History of Skoda

In 1919, the automobile division of the Laurin and Klement company, called Skoda, arose. Despite the fact that the company did not have experience in creating full-fledged cars, Laurin and Klement successfully produced bicycles with an internal combustion engine, having become widespread far beyond the borders of their native Czech Republic.

The first car model of the Škoda company was developed jointly with the Hispano-Suiza company, and the top leaders of the Czech Republic and Germany became customers of the Czech brand. Later, free sales of the Skoda HB6 model began, but their circulation did not exceed 101 copies. The highlight of this car was an independent suspension and a 6.5-liter six-cylinder power unit with a capacity of 100 horsepower.

In 1924, the factories of the Skoda brand began to produce the second model, which was a medium-sized truck with a carrying capacity of 5 tons. Instead of an internal combustion engine, a tube boiler was used, with a capacity of 70 horsepower, and the extra weight of the car was the supply of coal needed to set the car in motion.

A year later, a large-scale restructuring of the company began, which led to the acquisition of a new plant, where it was planned to produce exclusively Skoda brand cars. Large subsidies were also received from the German and Austrian governments. In the same year, the Skoda emblem was officially registered, which appeared on all future models. In 1928, one of its founders, Vaclav Laurin, left the company for health reasons.

The release of absolutely new Skoda 4R and 6R cars, which received the first gearboxes built according to a modern principle, was timed to coincide with Clement’s retirement. However, most of the sold copies of the new models were limited only to the chassis, as before, buyers could order bodies from third-party studios. A year later, a luxurious version of these models was introduced, called the Skoda 860 and a more advanced eight-cylinder power unit with a capacity of 60 horsepower.

Since the beginning of the 30s of the twentieth century, the company’s engineers have begun to create a people’s car that can meet the needs of various segments of the population. One of the reasons for such a sharp change in course was the economic crisis of 1929, which bled the economy of the entire European continent. The first such car saw the light in 1932. Under the hood is a three-cylinder power unit with a capacity of 32 horsepower, which worked in conjunction with a three-speed manual gearbox. The main feature of the model was its low weight with a two-door four-seater body, which was classic for cars of that time.

However, in 1934, a new prestigious model of the Škoda brand, the Superb, was introduced, equipped with a six-cylinder power unit of its own production. The end of the 30s was overshadowed by the departure of the second founder of the company, Vaclav Klement, in 1938. In 1939, the Czech brand entered the German automotive market. At the Berlin Motor Show, the Skoda Popular 1100 model was presented, which attracted the attention of a government delegation led by Hitler.

Just a few months later, the occupation of Czechoslovakia began, during which most of the industrial enterprises were destroyed or closed. However, such a fate did not befall the Skoda brand. Initially, the occupying government changed the top management of the company, and in 1940, the production of buses, trucks and wings for aircraft of the German army began at the factories of the brand. An additional workshop was also built for the production of the Skoda RSO artillery tractor, designed by Ferdinand Porsche himself.

In 1945, after the resumption of production at the Skoda factories, a new Skoda Popular 1101 model was immediately introduced, which was a modified pre-war model. However, until 1953, the production of Skoda cars had low volumes, meeting the needs of the new government of Czechoslovakia. This year saw the introduction of the Skoda Spartak, which entered mass production in 1955 under the name Skoda 440. Under the hood was a four-cylinder power unit with a capacity of 40 horsepower, mounted on a tubular frame.

In 1959, the second generation of the 440 was released, called the Octavia. In addition, two modifications of the car were presented – the Octavia Super with a 45 horsepower engine and the Felicia convertible with a 50 horsepower engine. However, the 60s of the twentieth century were marked by stagnation, which led to a serious technological lag behind the brand from competitors from other countries, which negatively affected the models produced, and after the crisis overtook the economy of Czechoslovakia. The Skoda company stopped producing new models, limiting itself only to the modernization of existing cars, which were supplied not only to the domestic automotive market, but also to all countries of Eastern Europe, where the brand occupied a leading position until the end of the 80s.

