Skoda to extend production number for Fabia and Rapid amid growth in both models.

ŠKODA’s new models are doing exceptionally well. In 2014 the Czech carmaker sold more than one million vehicles for the first time in a single year.  Accordingly, ŠKODA production is now shifting up a gear: At the main plant in Mladá Boleslav, ŠKODA has recently upped the manufacturing capacities for the new ŠKODA Fabia and Fabia Combi (estate), as well as the ŠKODA Rapid Spaceback.  Up to 1200 of these models now run off the MBII production line every day in three shifts. Previously, a maximum of 800 vehicles could be produced on a daily basis in two shifts. ŠKODA has created an additional 800 new jobs to staff the third shift.

​“The young ŠKODA model range is doing exceptionally well on the market,” says ŠKODA Michael Oeljeklaus, ŠKODA Production Director. “Our production is at full throttle – especially at our main plant in Mladá Boleslav. Over the coming years, ŠKODA plans to increase sales to at least 1.5 million per year. To this end, we will continue to invest in our domestic and international production capacities.” 

The current expansion in production capacities at the MBII line in Mladá Boleslav were necessary due to the growing success of the Fabia and Rapid Spaceback. ŠKODA had begun expanding and technologically upgrading key areas of the Fabia production halls in Mladá Boleslav as early as summer 2014.   This was when the new, ultra-modern facility was finished, enabling the new assistance systems to be configured. The paint shop was also extended and partially redeveloped. 

ŠKODA operates two production lines in Mladá Boleslav: The Fabia, Fabia Combi (estate) and Rapid Spaceback are manufactured on the MBII line; the Octavia, Octavia Combi (estate) and Rapid saloon run off the other line.  The production capacity currently stands at 1200 cars per day.

By expanding their production capacities at the main plant in Mladá Boleslav, the Czech manufacturer is once again demonstrating their importance as an employer and major industrial investor in the Czech Republic. Since 1991, ŠKODA has invested more than 280 billion Czech Crowns into the manufacturing processes and factories at the locations of Mladá Boleslav, Kvasiny and Vrchlabí. In 2014, the respective investments totalled 362 million euros. Last autumn, ŠKODA and the Volkswagen Group invested 45 million euros alone in the newly opened ŠKODA Engine Centre – one of the largest industrial investments of recent years in the Czech Republic.

The Fabia’s market launch was extremely successful. The small car is setting standards in its segment, and has won a number of international awards; in the Czech Republic, the new ŠKODA Fabia was voted ‘Car of the year 2015’. In the UK, the model received the renowned title ‘What Car? Car of the Year 2015’. The ŠKODA Rapid Spaceback has also taken the consumer market by storm.  In 2014 sales of the Rapid Spaceback increased nine fold over the previous year, with a total of 72,000 sold around the world (2013: 8000). The brand’s first compact hatchback model offers fresh-dynamic designs, lots of room, a host of ‘Simply Clever’ ideas, the highest safety, low fuel consumption and is great value for money.

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

ŠKODA Fabia is made into an ‘Art Car’ - its a bit bright, would it look right in Tesco's car park ?

​› Graffiti artist Armando Gomes designs ŠKODA Fabia ‘Street Art’

› Unique, full of emotion, colourful: ŠKODA Fabia as a work of art

› Joint art project with international lifestyle journalists

› New Fabia: crisp appearance, perfect for modern, urban mobility

The new ŠKODA Fabia provides much more scope for customisation than ever before. With 125 colour combinations, there are almost no limits to the customers’ wishes. 

The Czech manufacturer now presents a very special, creative interpretation of its new small car: the ŠKODA Fabia Street Art. For this purpose, the Portuguese graffiti artist Armando Gomes has turned a vehicle into a unique, multi-coloured work of art on four wheels.

​“The new ŠKODA Fabia is more emotionally-rich than ever before and is the perfect car for the modern, urban mobility of today,” says Werner Eichhorn, ŠKODA Board Member for Sales and Marketing. “The creation of the vehicle as a work of art underlines the brand’s aspirations for emotional resonance. We are really pleased about our collaboration with the renowned graffiti artist Armando Gomes. This fresh and unusual project demonstrates that we are conducting our model campaign with new, creative ideas,” says Eichhorn. The art project took place in Lisbon at the end of October as part of the new ŠKODA Fabia’s international presentation to the press. 

