Škoda Auto

Škoda Auto
Private company
Industry Automotive
Founded 18 December 1895 (1895-12-18) (as Laurin & Klement)
Founder Václav Laurin and Václav Klement
Headquarters Mladá Boleslav, Czech Republic
Number of locations
 Manufacturing facilities in Czech Republic, India, China, Russia and Slovakia.
Contract partners in Kazakhstan and Ukraine. (2013)
Area served
 Worldwide (except North America)
Key people
 Winfried Vahland (Chairman of the Board of Directors)
[Christian Klingler] (Chairman of the Supervisory Board)
Products Automobiles
Production output
 Increase 1.06 million units (2015)[1]
Revenue Increase CZK 299.318 billion (2014)[2]
(USD 12.37 billion)
Increase CZK 21.598 billion (2014)[2]
(USD 892 million)
Profit Increase CZK 18.421 billion (2014)[2]
(USD 761 million)
Number of employees
 over 25,889 (2015)
Parent Volkswagen Group
Divisions Škoda Motorsport
Subsidiaries ŠKODA Auto Deutschland GmbH
Skoda Auto India Private Ltd.
ŠKODA AUTO Slovensko s.r.o.
Website skoda-auto.com

Škoda Auto (Czech pronunciation: [ˈʃkoda]), more commonly known as Škoda, is a Czech automobile manufacturer founded in 1895 as Laurin & Klement. It is headquartered in Mladá Boleslav, Czech Republic.

In 1925 Laurin & Klement was acquired by Škoda Works[3] which itself became state owned during the communist regime. After 1991 it was gradually privatized and in 2000 Škoda became a wholly owned subsidiary of the Volkswagen Group.[4]

Initially, the company was meant to serve the role of the VW Group’s entry brand. Over time, however, the Škoda brand has shifted progressively more upmarket, with most models overlapping with their Volkswagen counterparts on price and features, while eclipsing them on space.[5] Its total global sales reached 1.06 million cars in 2015 and had risen annually by 1.8 percent, profit had risen by 6,5%.[1][6]

History

The Škoda Works were established as an arms manufacturing plant in 1859. Škoda Auto (and its predecessors) is one of the five oldest companies producing cars and has an unbroken history alongside Daimler, Opel, Peugeot and Tatra.[7]

Laurin and Klement

Founders Václav Klement (left) and Václav Laurin (1895)
Laurin & Klement Type A (1905)

The origins of what became Škoda Auto go back to the early 1890s when, like many long-established car manufacturers, a company started manufacturing bicycles. Škoda factories were founded in 1869.[8] In 1894, 26-year-old Václav Klement, who was a bookseller in Mladá Boleslav, Kingdom of Bohemia (today's Czech Republic, then part of Austria-Hungary), was unable to obtain spare parts to repair his German bicycle.

Klement returned his bicycle to the manufacturers, Seidel and Naumann, with a letter, in Czech, asking them to carry out repairs, only to receive a reply, in German, stating: "If you would like an answer to your inquiry, you should try writing in a language we can understand". Not satisfied with the reply and realising the business potential, Klement, despite having no technical experience, decided to start a bicycle repair shop, which he and Václav Laurin opened in 1895 in Mladá Boleslav. Before going into partnership with Klement, Laurin was an established bicycle manufacturer in the nearby town of Turnov.

In 1898, after moving to their newly built factory, the pair bought a Werner "Motocyclette".[nb 1] Laurin & Klement's first motorcyclette, powered by an engine mounted on the handlebars driving the front wheels, proved dangerous and unreliable—an early accident on it cost Laurin a front tooth. To design a safer machine with its structure around the engine, the pair wrote to German ignition specialist Robert Bosch for advice on a different electromagnetic system. The pair's new motorcycle made its debut in 1899.

