Fifty-five years ago, a local importer in Karachi, Pakistan, began producing the Škoda Skopak. The pick-up, based on the Škoda Octavia Combi, was developed specifically for the needs of the local market. The technical design was led by Josef Velebný, who drew on his experience with the Trekka, a model created for New Zealand. In total, around 1,400 vehicles were built in a range of different versions.

Škoda Auto is entering the 130th year of its rich history. Opening of an extensive exhibition at the Škoda Museum brings the company’s major milestones and many fascinating stories to life. The exhibition features dozens of cars, a selection of the company’s first motorcycles and bicycles, and an interactive map charting the development of the main plant. It also highlights 125 years of engine development and production in Mladá Boleslav. A special highlight awaits visitors on Friday 16 May 2025 during Mladá Boleslav Museum Night.

A journey through time
For 130 years, Škoda is continuously developing and reinventing itself with a strong customer focus. Mladá Boleslav has been producing means of personal transport since 1895, when Laurin & Klement first began operations. The new exhibition at the Škoda Museum captures the spirit of courage, creativity and skill shown by generations of makers of high-quality bicycles, motorcycles and pioneering automobiles, exported to all inhabited continents. Set in authentic factory spaces dating from before the First World War, the exhibition traces key milestones, stages of progress, landmark models and motorsport successes. It also illustrates the Czech carmaker’s ability to overcome challenging political and economic conditions, to weather both local setbacks and global crises – and to emerge stronger.

Informative text and image panels frame a host of striking vehicles exhibits, ranging from the first Slavia bicycle and the L&K B motorcycle to a variety of vehicles, culminating in the latest all-electric Škoda Elroq. A four-tier display shelf presents five vehicles per level, tracing the era of Laurin & Klement cars, Škoda’s expansion in the 1930s and the post-war years. It also reflects the brand’s integration into the Volkswagen Group, enabling significant investments, technology transfer, and access to global markets – transforming Škoda from a regional market leader into a competitive global automaker. A dedicated section celebrates the remarkable 125-year tradition of engine development and production in Mladá Boleslav, while an interactive map charts the growth of the local plant between 1895 and 2025. Other manufacturing and assembly sites are also highlighted. Among the exhibits are the trophies created by Škoda Auto’s designers for the Tour de France winners and the Enyaq used by the director of the world-famous cycling race. A children’s corner will inspire future designers and engineers, while the whole family can enjoy the photo point with the company’s legendary founder Václav Klement and racing pioneer Václav Vondřich, nicknamed the ‘travelling blacksmith’. The Škoda 130th anniversary exhibition will be open to the public until 11 January 2026.

Debut after renovation: L&K Si (1918)
It is not only the temporary exhibitions and rich cultural programme that encourage visitors to return to the Škoda Museum, but also the frequent updates to the permanent collection. Following an extensive renovation, visitors can now see a newly restored representative of the most popular Laurin & Klement model series: the open-top L&K Si from 1918. This particular vehicle was purchased during the First Republic era by August G. Tham, an established badge manufacturer from Jablonec nad Nisou.

Mladá Boleslav Museum Night
The traditional Mladá Boleslav Museum Night is always a popular event, and this year it will be dedicated to celebrating 130 years of Škoda Auto. It will take place on Friday 16 May 2025 from 18:00 to 23:00, with free entry for all. Visitors can look forward to guided tours of the Škoda Museum (at 18:30 and 21:00) and the depository (at 19:00 and 21:30). Night-time tours of the production halls are also available for visitors aged 10 and over.

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For the next two seasons, Škoda Auto will serve as an Official Partner to the UCI Mountain Bike World Championships and the UCI Gravel World Championships, both organised by the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI). These two high-profile events feature a variety of formats for both men and women. Mountain bike has a long-standing tradition, a large fan base, and Olympic status, while gravel – raced on mixed surfaces including gravel roads – has surged in popularity in recent years. Tens of thousands of spectators attend the events in person, with more than 25 million people tuning in via broadcast across the two events. This year’s UCI Mountain Bike World Championships will take place in Valais, Switzerland, in late August and early September. The UCI Gravel World Championships are scheduled for October 2025 in the South Limburg region of the Netherlands. At the UCI Championship venues, Škoda will offer dedicated areas for visitors and fans, showcasing a selection of electrified models including all-electric vehicles (BEV) and plug-in hybrids (PHEV).

“At Škoda Auto, cycling has been part of our DNA ever since our founders Václav Laurin and Václav Klement established the company 130 years ago. We have supported professional cycling for over 20 years, and we are proud to expand our involvement with the UCI to include their Elite mountain bike and gravel competitions. Our aim is to bring our brand closer to cycling and outdoor enthusiasts – people who, like our customers, love everyday exploration. This exciting new partnership reflects our commitment to sustainability, but above all, it supports one of our core values: being human. Ultimately, UCI competitions are about people – professional cyclists – achieving extraordinary things.”

Martin Jahn, Škoda Auto Board Member for Sales and Marketing

A diverse UCI Mountain Bike World Championships in Switzerland
The 2025 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships will take place from 30 August to 14 September in the Swiss canton of Valais. This landmark event will bring together almost all mountain bike formats in a single two-week competition. The programme includes Olympic cross-country, team relay, cross-country short track, mountain bike marathon, E-MTB cross-country, downhill, enduro, E-enduro, and pump track events. In total, 27 UCI World Champion titles will be awarded.

