120 Years, One million cars a year, 100 worldwide markets, and a great looking future, that will be SKODA.

• 120 years of success underscored with a passion for mobility and style
• ŠKODA has helped shape the modern motor industry with its landmark cars
• A great survivor – ŠKODA is one of the oldest automotive brands in the world
• Mláda Boleslav factory has been at the heart of the business since 1905
• ŠKODA is now active in 100 markets with annual sales in excess of 1 million vehicles

ŠKODA is notching up another incredible milestone in 2015 as it celebrates 120 years of production. Founded by Václav Laurin and Václav Klement, ŠKODA has developed from small-scale bicycle manufacturer to a global brand active in more than 100 international markets. 

Despite this remarkable growth, ŠKODA continues to display the values that first inspired Laurin and Klement to start the company. Engineering excellence, innovation and unique Czech style remain as important to ŠKODA in 2015 as they did to Laurin and Klement in 1895.

The ŠKODA story is a remarkable one.  The brand has survived the turmoil of two world wars, and battled through some of the toughest economic conditions Europe has seen. Even in difficult times, ŠKODA has had the vision and the engineering ingenuity to create some truly landmark cars that have shaped automotive history.

A brief history

The ŠKODA story began in 1895, when cycling fanatics Václav Laurin (a mechanic) and Václav Klement (a bookseller) started designing and manufacturing bicycles under the name Slavia. The bicycles sold well, so Laurin and Klement decided to take the next step – and add motors. 

The pair started making motorbikes in 1899, and changed the name of their company to the Laurin & Klement Co. While making nearly 4,000 motorbikes of various types, the pair started experimenting with a new phenomenon – the motor car - which began to gradually replace motorbikes from 1905 on.

Expansion led to a merger with Czech engineering firm Pizen Skodova and the formation of the ŠKODA brand as we know it today. 

Despite the devastating impact of two world wars that twice wiped out the brand’s passenger car production and fundamentally changed the political and economic landscape of Czechoslovakia, ŠKODA never lost its passion for innovation and design. 

Cars such as the 1934 Popular brought tubular frame technology to mass production between conflicts, while post-war models such as the 1101 and Octavia helped get the country back on to the road to prosperity. Even during the 1970s and 1980s when difficult trading conditions forced the brand to develop cars on limited budgets, ŠKODA never lost its fighting spirit and desire for original design.

The Velvet Revolution of 1989 marked the start of a new era for both the Czech Republic and ŠKODA. To help the brand realise its ambitious plans for the future, ŠKODA sought a partner and in 1991 announced a merger with the Volkswagen Group. 

With financial security came a design and engineering renaissance that continues to this day. Thanks to landmark models such as the 1996 Octavia and the 2000 Fabia, ŠKODA re-established itself as a major force in the car market. Mould-breaking new models including the Yeti and Superb followed, further reinforcing ŠKODA’s reputation for innovation and bold design.

Today – 110 years after the first Voiturette Type A was driven out of the Mláda Boleslav factory gates - ŠKODA is active in more than 100 international markets and has a broad seven-model range. In 2014, ŠKODA achieved worldwide sales of 1,037,200 vehicles – breaking the 1 million mark for the first time ever.