In 1900, with a company workforce of 32, local production began and 150 machines were shipped to London for the Hewtson firm. Shortly afterwards, the press credited them as makers of the first motorcycle.[9] The first model, Voiturette A, was a success and the company was established both within Austria-Hungary and internationally. By 1905 the firm was manufacturing automobiles, making it the second oldest car manufacturer in the Czech lands after Tatra.

Škoda

Škoda Rapid (1935)
Portrait
Engineer and industrialist Emil Škoda
Car logo detail
Skoda logo in 1930s

After World War I the Laurin & Klement company began producing trucks, but in 1924, after running into problems and being affected by a fire on their premises, the company sought a new partner.

Meanwhile, "Akciová společnost, dříve Škodovy závody" (Limited Company, formerly the Škoda Works), an arms manufacturer and multi-sector concern which had become one of the largest industrial enterprises in Europe and the largest in Czechoslovakia, started manufacturing cars in cooperation with Hispano-Suiza. Škoda sought to enlarge its non-arms manufacturing base and acquired Laurin & Klement in 1925. Most of the later production took place under Škoda's name.

An assembly line was used for production from 1930 onwards. In the same year a formal spin-off of the car manufacture into a new company, Akciová společnost pro automobilový průmysl or abbreviated ASAP, took place. ASAP remained a wholly owned subsidiary of the Škoda Works and continued to sell cars under the Škoda marque. Apart from the factory in Mladá Boleslav it included also the firm's representation, sales offices and services, as well as a central workshop in Prague. At the time, the car factory in Mladá Boleslav covered an area of 215,000 m2 and employed 3,750 blue-collar and 500 white-collar workers.

After a decline caused by the economic depression, Škoda introduced a new line of cars in the 1930s which significantly differed from its previous products. A new design of chassis with backbone tube and all-around independent suspension was developed under the leadership of chief engineer Vladimír Matouš and modelled on the one first introduced by Hans Ledwinka in Tatra. First used on model Škoda 420 Standard in 1933, it aimed at solving insufficient torsional stiffness of the ladder frame.[10]

The new design of chassis became the basis for models Popular (845-1,089 cc), Rapid (1165–1766 cc), Favorit (1802–2091 cc) and the Superb (2.5–4 l).[10] While in 1933 Škoda had a 14% share of the Czechoslovak car market and occupied third place behind Praga and Tatra, the new line made it a market leader by 1936, with a 39% share in 1938.[10]

World War II

During the occupation of Czechoslovakia in World War II the Škoda Works were turned into part of the Reichswerke Hermann Göring serving the German war effort by producing components for military terrain vehicles, military planes, other weapon components and cartridge cases. Vehicle output decreased from 7,052 in 1939 to 683 in 1944, of which only 35 were passenger cars. A total of 316 trucks were produced between January and May 1945.[11] The UK and US air forces bombed the Škoda works repeatedly between 1940 and 1945. The final massive air raid took place on 25 April 1945 and resulted in almost the complete destruction of the Škoda armament works and approximately 1,000 dead and injured.[12]

Post World War II

Škoda 1101 Tudor Roadster (1949)
Škoda Octavia Super (1960)

When, by July 1945, the Mladá Boleslav factory had been reconstructed, production of Škoda's first post-World War II car, the 1101 series began. It was essentially an updated version of the pre-World War II Škoda Popular. In the autumn of 1945, Škoda (along with all other large manufacturers) became part of the communist planned economy, which meant it was separated from the parent company, Škoda Works. In spite of unfavourable political conditions and losing contact with technical development in non-communist countries, Škoda retained a good reputation until the 1960s, producing models such as the Škoda 440 Spartak, 445 Octavia, Felicia and Škoda 1000 MB.

Škoda MB 1000 (1966)

In late 1959, the Škoda Felicia, a compact four-cylinder convertible coupe, was imported into the United States for model year 1960. Its retail price was around US$2,700, for which one could purchase a nicely-equipped V8 domestic car that was larger, more comfortable, and had more luxury and convenience features (gasoline retailed for less than 30 cents per gallon, so fuel economy was not of primary importance in America at that time). Those Felicias that made it to American ownership soon experienced a number of reliability problems, further damaging the car's reputation. The Felicia was therefore a poor seller in the States and leftover cars ended up being hied off at a fraction of the original retail list. Since that time, Škoda automobiles have not been imported into the U.S. for retail sale.

