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ŠKODA AUTO can look back on a challenging yet successful 2021 fiscal year. 878,200 vehicles were delivered to customers worldwide despite the shortage of semiconductors and coronavirus pandemic. Newly launched models, including the FABIA and the refreshed KODIAQ, enjoy high demand. The ENYAQ iV, the brand’s first all-electric SUV, significantly exceeded expectations, with almost 45,000 being delivered. At the same time, ŠKODA AUTO now has even more responsibility at the Group level, for example, for the regions of North Africa and Russia as well as the MQB-A0 Global Platform. The company expects significant burdens on its operating business in 2022 due to the war in Ukraine and supply bottlenecks.

ŠKODA AUTO CEO Thomas Schäfer emphasises: “Despite all the challenges, 2021 was a good year for ŠKODA AUTO. We did everything we could during the semiconductor crisis to produce as many cars as possible. This enabled us to keep global deliveries at a respectable level. At the same time, we introduced new models and set the course for a new decade of transformation with the NEXT LEVEL – ŠKODA STRATEGY 2030. We are strengthening our role within the Group by taking on even more responsibility, for example for the region of North Africa and the MQB-A0 Global Platform. We are expanding our range of e-models, such as the ENYAQ COUPÉ iV, and we are taking further ambitious steps in sustainability and diversity. For the rest of the year, we expect a great deal of uncertainty due to the war in Ukraine and supply constraints.”

ŠKODA AUTO Board Member for Sales and Marketing, Martin Jahn, adds: “With the new generation FABIA, the refreshed best-selling SUVs KAROQ and KODIAQ as well as our first all-electric ENYAQ iV, we have upgraded and expanded our model range in a targeted manner. The shortage of semiconductors meant that we were only able to meet the high demand to a limited extent. Despite the difficult situation, we managed to rank among the top 8 brands in Europe. In India, we more than doubled our deliveries thanks to the successful launch of the KUSHAQ. I would like to thank our customers for their trust and patience and our dealers for their outstanding commitment. This year, we will continue this momentum with new models such as the ENYAQ COUPÉ iV, the FABIA MONTE CARLO and the refreshed KAROQ. At the same time, we expect another very challenging sales year due to the ongoing production limitations.”

OCTAVIA still the brand’s bestseller, ENYAQ iV exceeds expectations, strong growth in India
ŠKODA AUTO delivered 878,200 vehicles worldwide in the 2021 fiscal year. With 200,800 units delivered, the OCTAVIA was once again the most popular model, followed by the SUV series KAMIQ (120,700 vehicles) and KAROQ (119,200 vehicles). The ENYAQ iV, ŠKODA’s first model based on the Modular Electrification Toolkit, was successfully launched on the markets and significantly exceeded expectations with around 45,000 units delivered. In total, more than 115,000 orders have been received. The Czech carmaker has now added an attractive coupé variant to its model portfolio with the ENYAQ COUPÉ iV. In addition, a new software package increases the maximum range, shortens charging times, increases comfort and optimises operation. The new ENYAQ COUPÉ iV, the refreshed KAROQ as well as the FABIA MONTE CARLO will be heading to customers in 2022.

In India, the new KUSHAQ, the first model developed under the INDIA 2.0 project, has generated significant growth for ŠKODA (+108.9 per cent compared to the previous year). Production of the second model, the notchback saloon SLAVIA, recently started and will ensure further growth in the popular A0 segment.

The new NEXT LEVEL – ŠKODA STRATEGY 2030 sets the course through a decade of transformation
With its new corporate strategy NEXT LEVEL – ŠKODA STRATEGY 2030, ŠKODA AUTO is becoming even more electric, digital and international. The company aims to be one of the five best-selling brands in Europe by 2030 with particularly affordable entry-level models and a strong e-model portfolio. At the same time, the Czech carmaker aims to be the leading European brand in India and North Africa and to take on additional responsibility within the Volkswagen Group. The strategy also lays the groundwork for further progress in sustainability and diversity.

Three more all-electric models, MEB battery production launched, ENYAQ iV receives software update
Following the successful launch of the ENYAQ iV and the introduction of the ENYAQ COUPÉ iV, ŠKODA AUTO is planning three more all-electric models before 2030, all of which will be below the ENYAQ iV in terms of price and size. Depending on market developments, the share of all-electric models in Europe is expected to rise to 50 – 70 per cent. More than 227,000 high-voltage traction batteries for the plug-in hybrid models of ŠKODA and other Group brands have already been produced at the headquarters in Mladá Boleslav. In addition, production of MEB battery systems will start there at the end of April. The decision on a possible Gigafactory in the Czech Republic is also expected in the first half of the year. Through these initiatives, ŠKODA AUTO’s home country is becoming an electromobility hub, with the aim of securing jobs and creating new ones.