The ŠKODA Fabia Street Art was created in several stages. To begin with, Armando Gomes laid the groundwork by applying the lines and geometrical shapes to the body of the car. The surfaces were then sprayed in different colours. At this stage, the artist was supported by international lifestyle journalists who could test the new Fabia as part of the presentation. 

The Portuguese artist Armando Jorge Aires da Costa Gomes is regarded as one of the most significant graffiti artists in the world. The 31-year-old lives and works in Lisbon. The Portuguese graffiti artist also works as a designer, illustrator and film producer. 

The new ŠKODA Fabia is the latest ‘coup’ within ŠKODA’s biggest model campaign of all time. The third-generation Fabia is to further strengthen the brand’s success within international markets. The completely newly developed small car offers ‘more car’ in every respect and sets standards in its class. The new Fabia has been available in the first European markets for a few weeks. The new ŠKODA Fabia Combi follows these days. 

As the brand’s first production model, the new Fabia demonstrates the evolution of the ŠKODA design language into a more expressive and more emotionally-charged design. Great emphasis has also been placed on individuality. The new Fabia hatchback is available in 15 colours. Based on a cleverly-devised colour concept, up to 125 different colour combinations can be chosen for the roof, A-pillars, wing mirror caps and wheels.

ŠKODA is top auto brand in latest Institute of Customer Satisfaction report

• ŠKODA is top auto brand in latest Institute of Customer Satisfaction report
• High customer satisfaction maintained along with 14 per cent increase in sales
• Over 10,000 customers quizzed in nationwide survey

ŠKODA UK is celebrating this week after the brand topped the automotive table in the latest UK Customer Satisfaction Index Summary (UKCSI) produced by the Institute of Customer Service. ŠKODA was in the top 10 per cent of all organisations across all industry sectors.

ŠKODA achieved an index of 82.7 to scoop the top spot in the automotive sector, putting the brand 4.1 points ahead of the average for the automotive industry (78.6). 

Overall this places ŠKODA 18^th of all the 197 organisations which featured in the UKCSI’s findings, among other major consumer brands such as John Lewis, Marks & Spencer and Amazon.

David Allen, Head of Customer Quality and Network Development for ŠKODA UK, commented: “Customer service is at the heart of what we do. We appreciate feedback from organisations such as the Institute of Customer Service to validate the steps that we take to ensure that each and every ŠKODA customer has a positive experience.

“This month’s findings are a testament to the hard work of each of the brand’s 134 retailers. I’d like to extend my thanks to them in helping us to bring our second-to-none service and award-winning range to customers across the UK.”

The UKCSI is the national measure of customer service, rating 180 leading organisations across 13 sectors. Launched in January 2008, it includes responses from over 10,000 individual consumers.

The Institute of Customer Service is an independent professional membership body for customer service. The Institute’s purpose stands to improve customer experience and drive business performance by delivering tangible benefits to its organisational and individual members. The Institute boasts a membership body of over 400 organisations from across the private, public and third sectors; and over 5,000 individual members.

Jo Causon, Chief Executive of the Institute of Customer Service, commented: “Many organisations are struggling to keep pace with a business environment that has undergone rapid change in recent months... [but] some brands are improving customer satisfaction by operating in an agile and innovative way...”

Skoda achieves highest score in it's class in the Euro Ncap 2014 Crash Tests.

• The ŠKODA Fabia achieved the highest score in its class in the 2014 Euro NCAP crash tests, and was the only one of 14 small cars tested to get five stars
• Outstanding passenger protection for adults and children
• Innovative safety systems, six airbags fitted as standard
• ŠKODA model range safer than ever

The new ŠKODA Fabia is the safest small car according to the latest Euro NCAP crash tests. Back in November 2014, the new ŠKODA model achieved the highest score in its segment, becoming the only one of 14 small cars to get five stars in the Euro NCAP crash tests. 