In the late 1980s, Škoda (then named Automobilové závody, národní podnik or abbreviated AZNP) was still manufacturing cars that conceptually dated back to the 1960s. Rear-engined models such as the Škoda 105/120, Estelle and Rapid sold steadily and performed well against more modern makes in races such as the RAC Rally in the 1970s and 1980s. They won their class in the RAC rally for 17 years running. They were powered by a 130 brake horsepower (97 kW), 1,289 cubic centimetres (78.7 cu in) engine. In spite of its dated image and becoming the subject of negative jokes, Škodas remained a common sight on the roads of UK and Western Europe throughout the 1970s and 1980s.

Sport versions of the Estelle and earlier models were produced, using the name "Rapid". Soft-top versions were also available. The Rapid was once described as the "poor man's Porsche",[13] and had significant sales success in the UK during the 1980s.[14]

"Of course, that the Škoda became such a figure of fun was in part due to its ubiquity on Britain's roads. The company must have been doing something right." (from a BBC report on Škoda sales in 1980s)

In 1987 the Favorit was introduced, and was one of a triumvirate of compact Western-influenced front-wheel drive hatchbacks from the three main Eastern Bloc manufacturers around that time, the others being VAZ's Lada Samara and Zastava's Yugo Sana. The Favorit's appearance was the work of the Italian design company Bertone. With some motor technology licensed from western Europe, but still using the Škoda-designed 1289 cc engine, Škoda engineers designed a car comparable to western production. The technological gap was still there, but began closing rapidly. The Favorit was very popular in Czechoslovakia and other Eastern Bloc countries. It also sold well in Western Europe, especially in the UK and Denmark due to its low price and was regarded as solid and reliable. However, it was perceived as having poor value compared with contemporary Western European designs. The Favorit's trim levels were improved and it continued to be sold until the introduction of the Felicia in 1994.

Volkswagen Group subsidiary

Škoda Auto is one of the largest car manufacturers in Central Europe. In 2014, 1.037.200 cars were sold worldwide, a record for the company

The fall of communism with the Velvet Revolution brought great changes to Czechoslovakia and most industries were subject to privatisation. In the case of Škoda Automobile, the state authorities brought in a strong foreign partner. Volkswagen was chosen by the Czech government on December 9, 1990, and, as a result, on March 28, 1991 a joint-venture partnership agreement with Volkswagen took place, marked by the transfer of a 30% share to the Volkswagen Group on April 16, 1991. By this stage, Skoda was still making its outdated range of rear engine saloons, although it had started production of the Favorit front-wheel drive hatchback in 1988 as an eventual replacement.

In the following years, Škoda became the fourth brand of the German group, as the Volkswagen Group raised its equity share first on December 19, 1994, to 60.3%, followed on December 11, 1995, to 70%.[15]

In the competition for Škoda, Volkswagen was pitted against French car-maker Renault, which lost out because its strategic plan did not include producing high-value models in the Czech factories: Renault proposed to manufacture the Renault Twingo city car in the Škoda factories.

At the time the decision was made, privatisation to a major German company was somewhat controversial. However, it could be argued that the subsequent fortunes of other Eastern-Bloc automobile manufacturers such as Lada, AutoVAZ, and of Škoda Works itself – once Škoda Auto's parent company – suggested that Volkswagen's involvement was not necessarily a result of poor judgement.

Backed by Volkswagen Group expertise and investments, the design — both style and engineering — has improved greatly. The 1994 model Felicia was effectively a reskin of the Favorit, but quality and equipment improvements helped, and in the Czech Republic the car was perceived as good value for money and became popular. Sales improved across Europe, including the United Kingdom, where the Felicia was one of the best-ranking cars in customer satisfaction surveys.