In 1987, after the start of cooperation with the Bertone body studio, a new model of the Škoda brand was introduced, called Favorit 3. Production of the model began in December 1987, and sales of the model clearly demonstrated bright prospects that would allow the company to re-enter the international arena. In 1988, construction began on a new plant to meet the high demand for the new model, but the project was never completed because the communist regime in Czechoslovakia fell in 1989. This was a real blow to the state of the Czech brand, putting it in a crisis situation. Moreover, in 1991, the bankruptcy proceedings of the Skoda company began, but, thanks to the intervention of the state, the issue of closing the company was removed.

However, a strict condition was set, according to which the company’s management had to find a technology partner capable of making significant investments and technologies for the continued existence of the brand. This partner was the German concern Volkswagen, which bought out a controlling stake, including Skoda among its brands.

In 1992, work began on the creation of a compact sedan capable of becoming the new people’s car. On the platform from the third generation Volkswagen Golf, 1.5-liter power units with a capacity of 55 and 74 horsepower from Audi were installed, and the new car was called the Skoda Octavia Tour. In addition, a year later, a 70 horsepower diesel engine was introduced. In the same year, a new generation of Skoda Felicia was introduced, which has become much more modern and reliable than all previous generations. In addition, it was this model that began to be supplied to other countries, subsequently becoming one of the first new cars of the Seat brand in the Spanish and Portuguese car markets.

In 1999, the subcompact Fabia was introduced, replacing Felicia. In 2001, mass production of the full-size Skoda Superb sedan, built on the basis of the Audi A6, began.

By 2006, Skoda became one of the most profitable divisions of the Volkswagen concern, as a result of which, all subsequent models of the brand were developed with the complete independence of the brand’s engineers, which made it possible to capture a significant market share.

In 2010, a complete change in the current model range was announced. In addition, all new cars of the company began to be produced using the developments of the premium Audi brand, which allowed Skoda to retain all the main features of its cars, while increasing build quality and dynamic performance.

The following models were presented in 2012-2013: SKODA Rapid, Octavia A7, Superb FL.

The new design of the Škoda car was introduced for the first time in the new SKODA Rapid C-class model, a budget liftback with unique dimensions and trunk size. With the beginning of 2013, the third generation Octavia appeared on sales.

The Škoda Octavia and Škoda Octavia Combi are the heart of the Škoda brand. No other model in the history of the brand has been more successful. The new model, which was introduced by Škoda at the end of 2012, continues on the path that was started by previous generations of the Škoda Octavia. Thanks to the revolutionary MQB design, Octavia offers a number of improvements and technical innovations, first seen in Škoda models.

In the spring of 2013, at an exhibition in Shanghai, the world saw an updated Superb. The premium model has adopted the best of the new Skoda style and has become even brighter and more attractive.

The Skoda Superb offers superior quality at an unbeatable price in the upper mid-range category. The space, the technical level, and the attractiveness of the price are exemplary. The facelift of the second generation Superb in 2013, using elements of the brand’s new design, enhances the combination of dynamism and elegance.

In the autumn of 2013, Škoda launched the Rapid Spaceback. The modern and lively design of the Spaceback is based on a foundation of quality.

Following the facelift of the Škoda Yeti, which was introduced in the fall of 2013, two design versions were offered: the stylish Yeti and the more assertive Yeti Outdoor. Each version has its own special “face”, created in the style of the new Škoda design. A new feature in Skoda vehicles is the rear parking camera, the image from which is transmitted to the display of the navigation system.

In 2014, at the Geneva Motor Show, Skoda showed the Vision C concept car, which sets a new direction for the brand’s design. The car is built on the MQB platform developed by Volkswagen and became the brand’s first representative in the new segment, where the Audi A5 Sportback and VW Passat CC have already established themselves.

In 2014, the brand’s sales reached 1,037,200 units and the operating profit was 817 million euros. The company is implementing a new development strategy that should significantly increase sales worldwide, especially in emerging markets.

In Russia, the company produces cars at factories in Nizhny Novgorod and Kaluga. The assembly of cars at the facilities of the GAZ Group is carried out as part of the cooperation between the Russian automaker and Volkswagen Group Rus. The Yeti and Octavia models are produced there.