The Euro NCAP evaluation is based on the results in the categories of passenger protection for adults and children, pedestrian protection, and supporting safety systems.

‘With innovative safety systems and a comprehensive safety package, our new model is setting standards in its segment. Receiving the award for being the safest small car in the Euro NCAP crash tests confirms this once again,’ said Dr. Frank Welsch, ŠKODA Board Member for Technical Development.

The new ŠKODA Fabia was awarded the best rating of five stars by Euro NCAP in all four evaluation categories (passenger protection for adults, child safety, safety assistance systems and pedestrian protection). The evaluators appreciated the stability of the passenger compartment in particular. The maximum possible score was given for the protection of infants up to 18 months. The safety of children up to three years of also received a high rating.

The new ŠKODA Fabia has been available in some European markets since mid-November 2014, and is now on sale in the UK. The third-generation model is winning over customers with its expressive design, eco-friendliness, technology and increased safety and comfort.

The new ŠKODA Fabia features safety innovations previously reserved for vehicles from higher classes. In the UK, it comes with Front Assistant with integrated City Emergency Brake function as standard from SE specification. The system uses radar to constantly measure the distance to the vehicle in front, and intervenes if the car is too close.

The new ŠKODA Fabia also feature a multi-collision brake, reducing the risk of a subsequent crash following a collision in the road. Furthermore, it now comes with optional Driver Activity Assistant (fatigue recognition), and safety systems including a speed limiter, Hill Hold Control and an electronic tyre pressure monitoring system.

The safety package in the new ŠKODA Fabia provides the best possible protection in the event of an accident. Six airbags – front, side and head – protect passengers in combination with five three-point seat belts. A high-strength body and optimised crumple zones form the basis of increased passive safety.

Each of ŠKODA’s vehicles now has the highest safety rating: all seven current models have received five stars in Euro NCAP tests at their launch – from the Citigo to the Superb. The top ratings have been the result of the company’s extensive efforts to achieve maximum active and passive vehicle safety.

Euro NCAP (European New Car Assessment Programme) is an independent consortium of European transport ministries, automobile associations, insurers and consumer advocates. The organisation performs crash tests on new types of vehicle, assessing their safety.

Skoda tips the Million for the first time, & with even more increases due this year, the futures looking great

• For the first time, ŠKODA sold more than one million vehicles in a calendar year: 1,037,200 deliveries (2013: 920,800; plus 12.7 per cent)
• Best December ever: 81,900 deliveries (plus 16.9 per cent)
• International success: strong ŠKODA growth in Europe and China
• Youngest ŠKODA model portfolio ever is very well received
• ŠKODA’s strongest single market is China: a record to 281,400 deliveries
• Model campaign continues in 2015 with new Fabia Estate and new Superb

ŠKODA set a new sales record in 2014. For the first time in its 119-year company history, the brand sold more than one million vehicles. ŠKODA’s worldwide deliveries increased by 12.7 per cent to 1,037,200 vehicles last year (2013: 920,800 deliveries). The global market share improved to 1.4 per cent (2013: 1.3 per cent).

In December alone, global ŠKODA sales increased by 16.9 per cent to 81,900 units (December 2013: 70,000). This was the best December ever in the company’s history. In 2015, the car maker intends to grow further with new models.

‘ŠKODA made good ground in a challenging 2014 environment and has successfully continued to grow,’ said ŠKODA CEO Prof. Dr. h.c. Winfried Vahland. ‘By setting a new sales record and delivering more than one million vehicles for the first time, the brand has established itself in the “Champions League” of international high-volume manufacturers. 

The impact of the biggest model campaign in our company history is getting stronger and stronger. Since 2010, we have redesigned almost the entire model portfolio and expanded into new segments. With our new models, we are increasingly winning over new customer groups. And we won’t take our foot off the accelerator in the coming years,’ said Vahland.

In 2014, the comprehensive model campaign that started four years ago was once again the priority for the Czech manufacturer. ‘The acceptance of our models and of the brand is higher than ever before. We were able to increase our market share in almost every region,’ said Werner Eichhorn, ŠKODA Board Member for Sales and Marketing. 