Volkswagen AG chairman Ferdinand Piëch personally chose Dirk van Braeckel as head of design, and the subsequent Octavia and Fabia models made their way to the demanding European Union markets. They are built on common Volkswagen Group floorpans. The Fabia, launched at the end of 1999, formed the basis for the later versions of the Volkswagen Polo and SEAT Ibiza, while the Octavia, launched in 1996, has shared its floorpan with a host of cars, the most popular of which is the Volkswagen Golf.

The perception of Škoda in Western Europe has changed completely since the takeover by VW,[16] in stark comparison with the reputation of the cars throughout the 1980s—often described as "the laughing stock" of the automotive world.[17][18][19] As technical development progressed and attractive new models were marketed, Škoda's image was initially slow to improve. In the UK, a major turnabout was achieved with the ironic "It is a Škoda, honest" campaign, which was started in 2000 when the Fabia was launched. In a 2003 advertisement on British television, a new employee on the production line is fitting Škoda badges on the car bonnets. When some attractive looking cars come along he stands back, not fitting the badge, since they look so good they cannot be Škodas.[20] This market campaign worked by confronting Škoda's image problem head-on—a tactic which marketing professionals regarded as high risk. By 2005 Škoda was selling over 30,000 cars a year in the UK, a market share of over 1%. For the first time in its UK history, a waiting list developed for deliveries by Škoda. UK owners have consistently ranked the brand at or near the top of customer satisfaction surveys since the late 1990s.

In 2015, Volkswagen admitted that it had installed pollution-cheating software in many of its cars to fool regulators that its cars met emissions standards when in fact they polluted at much higher-levels than government standards. 1.2 million Skoda cars worldwide were fitted with this emissions-cheating device.[21] Skoda stated that Volkswagen would recall and cover refitting costs for all of the cars affected by the Volkswagen emissions testing scandal.

Growth strategy

Škoda Auto plant in Mladá Boleslav

2010 was a year of important changes for Škoda Auto, in terms of both products and management. On 1 September 2010, Prof. Dr. h.c. Winfried Vahland assumed responsibility for the management of the company, becoming the CEO of Škoda Auto. Under Vahland's leadership, Škoda set forth plans to double the company’s annual sales[22] to at least 1.5 million by 2018 (later known as the ‘Growth Strategy’, Czech: ‘Růstová Strategie’).

At the 2010 Paris Motor Show in September 2010, the company unveiled the Octavia Green E Line. This e-car concept was the forerunner to the e-car test fleet that Škoda released in 2012. The final 1st-generation Octavia (Tour) was produced at the Mladá Boleslav plant in November 2010. The worldwide production of this model exceeded 1.4 million units since its release in 1996. In 2010 for the first time in history, China overtook German sales to become Škoda's largest individual market.[23]

In 2011, Škoda Auto celebrated its 20-year partnership with the Volkswagen Group. More than 75,000 visitors attended an open-house event held in Mladá Boleslav in the April. Earlier that year, the company provided details on its 2018 Growth Strategy: for at least one new or completely revised model to be released every six months.[24][25] With this in mind, the company redesigned its logo and CI, which was presented at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show. Škoda’s main attraction at the event was the VisionD design concept; a forerunner to the future 3rd generation Octavia. Škoda presented the MissionL design study at the IAA in Frankfurt am Main in September, which was to become the basis of the company’s forthcoming compact model the European Rapid.

In the same year, the company started production of the new Rapid model in Pune, India (October 2011), and launched the Citigo at Volkswagen's Bratislava plant (November 2011).