ŠKODA AUTO assumes worldwide responsibility for the MQB-A0 Global Platform
Since October 2021, ŠKODA AUTO has been responsible for developing the Volkswagen Group’s existing MQB-A0 Global Platform. Based on this, ŠKODA and other Volkswagen Group brands will be designing new entry-level models for regions with high growth potential such as India, Africa, the ASEAN countries and Latin America.

Tangible progress in digitalisation: use of AI, establishing an IT training institute
ŠKODA AUTO is focusing on digital services that offer customers real added value. For example, ENYAQ iV drivers can now charge their car easily and conveniently at over 293,000 charging points in Europe thanks to the Powerpass. At the same time, the Czech car manufacturer is making targeted use of artificial intelligence. One example is the Citymove app, which combines bus and tram links as well as the underground, rental bikes, taxis and ride-hailing services to map out a smart and fast route to the destination; it was downloaded 230,000 times last year. The peer-to-peer car-sharing platform HoppyGo also launched in Poland and Slovakia in 2021. Users of the scooter sharing service BeRider have travelled more than 2 million kilometres in Prague since 2019. To promote the training of IT specialists, ŠKODA AUTO has cofounded the ‘42 Prague’ training institute. Starting this summer, up to 450 future programmers will receive training free of charge to prepare them for the jobs of the future by teaching them the most important software programming languages in a practical way, among other things.

Sustainability Advisory Board established, substantial progress towards CO₂ reduction
ŠKODA AUTO is enlisting the expertise of an independent Sustainability Advisory Board to help it implement its ambitious sustainability goals. The five internationally experienced members of the independent committee are contributing new impetus and suggestions to promote dialogue between the company and its stakeholders. The first specific projects will be initiated this year. In addition, ŠKODA AUTO has cut CO₂ along the entire value chain. As a result, the company surpassed the EU’s CO₂ fleet target by three grams last year. The increased share of all‑electric vehicles, in particular, lowered the average emission values and thus made a significant contribution to outperforming the targets. In addition, a total of 11,000 tonnes of CO₂ were saved in production and water consumption was reduced by more than a third.

Systematic further development of the brand with a new design language
In the second half of 2022, ŠKODA AUTO will be unveiling a new design language. Following the central theme of ‘modern solid’ it will be rolled out gradually over the coming year. In doing so, the Czech car manufacturer is turning its focus towards family and outdoor lifestyles, taking into account its customers’ rapidly changing expectations and needs.

Major uncertainties due to war in Ukraine and supply bottlenecks, relief campaigns launched
The company expects tremendous burdens on its operating business in 2022 due to the war in Ukraine and supply bottlenecks. In close collaboration with its social partner KOVO, ŠKODA AUTO has devised numerous specific aid measures. For example, the Czech car manufacturer has donated 10 million Czech crowns to the Czech organisation ‘People in Need’ (‘Člověk v tísni’) as a first step. Any Ukrainian workers in need will be helped to build a safe life in the Czech Republic for their families. ŠKODA AUTO is sending millions of crowns to support partner cities in caring for refugees near its production plants, focusing on accommodation, language classes, education, health care and integration. In addition, ŠKODA Logistics is helping to transport material donations to Ukraine and lending vehicles to Czech humanitarian organisations to support their activities quickly, efficiently and without unnecessary bureaucracy.

Article source: www.skoda-storyboard.com

ŠKODA AUTO increased its earnings in the past fiscal year compared to 2020 despite the pandemic and the shortage of semiconductors. The ŠKODA AUTO Group’s revenue amounts to 17.7 billion euros (2020: 17.1 billion euros; +3.9%). Operating profit increased significantly year-on-year to 1.08 billion euros (2020: 756 million euros; +43.2%). The return on sales is recovering; at 6.1%, it is significantly above the previous year. The company anticipates major uncertainties as the year progresses due to the war in Ukraine and the associated supply bottlenecks. ŠKODA AUTO, therefore, remains committed to its efficiency programme.

The company achieved an operating profit of over one billion euros (1.08 billion euros) in 2021 despite the pandemic and the semiconductor shortage. A significant part of the result is due to a strong first half-year. Revenues in the past fiscal year amounted to 17.7 billion euros (+3.9%), and the return on sales was 6.1%, which is significantly higher than last year. The company increased its net cash flow by 160% to 554 million euros. After a strong first half-year, the chip shortage led to restrictions in production as the year progressed. Thanks to focused sales management, optimising the production mix and the sale of vehicles with higher-value equipment, revenue in 2021 surpassed the previous year’s performance despite lower deliveries. Strict cost management also stabilised the result in the fourth quarter.