UCI Gravel World Championships in the Netherlands
Gravel – a discipline centered around bikes specifically designed for mixed surfaces like gravel roads, dirt trails, and pavement– has grown rapidly in popularity in recent years. The renewed interest in these lightweight, fast bikes has drawn in both amateur and professional riders, leading to the creation of a dedicated UCI World Championships. This year’s race will take place in the South Limburg region of the Netherlands.

Škoda Auto – a long-standing partner of cycling
This year, the Czech carmaker is celebrating 130 years since its founding. Škoda’s origins date back to 1895, when Václav Laurin and Václav Klement began producing bicycles in Mladá Boleslav. In modern times, Škoda Auto has been a key supporter of professional cycling for over two decades. Last year, the brand extended its partnership with A.S.O. – the organiser of elite races including the Tour de France – until 2028. Škoda also supports the women’s Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift, as well as other prestigious races such as La Vuelta Ciclista a España and La Flèche Wallonne. Bicycles and related accessories have long been part of Škoda Auto’s extended product offering.

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The five millionth Škoda Fabia recently rolled off the production line in Mladá Boleslav. Since 1999, this affordable entry-level model – alongside the Octavia – has marked a key milestone in the modern history of the Škoda brand. The first-generation Fabia was built on a completely new Volkswagen Group platform and stood out as one of the most spacious cars in its class, combining practicality, great value for money and a host of Simply Clever features. This winning formula made the Fabia a success with both long-standing and new customers in Europe and beyond. Today’s fourth generation features modern, fuel-efficient combustion engines and advanced safety systems. Given its lasting popularity and importance to the brand, production of the current Fabia will continue beyond 2030.

“Reaching the milestone of five million Škoda Fabia vehicles is truly an exceptional achievement – both for our production team and for the company as a whole. First introduced in 1999 as the second entirely new model developed under the umbrella of the Volkswagen Group, the Fabia quickly became a symbol of the brand and a cornerstone of our line-up. As Škoda’s entry-level model, it remains to this day synonymous with high-quality cars ‘Made in the Czech Republic’. Given the continued success of the current fourth generation – a practical, efficient vehicle packed with modern technology and a wide range of safety features – we will continue producing the Fabia beyond 2030.”

Andreas Dick, Škoda Auto Board Member for Production and Logistics

Škoda Fabia: One of the brand’s most popular models
The Škoda Fabia has long ranked among the brand’s best-selling models. In 2024, it was Škoda’s third most popular vehicle, with 117,100 units delivered worldwide. The first generation was unveiled at the 58th Frankfurt Motor Show in 1999 as the successor to the much-loved Felicia. Built on an entirely new platform, it was offered with a wide variety of engines, transmissions and body styles. Over the years, the Fabia has played a key role in boosting the popularity of the Škoda brand across European markets. Its name has also become firmly rooted in motorsport history – including the most recent generations. The Fabia Rally2, Fabia Rally2 evo and the current Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 are among the most successful rally cars of all time in their respective categories.

Four generations of affordable entry-level mobility
The first-generation Škoda Fabia (1999–2008) made its debut as a five-door hatchback, measuring 3,960 mm in length. Less than a year later, the estate version was introduced, followed by a saloon in 2001. Its distinctive styling was the work of a design team led by then Chief Designer Dirk van Braeckel. Built on the advanced PQ24 platform for small cars, the first Fabia offered a wide range of powertrains. In March 2003, a sporty RS version was launched, featuring a 1.9 TDI turbo-diesel (96 kW) that combined brisk performance with low fuel consumption.

The second-generation Škoda Fabia (2007–2014) premiered at the Geneva Motor Show in March 2007. Based on the same platform as its predecessor, it was 22 mm longer and 47 mm taller. A practical estate version followed six months later. In 2009, the line-up was expanded to include the Scout variant with off-road design features and an RS model with a 1.4 TSI turbocharged petrol engine producing 132 kW. This generation also introduced the popular Monte Carlo edition.

The third-generation Škoda Fabia (2014–2022) was unveiled in October 2014 at the Paris Motor Show. Built on the modern PQ26 platform, it featured new proportions that gave it a more dynamic presence – 90 mm wider and 30 mm lower than its predecessor. Safety and comfort were also significantly improved: the Fabia was now available with Front Assist, adaptive cruise control and driver fatigue detection. A 2018 facelift added further upgrades, including Full LED headlights and blind-spot monitoring.

The fourth-generation Škoda Fabia (2021–present) arrived in spring 2021 as a five-door hatchback based on the MQB A0 platform. The design was developed by the Škoda Design team led by Oliver Stefani. This generation exceeded 4.1 metres in length, and the boot capacity grew by 50 litres to a generous 380 litres. It can be equipped with the latest features and systems, such as automatic parking and Travel Assist 2.0, which includes adaptive cruise control, predictive pedestrian and cyclist protection, adaptive lane guidance and traffic sign recognition.

Article source: www.skoda-storyboard.com