Very few car manufacturers can boast an uninterrupted tradition stretching back for more than a hundred years. Škoda Auto is one of them. The first car left the factory gates in 1905. From there, Škoda's road to its present-day success and prosperity, with active operations in almost 90 markets all around the world, was a long and winding one due to the political and macroeconomic circumstances of the time. The political changes of 1989 made Škoda search for a strong partner, which accorded with VW's ambition to consolidate and extend its European base. In 1991, Škoda became VW Group's fourth brand. VW received both a well-known brand and skilled people able to reach the needed levels of productivity and quality. The next steps were to improve the processes, expand the product range, build and optimise the dealer network, and, last but not least, foster and systematically reinforce the Škoda brand image.
In 2006, Škoda Auto produced and delivered a total of 556,433 cars reaching a growth by 12,5%. In Western Europe, the Škoda car sales increased by 15%. The most successful markets were Germany, Great Britain, and Spain where Škoda markedly strengthened its market share and registered new sales records. Škoda Auto is currently investing over hundred million EUR into expanding the manufacturing capacities of its Kvasiny plant, where the new Škoda Roomster model is going to be produced starting 2006. “The plant that we want to expand and where we currently produce our most prestigious model, the Škoda Superb, enjoys long-term ratings as one of the best within the entire VW group,” said Detlef Wittig, Chairman of the Board of Škoda Auto. Besides its three Czech plants, Škoda Auto has been expanding its production in India, Ukraine, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and China.
These successes are underlined by many recent awards. The most significant have been the Auto Trophy, Golden Steering Wheel, White Rhodos - Most Effective Image of 2004 and Most Beautiful Car of the Year. In a highly respected study - the 2005 J.D. Power Survey of Customer Satisfaction for the UK market - Škoda cars placed second in a competitive field made up of all the global automotive brands. As a supplier of engines, gearboxes, and their components throughout the VW Group, Škoda Auto steadily occupies top positions in Group performance rankings in terms of the quality and reliability of supplies of these parts.
Within the Volkswagen Group, Škoda's Technical Development, with its 1,329 employees, is the third largest R&D centre after the Volkswagen and Audi brands. Thanks to cutting-edge equipment and highly qualified employees, it is capable of independently developing completely new vehicles. Approximately 10% of Škoda's Technical Development capacity is used in development work for other brands and Group companies.
The 26,000 professionals employed at Škoda Auto are proud bearers of the legacy of Czech intellectual and manual endeavour that has been writing a significant chapter in world automotive history.
