has a lot to invest in technical development and aftermarket development.” The result should be finding “niche markets” next to big players. They produce large-scale, are based on economies of scale, while Tatra in smaller series or even specials.

After the entry of new owners and restructuring, production was stabilized to 800, 900 cars per year to increase to 1200 or 1300, said Karasek.

While Karasek was originally a crisis manager, he now sees his role differently as a substitute. It has been operating for two and a half months – he is behind the CEO, who did not follow the original plan. A few months in this role will continue until the owners find a new CEO.

In his second mission, Karas uses the knowledge of the previous one. “I’m trying to get Tatra into a process where it was a few years ago, because with some pressure to grow volumes, some mistakes have happened,” he said. He mentioned in particular a decrease in discipline in compliance with the rules set up five years ago. “Discipline is first and with colleagues, we get it back. We are mentors. We are trying to get the Tatars to find a way to follow discipline, “said Karasek. He considers his managerial style as fair, even strenuous.

The Interim Director emphasized the role of the domestic market. “We most appreciate the fact that we are a stable partner for the Czech army, for Czech firefighters, for the Czech rescue integrated system.” According to him, references from the domestic market also occupy the world.

Tatras customers often appreciate the ability of cars to cope in complex terrain. The army has special requirements – for example, the Czech Ministry of Defense plans to buy about 60 Tatra trucks for container transport. The Danish army wants to use the Tatra chassis for fifteen self-propelled howitzers. The world is also targeting freight wagons tailored to construction, forestry or agriculture.

“The biggest segment of exports is now the Middle East and India,” added Karasek.

Last year the company had 1,200 employees, now it’s just 1100. “We’d like to keep it between a thousand and eleven hundred. We want to focus on productivity, “said the interim director. He pointed out that the company would be employed in the workers’ professions, while technicians and administrators would experience natural fluctuations and reductions. “The bureaucracy has grown more than we need,” he said.