Back in March, the pioneering “ŠKODA VisionC” concept was the first rocket of last year’s ŠKODA product fireworks. The Octavia G-TEC, Octavia Scout, three special Monte Carlo editions for the Citigo as well as Yeti and Rapid Spaceback followed over the course of 2014. The new ŠKODA Fabia provided the year’s grand finale in November.

The Czech model campaign will not slow down in 2015. From mid-January, the new ŠKODA Fabia Estate will arrive at the first dealerships. The new ŠKODA Superb will receive its world premiere in February in Prague and will then be showcased at the Geneva Motor Show in early March. The market launch of the Superb is planned for mid-2015. This new model marks the beginning of a new era for the Czech car manufacturer and is the pinnacle of ŠKODA’s model campaign so far.

In Western Europe,ŠKODA developed better than the market in 2014 and increased deliveries by 11.8 per cent to 413,200. The market share improved to 3.4 per cent (2013: 3.2 per cent). In December, the brand delivered 28,800 vehicles to customers in Western Europe (December 2013: 31,300). In Germany, worldwide the second-strongest market for the manufacturer, ŠKODA increased deliveries by 9.6 per cent to 149,500 in 2014 (2013: 136,400), further improving on its position as the strongest foreign brand there. 

Great Britain saw growth of 15.1 per cent - 76,000 units are a new ŠKODA sales record on the British Isles. The brand also achieved double-digit growth in the Netherlands (18,600 vehicles; plus 36.6 per cent), Belgium (17,800 vehicles; plus 15.0 per cent), Spain (17,800 vehicles; plus 32.5 per cent), Italy (14,200; plus 17.3 per cent), Sweden (13,600 vehicles; plus 10.5 per cent), Ireland (6,300 vehicles; plus 27.5 per cent) and Portugal (2,400 vehicles; plus 32.7 per cent).

In Eastern Europeincluding Russia, ŠKODA delivered a total of 119,200 vehicles to customers in 2014 (2013: 125,400). The brand’s market share improved to 4.3 per cent from 3.9 per cent in 2013. 

In December, ŠKODA achieved 8,300 deliveries in Eastern Europe (December 2013: 12,300). In Russia, ŠKODA delivered 84,400 units in 2014 (2013: 87,500) and market share increased to 3.7 per cent (2013: 3.4 per cent).  ŠKODA saw double-digit growth in Romania (7,300 vehicles; plus 32.6 per cent), in Serbia (5,200 vehicles; plus 24.2 per cent), in Bulgaria (2,100 vehicles; plus 20.4 per cent) and in the Baltic states (5,400 vehicles; plus 16.2 per cent).

ŠKODA performed strongly in Central Europe in 2014. The brand grew by 18.5 per cent to 149,900 deliveries (2013: 126,500). ŠKODA’s market share improved to 19.9 per cent (2013: 19.1 per cent) and sales in their home market, the Czech Republic, increased by 16.9 per cent to 70,200 units (2013: 60,000). 

Double-digit sales increases were also achieved in Poland (46,700 vehicles; plus 20.5 per cent), Slovakia (16,400 vehicles; plus 10.6 per cent), Hungary (8,200 vehicles; plus 12.7 per cent), Slovenia (5,000 vehicles; plus 38.1 per cent) und Croatia (3,400 vehicles; plus 71.9 per cent).

ŠKODA grew at a fast pace in China, its biggest single market worldwide. In 2014 the deliveries of the brand increased by 24.0 per cent to the new record figure of 281,400 vehicles (2013: 227,000). 30,800 vehicle sales in December meant the manufacturer was able to more than triple its deliveries to customers (December 2013: 9,600 deliveries) – that was ŠKODA’s best-ever sales month in China. In 2014, ŠKODA also did very well in Israel (15,100 vehicles; plus 5.1 per cent), in Turkey (14,000 vehicles; plus 9.4 per cent) and in Algeria (11,100 vehicles; plus 21.2 per cent). In India, ŠKODA delivered 15,500 vehicles to customers in 2014 (2013: 22,600).

