Škoda Auto

Škoda Auto

Type	Private company
Industry	Automotive
Founded	1895 as Laurin & Klement
Founder(s)	Václav Laurin and Václav Klement
Headquarters	Mladá Boleslav, Czech Republic
Number of locations	Manufacturing facilities in China, Czech Republic, India, Kazakhstan, Russia, Slovakia, Ukraine
Area served	Europe, Asia, South America, Australasia
Key people	H.C. Winfried Vahland (Chairman of the Board of Directors), Martin Winterkorn (Chairman of the Supervisory Board)
Products	Automobiles
Production output	875,000 units (2011)
Services	Automotive financial services
Revenue	Kč220 billion (2010) ($13.5 billion USD)
Profit	Kč30.75 billion (2010) ($1.9 billion USD)
Total assets	Kč135.7 billion (2010) ($8.33 billion USD)
Employees	>24,714 (2010)
Parent	Volkswagen Group
Subsidiaries	Škoda Auto Deutschland Škoda Auto India Škoda Auto Polska Škoda Auto Slovakia
Website	www.skoda-auto.com

Škoda Auto (Czech pronunciation: [ˈʃkoda] ( listen)), more commonly known as Škoda, is an automobile manufacturer based in the Czech Republic. Škoda became a wholly owned subsidiary of the Volkswagen Group in 2000, positioned as the entry brand to the group. Its total global sales reached 684,226 cars in 2009 and 85,000 for the month of March 2011.

History

Škoda Auto is one of the largest car manufacturers in Central Europe. In 2010, 762,500 cars were sold worldwide, a record for the company

Škoda Works was established as an arms manufacturer in 1859.

The origins of what became Škoda Auto go back to the early 1890s where, like many long-established car manufacturers, a company started out manufacturing bicycles. It was 1894, and 26-year old Václav Klement, who was a bookseller in Mladá Boleslav, in today's Czech Republic, which was 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". A disgusted Klement, despite not having technical experience, decided to start a bicycle repair shop, which he and Václav Laurin opened in 1895 in Mladá Boleslav. Before going into business partnership with Klement, Laurin was established as a bicycle manufacturer in the nearby town of Turnov. In 1898, after moving to their newly-built factory, the pair bought a Werner "motorcyclist", which was produced by French manufacturer Werner Brothers. Laurin & Klement's first motorcyclette, powered by an engine mounted on the handlebars driving the front wheels, proved dangerous and unreliable—an early incident 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 Slavia motorcycle made its debut in 1899.

In 1900, when the company had a workforce of 32, Slavia exports began, with 150 machines shipped to London for the Hewtson firm. Shortly afterwards, the press credited them as makers of the first motorcycle. 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.

Rear of a Škoda Popular Special on display at the Sportauto Museum, Lány, Kladno District, Czech Republic

After World War I the Laurin-Klement company began producing trucks, but in 1924, after running into problems and being hit by a fire, the company sought a partner, and was acquired by Škoda Works, an arms manufacturer which had become a multi-sector concern and the biggest industrial enterprise in Czechoslovakia. Most later production was under the Škoda name. After a decline during the economic depression, Škoda was again successful with models such as the Popular in the late 1930s.

During the World War II Occupation of Czechoslovakia, the Škoda works was turned into part of Reichswerke Hermann Göring serving the German World War II effort.

Post World War II

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 large manufacturers) became part of the planned economy, which meant it was separated from the parent Škoda company. 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.

In the late 1980s, Škoda (then named Automobilové závody, národní podnik, Mladá Boleslav or 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 being the subject of negative jokes, the Škoda 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 "Rapid" as the version name. Soft-top versions were also available. The Rapid was once described as the 'poor man's Porsche', and had significant sales success in the UK during the 1980s.

"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." according to a BBC report on Škoda sales in 1980s.

In 1987 the Favorit model 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 designed by 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 Favorits were very popular in Czechoslovakia and other Eastern Bloc countries. They also sold fairly well in Western Europe, especially in the UK and Denmark; they were regarded as solid and reliable, as well as having good value. The Favorit's trim levels continued to improve, and it was sold until the introduction of the Felicia in 1994.

Volkswagen Group subsidiary

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. 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% and finally taking 100% ownership of the company on May 30, 2000.

In the competition for Škoda, Volkswagen was pitted against French car-maker Renault, which lost 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.^{citation needed}

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 improvements helped, and in the Czech Republic the car was good value for money and became popular. Volkswagen AG chairman Ferdinand Piëch personally choose 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 latest Octavia is based on Golf Mk5 floorpan, and Fabia is based on the A0 floorpan, although the Fabia was released a year before Volkswagen released their new Polo, based on the same floorpan.

The perception of Škoda in Western Europe has changed completely since the takeover by VW, in stark comparison to the reputation of the cars throughout the 1980s—often described as 'the laughing stock' of the automotive world. As technical development progressed and attractive new models were brought to market, 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 the early 2000s. 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. This market campaign worked by confronting Škoda's image problem head-on—a tactic which marketing professionals regard as high risk. Before the advertising campaign, it was common to hear tour guides in Bratislava making jokes about the Škoda^{citation needed}, saying "How do you double the value of a Škoda? Fill up the petrol tank!" 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. Škoda owners in the UK have consistently ranked the brand at or near the top of the J.D. Power customer satisfaction survey since the 2000s.

