Winter driving is one of the most demanding times of year for cars. Salt, mud, and chemical grit not only affect the bodywork but also the chassis. Although most Czech drivers still wash their cars more often in summer than in winter, this difference is gradually disappearing. According to a survey conducted by Ipsos for ORLEN network, one-fifth of drivers wash their cars with the same regularity throughout the year, regardless of the season. This approach is significantly more common among the younger generation.
The survey was conducted on a representative sample of 2,000 adult residents of the Czech Republic. The results indicate a gradual change in driver behaviour, with drivers becoming increasingly aware of the impact of winter dirt on their vehicles’ technical condition. This trend is also confirmed by ORLEN's operational data. The year 2025 was historically the most successful year for car washes, with customers washing a total of 1.2 million vehicles. At the same time, there is growing interest in programmes focused on more thorough care, especially undercarriage washing, which helps protect the car from corrosion caused by winter road salt. "For many drivers, winter no longer means a period when they put off car care. On the contrary, we see that people want to protect their cars on an ongoing basis and appreciate fast and high-quality solutions," says Rostislav Moravec, director of the ORLEN network of filling stations.
In recent years, ORLEN network has been investing in modernising washing technologies and simplifying its service offering. All washing programmes now include pressure washing of the chassis, previously available at an additional cost. The modernisation has also enabled shorter washing times without compromising quality.
The modernisation also includes digitalising the customer experience. ORLEN is gradually expanding the use of its app that enables contactless payment and the start of washing directly from the vehicle. This method is particularly valued by corporate customers and regular car wash users, for whom the speed and simplicity of the entire process make a difference. According to the company, digitalisation contributes to smoother car wash operations and shorter customer turnaround times.
Another area of development for car washes is an emphasis on sustainability. ORLEN car washes use their own water cleaning and recycling systems, thanks to which up to 85% of the water consumed is reused. The chemicals used meet strict environmental standards and are VDA-certified according to the German automotive industry standard that guarantees maximum care for paintwork and other vehicle surfaces.
The ORLEN network in the Czech Republic operates a total of 165 car washes, including 132 automatic, 32 manual, and one bicycle wash, most of which operate continuously. More information about ORLEN car washes and washing programmes is available at
www.orlen.cz/mycka.
ORLEN – the international network of fuels, energy and refreshments
The ORLEN network of filling stations is a member of the ORLEN Unipetrol Group owned by the international ORLEN Group, which runs more than 3,500 fuel stations in seven Central European countries – Poland, Czechia, Germany, Lithuania, Hungary, Austria, and Slovakia. In Czechia, the ORLEN network comprises 443 stations with a 28.6% market share in the volume of fuels sold. The ORLEN network is a market leader in terms of both the number of sites and the volume of fuels sold. The popularity of the ORLEN brand with Czech consumers is reflected by the fact that the ORLEN network of filling stations has been awarded as the Most Trustworthy Brand in Czechia six times and as the Merchant of the Year three times.
At its stations, ORLEN offers premium Efecta fuel with a proven purifying effect and top-class Verva fuel that cares for the engine system and offers enhanced performance parameters. ORLEN sites also provide alternative fuels, including liquified petroleum gas (LPG), compressed natural gas (CNG), synthetic fuel HVO100, and battery- and hydrogen-driven e-mobility. ORLEN offers electricity at 294 charging points and operates hydrogen refuelling stations in Prague- Barrandov and Litvínov-Záluží.
The Stop Cafe concept is a significant part of the offering, being a crucial pillar in ORLEN brand’s convenience sales. In the Czech Republic, Stop Cafe is available at 363 out of 443 filling stations, i.e., at more than 80% of them. It is offered at nearly 2,500 sites within the entire international network. Stop Cafe offers a broad range of meals and food products – from popular hotdogs and coffee to more than 1,000 products, including packaged food, ready-to-serve meals, and specialities in traditional, vegetarian, and vegan versions. The offer keeps developing – the ORLEN competence centre in Prague is working on new product ranges focused on a healthy lifestyle, including breakfasts, bakery products, ready-to-serve meals, and private brand products that will react to the current trends and customer needs.
ORLEN also issues its own fuel cards, EASY and BUSINESS, and runs two mobile apps – the loyalty ORLEN app and a car care app, Mycí digi linka.
Contact details:
Lada Gadas, +420 705 839 909, email: lada.gadas@orlenunipetrol.cz