During 2012 Škoda was preparing the introduction of two volume models. The European version of the Rapid premiered at the Paris Motor Show. This car was a successor to the 1st-generation Octavia in terms of its price bracket. The second volume model was the 3rd-generation Octavia, which premiered In December 2012. In the same month, the local production of the Yeti was launched at the Nizhny Novgorod GAZ factory.[26][27]

In 2012 Škoda introduced an emission-free fleet of Octavia Green E Line e-cars on Czech roads to be used by external partners. Since internal tests on the fleet in late 2011, the e-fleet had driven more than 250,000 km. During the same year, Škoda celebrated several milestones, including fourteen million Škoda cars being produced since 1905 (January),[28] three million Fabias (May),[29] 500,000 Superbs at the Kvasiny plant (June )[30] and 5 years of Škoda operations in China.[27]

Massive rejuvenation of the model range was a major tune for 2013 at Škoda: The Czech carmaker launched the third-generation Octavia Combi and Octavia RS (both liftback and estate) as well as facelifted Superb and Superb Combi. They were accompanied by brand new members of the Rapid family as the Rapid Spaceback, the first Škoda hatchback car in the compact segment, and the Chinese version of the Rapid. Also the Yeti faced significant changes. With the facelift, two design variants of Škoda 's compact SUV are now available: city-like Yeti and rugged Yeti Outdoor. Moreover, Chinese customers were given the Yeti with extended wheelbase.

Škoda was in 2015 voted as the most dependable car brand in the UK.[31] Škoda Auto is currently planning to manufacture a large, seven-seat SUV, which should be a true off-roader.[32] It will be introduced at the Paris Motor Show in October 2016 and should be reportedly called Škoda Kodiaq.

Financial results

ŠKODA has maintained sound financial stability over recent years. In 2013 the brand achieved sales revenues totalling €10.3 billion (2012: €10.4 billion). Due to the weak economic situation in many European countries and the expansion of the ŠKODA model range, operating profit reached a modest 522 million euros (2012: €712 million). ŠKODA achieved a successful start to 2014: As well as recording the highest number of deliveries to customers in a first quarter ever (247,200; up 12.1%), ŠKODA recorded a significant increase in sales revenue (23.7%) to almost 3 billion euros. Operating profit increased 65.2% to 185 million Euros over the previous year.

Sales figures

Model 1991[33] 1995[34] 1996[35] 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012[36] 2013[37] 2014 2015[1]
Škoda Felicia[nb 2] 172,000 210,000 261,000 288,458 261,127 241,256 148,500 44,963 − − − − − − − − − − − − − −
Škoda Octavia − − 47,876 102,373 143,251 158,503 164,134 164,017 165,635 181,683 233,322 270,274 309,951 344,857 317,335 349,746 387,200 409,360 359,600 389,300 432,300
Škoda Fabia − − − − − 823 128,872 250,978 264,641 260,988 247,600 236,698 243,982 232,890 246,561 264,173 229,045 266,800 255,025 202,000 160,500 192,400
Škoda Superb − − − − − − − 177 16,867 23,135 22,392 22,091 20,989 20,530 25,645 44,548 98,873 116,700 106,847 94,400 91,100 80,200
Škoda Roomster − − − − − − − − − − − − 14,422 66,661 57,467 47,152 32,332 36,000 39,249 33,300 29,600 16,600
Škoda Yeti − − − − − − − − − − − − − − − 11,018 52,604 70,300 90,952 82,400 102,900 99,500
Škoda Rapid − − − − − − − − − − − − − − − − − 1,700 9,292 103,800 221,400 194,300
Škoda Citigo − − − − − − − − − − − − − − − − − 509 36,687 45,200 42,500 40,200
Total 172,000 210,000 261,000 336,334 363,500 385,330 435,403 460,252 445,525 449,758 451,675 492,111 549,667 630,032 674,530 684,226 762,600 879,200 949,412 920,800 1,037,200 1,055,500

Production

Škoda cars are produced in the Czech Republic, China, Russia, India and Slovakia at Škoda’s own production facilities or through partnerships within the Volkswagen Group. Škoda models are additionally manufactured in Ukraine and Kazakhstan through local partners.