As of 2010 Škoda has several manufacturing and assembly plants, including one in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Škoda also has an assembly plant in the city of Aurangabad, in the western Indian state of Maharashtra which was established in 2001 as Škoda India Private Ltd.

Previous logo until 2011

In 2006 Škoda presented its brand new model Roomster, a small MPV with a unique design, which reflects future trends. At the end of December 2006 Škoda released the first official pictures of the new Fabia, a model that would replace the Fabia in 2007.

Later in 2008 Škoda released the first pictures of the face-lifted Octavia with new headlights, front grille and bumper, and a slightly restyled rear and interior. The revised car also features a new selection of engines including the 1.4 TFSI and new common rail diesel engines.

A new concept car was presented at the Paris Auto Show in September 2006. The concept, a three-door compact car targeted at young drivers, was called Škoda Joyster.

In 2005 the company produced 494,637 vehicles, and on 22 November 2006, produced the 500,000th vehicle of 2006, the first time in Škoda's long history that this figure had been reached. By the end of 2006, over 550,000 vehicles had been produced.

Volkswagen Group's Australian arm, Volkswagen Group Australia (VGA), announced that they would be returning Škoda, last sold in Australia in 1983, to the Australian car market in October 2007. As of 2012 the Fabia, Octavia, Superb and Yeti are available in Australia, the Roomster was discontinued due to slow sales.

It is rumoured that a version of the low-cost subcompact Brazilian Volkswagen Gol will become the foundation of a new base model for Škoda in Europe.^{citation needed}

Škoda started production in China in 2006. Its 2009 China sales—of three models Octavia, Superb, and Fabia—more than doubled from 2008, reaching 123,000 vehicles. Shanghai Volkswagen plans to build the Yeti SUV in 2011. In the second half of 2010, China became Škoda's largest market.

In 2009 Top Gear Magazine named Škoda Superb - Luxury Car of the Year and Škoda Yeti - Family Car of the Year.

A new and redesigned logo was revealed for Škoda in March 2011.

In 2011 Škoda sold a record number of 875,000 cars, and it stated that it aimed to double its sales by 2018, as part of the Volkswagen Group's plan to become the largest car maker in the world.

History of sales

Model	1991	1995	1996	1997	1998	1999	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009	2010	2011
Škoda Favorit / Škoda Felicia	172,000	210,000		288,458	261,127	241,256	148,028	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
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
Škoda Superb	−	−	−	−	−	−	−	177	16,867	23,135	22,392	22,091	20,989	20,530	25,645	44,548	98,873	116,700
Škoda Roomster	−	−	−	−	−	−	−	−	−	−	−	−	14,422	66,661	57,467	47,152	32,332	36,000
Škoda Yeti	−	−	−	−	−	−	−	−	−	−	−	−	−	−	−	11,018	52,604	70,300
Škoda Rapid	−	−	−	−	−	−	−	−	−	−	−	−	−	−	−	−	−	1,700
Škoda Citigo	−	−	−	−	−	−	−	−	−	−	−	−	−	−	−	−	−	509
Year totals	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

Motorsport

Fabia WRC at the 2004 Rally Finland

Fabia S2000 (2009)

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. 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.

In August 2011, a special Škoda Octavia vRS hits world record in American Bonneville and became the fastest car in world with up to 2-litre engine, when hits 365,43 km/h. The current Škoda fastest serial car is Škoda Superb 3,6 FSI 4x4 with top speed 250 km/h (160 mph) and acceleration 0–100 km/h (0–62 mph) in 6.5 seconds.

British Touring Car Championship

In July 2011, Matt Hamilton announced that he would be making a return to the BTCC in 2012, piloting a Skoda Octavia vRS run by his fortmer team TH Motorsport. The car will be run to full NGTC (Next Generation Touring Car) spec.

Current models

Citigo		city car	October 2011
Fabia		supermini	2007 (2nd generation)
Rapid		small family car	November 2011
Octavia		small family car	2004 (2nd generation)
Superb		large family car	2008 (2nd generation)
Roomster		leisure activity vehicle	2006
Yeti		compact SUV	2009

Previous models

1900s

• Laurin & Klement A (1905–1907)
• Laurin & Klement B (1906–1908)
• Laurin & Klement C (1906–1908)
• Laurin & Klement D (1906–1907)
• Laurin & Klement E (1906–1909)
• Laurin & Klement B2 (1907–1908)
• Laurin & Klement C2 (1907–1908)
• Laurin & Klement F (1907–1909)
• Laurin & Klement FF (1907)
• Laurin & Klement FC (1907–1909)
• Laurin & Klement HO/ HL/HLb (1907–1913)
• Laurin & Klement BS (1908–1909)
• Laurin & Klement FCS (1908–1909)
• Laurin & Klement G (1908–1911)
• Laurin & Klement DO/DL (1909–1912)
• Laurin & Klement FDO/FDL (1909–1915)
• Laurin & Klement EN (1909–1910)
• Laurin & Klement FN/GDV/RC (1909–1913)
• Laurin & Klement FCR (1909)
• Laurin & Klement L/LO (1909–1911)