ŠKODA deliveries to customers in 2014 (in units, rounded, by model; +/- in per cent compared to 2013):

ŠKODA Octavia (389,300; +8.3 %) ŠKODA Fabia (160,500; -20.5 %)  ŠKODA Superb (91,100; -3.5 %)  ŠKODA Citigo (European sales only: 42,500; -6.0 %)

ŠKODA Rapid (221,400; +113.3 %) ŠKODA Yeti (102,900; +24.8 %) ŠKODA Roomster (29,600; -11.0 %)

ŠKODA deliveries to customers in December 2014 (in units, rounded, by model; +/- in per cent compared to December 2013):

ŠKODA Octavia (35,100; +38.1 %)   ŠKODA Fabia (9,700; -32.8 %)    ŠKODA Superb (6,700; +30.7 %) ŠKODA Citigo (European sales only: 2.500; -17.0 %)

ŠKODA Rapid (18,600; +49.7 %) ŠKODA Yeti (7,400; +9.4 %) ŠKODA Roomster (1,900; -32.8 %)

WHAT CAR AWARDS - Skoda takes Car Of The Year for the Fabia & Best Family car for the Octavia.

• New ŠKODA Fabia wins ‘Best Small Car’ category and overall prize
• ŠKODA Octavia wins ‘Best Family Car’ award
• Award presented at glittering ceremony in London’s Grosvenor House hotel
• New Fabia now available in ŠKODA retailers nationwide
• Prices start from £10,600 RRP OTR

The new ŠKODA Fabia has won the prestigious What Car? Car of the Year 2015 award, at a glittering ceremony in London, having also been named ‘Best Small Car’, while the ŠKODA Octavia has been named ‘Best Family Car’. It’s the second time that ŠKODA’s popular small car has won the top prize – the first generation Fabia won the award back in 2000.

The new ŠKODA Fabia – which was revealed to the public at the Paris Motor Show last October, and is in UK showrooms now – is the third-generation of ŠKODA’s popular small car. Since the first-generation Fabia went on sale in 2000, some 250,000 have found homes with British buyers, and 3.5 million have been sold worldwide.

Available in five-door hatch and (from March) estate forms, the new Fabia introduces innovative safety, comfort and infotainment systems to the segment. It features an expressive, dynamic design with smooth proportions, crystalline shapes and clear-cut lines. The new Fabia is also more spacious, stronger and more efficient than its predecessor, thanks both to significant weight-saving and the introduction of cleaner EU6-compliant engines that help to make it up to 17 per cent more efficient.

The award was collected by ŠKODA CEO Prof. Dr. h.c. Winfried Vahland, who said: ‘The new Škoda Fabia is, in every respect, simply more car and offers both innovative technology and emotionally-charged design. It is ideal for the modern, urban mobility of today. We are very confident that the new Fabia will write another chapter in the model’s success story, win over new customer groups and, as an important pillar of our growth strategy, further strengthen the brand.’

What Car? editor Jim Holder said: ‘The Fabia wins not only because it’s a superb small car that’s practical, well equipped and cheap to run, but also because of the rivals it has managed to dispose of in the process.

‘When you consider the strength of the competition the new Fabia has had to beat to top its class, it simply has to win.’

Director of ŠKODA UK, Alasdair Stewart, said: ‘We are delighted to have been given these accolades by What Car?. UK customers trust What Car? when they are buying a new car, and winning the Car of the Year award is the perfect introduction for the new Fabia on the UK market.

‘We’re excited about the Fabia; it’s a key model for our retailers and also for our customers. This award sets us up perfectly for the year ahead. The new Fabia’s just the start of another exciting year for ŠKODA – the new Fabia Estate will be here in March, and the new Superb will be on the roads in September. The buying experience is also going to be better than ever, thanks to our retailers transforming their showrooms with a new look.’

The ŠKODA brand has demonstrated its strength with five years of record growth, culminating in sales of 76,027 cars in the UK last year (some 10,000 more than in 2013), and over one million cars worldwide in the same period.