Czech Republic

Škoda has three production sites in the Czech Republic. Mladá Boleslav is the carmaker's base with a tradition of industrial production dating back to 1895. Mladá Boleslav is not only home to the brand's headquarters and R&D department, but is also the location of Škoda's largest production facility in the world. Škoda also produces engines (e.g. EA 211: 1.2 TSI, 1.4 TSI and EA 111: 1.2 MPI, 1.2 TSI) and gearboxes (MQ 100 and MQ 200 manual gearboxes, SQ 100 piloted gearbox) in Mladá Boleslav for use both in Škoda models, and also for other brands within the Volkswagen Group. At the company’s Kvasiny plant, Škoda builds the Yeti, Superb and Roomster models, while the Vrchlabí plant is dedicated to the production of the 7-gear direct-shift gearbox (DSG).

India

India became the first non-European country where Škoda produces cars. The first car produced in the country was the Octavia at the Škoda plant in Aurangabad. The Superb followed in 2004, the Fabia in 2008 and the Yeti in 2010. The Volkswagen Group plant in Pune began manufacturing the Rapid in 2011. Production of the Fabia in India was paused in 2013.

China

In China, Škoda cars have been built in cooperation with Shanghai Volkswagen (SVW) since 2007. Initially three models were produced, but nowadays six models – the Fabia, Rapid, Rapid Spaceback, Octavia, Yeti and Superb – roll off the SVW production lines in Anting, Yizheng and Ningbo.

The first Škoda model produced in China was the Octavia in 2007. It was followed by the Fabia in 2008, and the Superb in 2009. Production of the Rapid was launched in China at the end of 2012. The Škoda Yeti was launched in China in 2013, first as an export model, and later as a locally produced vehicle. The production of the Rapid Spaceback began in spring 2014. Since Škoda entered the Chinese market, more than one million Škodas have been produced at SVW plants.

Russia

In Russia Škoda cars are produced at the production facilities in Kaluga and Nizhny Novgorod. The first locally assembled model was the Octavia in November 2007. The production of Fabia began in 2008 at the Volkswagen Group Russia (VGR) plant in Kaluga, where the Superb is also produced. The Rapid followed at the beginning of 2014. In partnership with VGR and the Russian automobile manufacturer GAZ, the production of the Yeti in Nizhny Novgorod began in 2011, and the new Octavia has also been manufactured at this plant since 2013.

Slovakia

The city car Škoda Citigo has been produced at the Volkswagen Group’s Bratislava plant since 2011.

Motorsport

Škoda Supersport (1951)
Škoda Fabia R5 (2015)
Main article: Škoda Motorsport

World Rally Championship

Following a long history of class victories in lower levels of motorsport, Škoda became a participant in the FIA World Rally Championship in the 1999 season, with World Rally Car models of the Škoda Octavia. Škoda's best result with the Octavia WRC was Armin Schwarz's third place at the 2001 Safari Rally. From mid 2003, the Octavia was replaced by the smaller Škoda Fabia. Škoda used the 2004 season to develop the car further, but did not achieve much success the following season. However, at the season-ending Rally Australia, 1995 world champion Colin McRae was running second before retiring. Škoda then withdrew from the series, and the 2006 season saw Škoda represented by the semi-privateer Red Bull Škoda Team. Jan Kopecký drove the Fabia WRC to fifth place at the Rally Catalunya, and as late as the 2007 Rallye Deutschland the Fabia still achieved a fifth-place result, again in the hands of Kopecký. Former works Ford and Citroen driver François Duval also drove a Fabia WRC in 2006 for the privateer First Motorsport team, achieving a sixth place on Rally Catalunya.