1910s

• Laurin & Klement ENS (1910–1911)
• Laurin & Klement K/Kb/LOKb (1911–1915)
• Laurin & Klement LK (1911–1912)
• Laurin & Klement S/Sa (1911–1916)
• Laurin & Klement DN (1912–1915)
• Laurin & Klement RK (1912–1916)
• Laurin & Klement Sb/Sc (1912–1915)
• Laurin & Klement M/Mb/MO (1913–1915)
• Laurin & Klement MK/400 (1913–1924)
• Laurin & Klement O/OK (1913–1916)
• Laurin & Klement Sd/Se/Sg/Sk (1913–1917)
• Laurin & Klement Ms (1914–1920)
• Laurin & Klement Sh/Sk (1914–1917)
• Laurin & Klement T/Ta (1914–1921)
• Laurin & Klement Si/Sl/Sm/So/200/205 (1916–1924)
• Laurin & Klement Md/Me/Mf/Mg/Mh/Mi/Ml/300/305 (1917–1923)

1920s

• Laurin & Klement MS/540/545 (1920–1923)
• Laurin & Klement Škoda 545 (1924–1927)
• Škoda 422 (1929)

1930s

• Škoda 633 (1931)
• Škoda 420 Rapid (1934)
• Škoda 420 Popular (1934)

1940s

• Škoda 1101 Tudor (1946–1952)
• Škoda Superb 4000 (1939–1940)
• Škoda VOS (1949–1952)

1950s

• Škoda 1200 (1952–1956)
• Škoda 440/445 (1955–1959)
• Škoda 1201 (1956–1961)
• Škoda Octavia (1959–1964)
• Škoda Felicia (1959–1964)

1960s

• Škoda Octavia Combi (1961–1971)
• Škoda 1202 Combi (1961–1973)
• Škoda Felicia (1959–1964)
• Škoda 1000 MB (1964–1969)
• Škoda 1203 (1967–1999)
• Škoda 100 and 110 (1969–1977)

1970s

• Škoda 110 R (1970–1980)
• Škoda 105/120/125 (1976–1990)

1980s

• Škoda Garde (1981–1984)
• Škoda 130/135/136 (1984–1990)
• Škoda Rapid (1984–1990)
• Škoda Favorit/Forman/Pick-up (1987–1995)

1990s

• Škoda Felicia (1994–2001)
• Škoda Octavia first generation (1996–2004, Tour 2004–2010)
• Škoda Fabia first generation (1999–2007)

2000s

• Škoda Superb first generation (2001–2008)

• 

  Laurin & Klement A (1905)

• 

  Škoda 422 (1929–1932)

• 

  Škoda 420 (1933–1938)

• 

  Škoda VOS (1949–1952)

• 

  Škoda 440 (1955–1959)

• 

  Škoda Felicia (1959–1964)

• 

  Škoda Octavia (1959–1971)

• 

  Škoda 1202 (1961—1973)

• 

  Škoda 1000 MB (1964–1969)

• 

  Škoda 100/110R Coupé (1969–1980)

• 

  Škoda 105 (1976–1989)

• 

  Škoda 120 (1976–1990)

• 

  Škoda Garde/Rapid (1981–1990)

• 

  Škoda Favorit (1987–1995)

• 

  Skoda Felicia (1994–2001)

• 

  Škoda Octavia I (1996–2010)

• 

  Škoda Fabia I (1999–2007)

• 

  Škoda Superb I (2001–2008)

Concept cars

• MissionL (2011)
• Vision D (2011)
• Fabia Super (2007)
• Joyster (2006)
• Yeti II (2006)
• Roomster (2003)
• Tudor (2002)
• Fabia Paris Edition (2002)
• Ahoj (2002)
• Felicia Golden Prague (1998)
• 783 Favorit Coupé (1987)
• Škoda 110 Super Sport Ferat (1971)
• Škoda 1100 GT (1968)
• Škoda F3 (1964)
• Škoda 1100 Type 968 (1958)
• Škoda 973 Babeta (1949)

• 

  Škoda 973 Babeta

• 

  Škoda 1100 Type 968

• 

  Škoda F3

• 

  Škoda 1100 GT

• 

  Škoda 110 Super Sport (Ferat)

• 

  Škoda Joyster

• 

  Škoda MissionL

See also

• Avia
• List of automobile manufacturers
• List of Czech cars
• Škoda India
• Škoda Works

Bibliography

• Margolius, Ivan and Meisl, Charles (1992). Škoda Laurin & Klement. London: Osprey. ISBN 1-85532-237-4. 

External links

• Official website
• Media related to Škoda at Wikimedia Commons