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.

Skoda celebrates producing 17,000,000th model in 120 year rich and varied history.

ŠKODA has produced their 17 millionth vehicle. The jubilee car – a ŠKODA Rapid Spaceback in ‚Corrida Red’ – ran off the production line at the ŠKODA headquarters in Mladá Boleslav. The vehicle is going to a customer in Germany. This production milestone is a highlight of the Czech carmaker’s successful growth strategy. In 2014 ŠKODA manufactured and sold more than 1 million cars for the first time during a single year in the company’s 120-year history. Over the coming years, ŠKODA plans to increase sales to at least 1.5 million per year.

“ŠKODA is doing extremely well,” says ŠKODA CEO Prof. Dr. h.c. Winfried Vahland. “Producing 17 million vehicles since 1905 demonstrates the brand’s strength and sustained success. Since 1991, when ŠKODA joined forces with Volkswagen, we have manufactured more than 12 million cars. Now, we can definitely say we are established in the ‘Champions League’ of international volume manufacturers. ŠKODA will continue to grow over the coming years with new models.” 

ŠKODA is one of the longest-established vehicle manufacturing companies in the world. Automobile production began in 1905: In that year, the ŠKODA founders Laurin and Klement built their first automobile in Mladá Boleslav, a Voiturette A. Since then, the company has produced 17 million vehicles at their Czech and international plants. 

ŠKODA has made incredible progress especially since joining the Volkswagen Group in 1991. The rapid resurgence of the legendary automobile brand has indeed been impressive – from the company’s roots in the heart of Europe to an internationally successful manufacturer with currently seven model series and over 40 model variants. In 2014 ŠKODA achieved the magic threshold of producing and selling one million vehicles in a single year for the first time in the company’s history. Global sales in 2014 reached a new record of 1.04 million vehicles delivered. 

“We are not going to become complacent; we are picking up the pace,” says Prof. Vahland. Over the coming years, the company plans to increase annual car sales to at least 1.5 million. The main driving force behind the growth strategy is ŠKODA’s most comprehensive model campaign of all time. Since 2011, the brand’s model range has been comprehensively renewed and has expanded into important segments. The most recent addition is the new ŠKODA Fabia that has been setting standards in the small car class since its launch a few months ago. As early as mid-February, ŠKODA will be introducing the new ŠKODA Superb. ŠKODA’s completely redeveloped flagship heralds in a new era for the brand and is and will be the best ŠKODA ever. The market launch is set for early June this year.

The manufacturer has implemented their growth strategy not only in Europe but also in the international growth markets. The Chinese market, in particular, is playing a key role. In 2014 China was once again ŠKODA strongest individual market with a 27% share of total sales. 

The company’s international orientation is also demonstrated in their global production network, which has expanded significantly over recent years. ŠKODA vehicles are currently produced at 13 production locations in the Czech Republic, China, Russia, India, Slovakia, Kazakhstan and Ukraine. Over the coming years, the Czech carmaker plans to increase their production capacities further.  

Selected milestones in ŠKODA AUTO’s production: 

›30 January 2015: 17 million ŠKODA vehicles since 1905

›10 December 2014: ŠKODA manufactures the 1,000,000th vehicle in 2014 – the first time the company had produced one million vehicles in a single year  

› 19 March 2014: 11 million ŠKODA cars produced at the Mladá Boleslav plant

› 9 July 2013: 1 Million ŠKODA vehicles in China since 2007

› 5 February 2013: 15 million ŠKODA vehicles since 1905

› 30 January 2012: 14 million ŠKODA vehicles since 1905

› 12 October 2011: 10 million ŠKODA vehicles at the Mladá Boleslav plant

› 8 April 2009: 12 million ŠKODA vehicles since 1905

› 13 July 2006: 10 million ŠKODA vehicles since 1905

› 1991: 5 million ŠKODA vehicles since 1905