Super 2000

In 2009, Škoda entered the Intercontinental Rally Challenge (IRC) for the first time, using the Fabia S2000, winning three rallies and finishing second in both the drivers and manufacturers championship. In 2010, Škoda's won a total of seven IRC events winning both the manufacturers and driver championship for Juho Hänninen. These achievements were repeated in the following two seasons, with Andreas Mikkelsen as the drivers' champion. In 2013, the Intercontinental Rally Challenge was merged with the European Rally Championship (ERC) and the team gained the drivers' championship title once again for Jan Kopecký. The car was also raced by privateers in several championships, including Red Bull, Barwa, Rene Georges and Rufa in the 2010 Super 2000 World Rally Championship.

Bonneville Speedway

In August 2011, a special Škoda Octavia vRS set the world record at the Bonneville Speedway and became the fastest car in the world with an up to two-litre engine, when it hit 227 mph (365 km/h).[38] The current fastest production Škoda car is the Škoda Superb III, with a top speed of 250 km/h (160 mph) and an acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h (0 to 62 mph) in 5.8 seconds.

Models

Current models

Historic models

1900s

1910s

1920s

Škoda Favorit, a large luxury limousine from 1939

1930s

1940s

1950s

Škoda Octavia (1959–71)

1960s

1970s

1980s

1990s

2000s

Concept cars

Logo

In 1923, two versions of trademarks were registered at the Office for Innovation and Model Registration in Plzeň. The first depicted a winged arrow pointed to the right with five feathers in a circle and the second was a winged arrow with three feathers. The famous winged arrow with three feathers still forms the Škoda's emblem nowadays. In 1937 was attached to the logo text ŠKODA. The arrow represent speed, the wings progress and freedom, the eye precision of production and the circle unity, completeness, world and harmony.[39][40]

See also

Bibliography

Notes

  1. ↑ More information about the Werner motor bicycles: Twycross, Tony (April 2005). "Auto Cycling, 1890s Style". The Moped Archive.
  2. ↑ Includes sales of the Škoda Favorit, produced until 1995.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Record-breaking 2015: ŠKODA Delivers 1.06 Million Cars to Customers". Retrieved 15 January 2016.
  2. 1 2 3 ŠKODA Annual Report 2014 (PDF) (Report). Mladá Boleslav, Czech Republic: ŠKODA AUTO a.s. 10 March 2015. Retrieved 7 August 2015.
  3. ↑ Škoda history Official website
  4. ↑ "Alle VW-Konzernmodelle Teil 3: Seat und Skoda" (in German). Autozeitung.de. Retrieved 28 August 2011.
  5. ↑ "Volkswagen mulls emerging markets brand to take on Dacia". GoAutoMedia. 2 November 2010.
  6. ↑ Skoda Auto with profit up 6.5 pct to record EUR708m in 2015
  7. ↑ "Digitální továrna společnosti Škoda Auto" (in Czech). Automa. December 2012.
  8. ↑ Piotr S. Wandycz, ‘The Price of Freedom: A History of East Central Europe from the Middle Ages to The Present’, (London, 1992), p. 171
  9. ↑ "Skoda Company History". CarAutoPortal.com. Retrieved 10 August 2009.
  10. 1 2 3 Králík, Jan (2008), V soukolí okřídleného šípu, Grada Publishing a.s., pp. 19–22
  11. ↑ Pavlínek, Petr (2008). A Successful Transformation? Restructuring of the Czech Automobile Industry. Physica-Verlag. doi:10.1007/978-3-7908-2040-9. ISBN 978-3-7908-2039-3.
  12. ↑ HELL FROM HEAVEN - Chapter 35 - Mission 31 - Pilsen, Czechoslovakia - Our Last Combat Mission - April 25, 1945 - By Leonard Streitfeld, Bombardier, 600th Squadron. 398th.org (1945-04-25). Retrieved on 2013-07-16.
  13. ↑ Paul Burrows (13 March 2008). "Czech-in time for Skoda". AVHub.
  14. ↑ "Skoda has last laugh". BBC News. 24 February 2000.
  15. ↑ Mladá Boleslav (6 October 2004). "ŠKODA AUTO a.s." (PDF). Volkswagen Group.
  16. ↑ "Skoda's Marketing Success Goes From Strength To Strength". Carpages. 17 December 2002.
  17. ↑ Kevin Massy (28 January 2008). "Skoda flagship to get VW's premium nav system". CNET Reviews. Retrieved 6 February 2010.
  18. ↑ Jez Spinks (15 October 2007). "Skoda Octavia: first drive of the 'budget' VW". Drive.com.au.
  19. ↑ Steve Kealy (16 February 2010). "Skoda Octavia Scout 4x4". Carsales.com.au.
  20. ↑ "4. BRAND STRATEGY" (PDF). The Chartered Institute of Marketing. 7 April 2003. pp. 22–23. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 October 2010.
  21. ↑ "VW scandal: German prosecutors probe Winterkorn as Volkswagen emissions-rigging crisis spreads to 2.1 million Audi cars and Skoda models". Retrieved 2015-09-28.
  22. ↑ Paul McVeigh (2 November 2010). "Automotive News Europe". Automotive News Europe.
  23. ↑ "Automotive News Europe". Automotive News Europe. 12 February 2012.
  24. ↑ "The Prague Post". The Prague Post. 2 March 2011.
  25. ↑ Matt Prior. "Autocar". Autocar.
  26. ↑ "RT". RT. 14 June 2011.
  27. 1 2 Alexander Rogan (6 December 2012). "Russia Suppy Chain". Russia Suppy Chain.
  28. ↑ "Volkswagen". Volkswagen. 21 November 2013.
  29. ↑ Tim Harrup (11 May 2012). "FleetEurope". FleetEurope.
  30. ↑ Karthik H (30 December 2013). "Indian Autos Blog".
  31. ↑ Skoda wins top JD Power honours for dependability
  32. ↑ Auto Express, Skoda's large SUV spied testing again
  33. ↑ "Case study: Skoda". Tcworld.info. December 2008. Archived from the original on 10 February 2011.
  34. ↑ "GENERAL PRESENTATION ŠKODA 2008" (PDF). Institute for Industrial and Financial Management. p. 15. Retrieved 28 August 2011.
  35. ↑ "ŠKODA AUTO a.s." (PDF). Prague: Volkswagen Group. 21 June 2004.
  36. ↑ vwagfy2012 (PDF). 15 March 2013. Retrieved 15 March 2013.
  37. ↑ "ŠKODA 2013: Success with new models". Retrieved 27 January 2014.
  38. ↑ "Škoda Octavia vRS je nejrychlejším dvoulitrem světa" [Skoda Octavia VRS is the fastest two-liter in the world] (in Czech). IHNED.cz. 28 August 2011.
  39. ↑ Plzeňská Škodovka změnila logo
  40. ↑ Na šumperském Parsu se skví legendární logo s okřídleným šípem a nápis Škoda

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Škoda Auto car timeline, 1945–1989 — next »
Type 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s
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Coupé / cabrio 450 Felicia 1000MBX / 1100MBX 110 R Garde Rapid 130 / 135 / 136
Small family car 1101 / 1102 'Tudor' 440 'Spartak' Octavia 1000MB / 1100MB 100 / 110 105 / 120 / 125
445 Octavia Super Octavia Kombi 130 / 135 / 136
Family car 1200 1201 1202 (Kombi / Pickup)
Large family car Superb 3000
Executive car VOS
Sports car Sport 120 S 130 RS 130 LR
Supersport 1101 OHC F3 1100 GT 130 L/A
Van / minibus 1203 Škoda TAZ
« previous — Škoda Auto, a marque of the Volkswagen Group, car timeline, 1990–present
Type 1990s 2000s 2010s
0123456789 0123456789 0123456
City car Citigo
Supermini Favorit/Forman Felicia Fabia I Fabia II Fabia III
Small family car Rapid
Octavia I Octavia II
Large family car Octavia III
Superb I Superb II
Executive car Superb III
LAV Roomster/Praktik
Mini SUV Yeti
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