ŠKODA AUTO CEO Thomas Schäfer emphasises: “ŠKODA AUTO has demonstrated a high degree of resilience and flexibility in the past fiscal year. Our business is robust – and this is also reflected in the key financial figures, which have developed positively compared to the previous year. Thanks to a great team effort by all 45,000 Škodians, we managed to deliver 878,200 vehicles to customers worldwide. Our all-electric ENYAQ iV significantly exceeded our expectations with almost 45,000 units delivered. We are building on this strong momentum with new models including the emotive ENYAQ COUPÉ iV, the refreshed KAROQ and the sporty FABIA MONTE CARLO. At the same time, we face great uncertainties due to the war in Ukraine. We are continuously analysing the impact of this on our business.”

Christian Schenk, ŠKODA AUTO Board Member for Finance and IT, adds: “2021 was an extremely challenging fiscal year. We dealt with the situation calmly and in keeping with our ‘Simply Clever’ philosophy. We were able to increase our operating profit compared to the previous year to over one billion euros thanks to a united team performance. Revenue also developed positively despite low sales figures resulting from production constraints. We were able to improve it to 17.7 billion euros through sales mix optimisation in spite of the temporary production stop due to the partial unavailability of components in the second half of the year. We increased profitability thanks to our consistent cost and efficiency management. In 2022, we will mainly be focusing on continuing our successful crisis management and efficiency programme in order to safeguard our business as much as possible in these difficult times.”

Karsten Schnake, ŠKODA AUTO Board Member for Purchasing, explains: “The tight semiconductor supply situation dampened our growth last year. Thanks to the prompt decision to produce unfinished cars for later completion, we were able to stabilise our result. I thank the Semiconductor Task Force for their incredible efforts. We can now look forward with cautious optimism and expect a significant improvement in the supply of semiconductors from the second half of the year.”

Consistent cost management and annual investments of two billion euros
The Czech car manufacturer will be consistently pursuing its NEXT LEVEL EFFICIENCY programme to further increase efficiency this year. At the same time, the company will be investing two billion euros annually over the coming years. The investments will focus on the further electrification of the model range and compliance with new emission standards. For the rest of the year, ŠKODA AUTO anticipates that the supply of semiconductors will improve in the second half of the year. The Czech car manufacturer also expects the war in Ukraine to have a significant impact on its operating business.

Article source: www.skoda-storyboard.com

The technical regulations of the Rally2 category provide clear guidelines in various areas of the technical development. For example, the aerodynamics of the new generation ŠKODA FABIA Rally2 widely depend on the road car’s configuration. The best-in-class drag coefficient of the production ŠKODA FABIA gave the engineers of ŠKODA Motorsport the perfect foundation to develop highly efficient aerodynamics for the future rally car.

Efficient aerodynamics are one of the most important areas while developing any kind of race car. In Rally2 category, competition variants have to be derived from production models. Thus, engineers face completely different challenges than, for example, their colleagues in single seater racing. When ŠKODA Motorsport began the development of the new generation ŠKODA FABIA Rally2, the respective road car model provided a perfect starting point. The engineers‘ goal was to use the outstanding aerodynamics of the road going ŠKODA FABIA as well for the competition car.

“The aerodynamic elements used on the road car have proven to work in competition environment too and have given the aerodynamic package of the ŠKODA FABIA Rally2 an excellent foundation,“ explains Lukáš Vojík, ŠKODA AUTO Technical Development, Aerodynamics. “We gave aerodynamics even more attention than we already did with the current rally car. The main development target was higher downforce, at the same time enhancing the overall aerodynamic efficiency of the car.“

The road going ŠKODA FABIA features openings on both side ends of the front bumper. The so-called air curtains direct the air flow in a highly controlled manner past the body’s side panels and wheel arches. The engineers of ŠKODA Motorsport chose a similar solution for the front bumper of the new generation ŠKODA FABIA Rally2. On the rally car, the air curtains work together with the splitter along the entire lower edge of the front bumper for optimum aerodynamic efficiency of the front section.

Respecting the Rally2 regulations stipulated by the governing body FIA, the engineers of ŠKODA Motorsport and the Research & Development department of ŠKODA AUTO had to find new ways to optimize the balance between downforce and drag on the future rally car. With cost saving in mind, the Rally2 regulations for example ban active aerodynamic parts. As a consequence, the new generation ŠKODA FABIA Rally has to do without the drag coefficient enhancing, electrically adjusting shutters, which the production model’s lower front grille incorporates.

Two key points were the completely new rear wing and the cleaned-up air flow over the roof area. Lukáš Vojík emphasizes: “As allowed by the Rally2 regulations, the new generation rally car’s rear wing is much bigger than the road going ŠKODA FABIA’s small spoiler. The new generation ŠKODA FABIA Rally2 also achieves twice the downforce compared to the current rally car.”

A modified shape of the so-called scoop, which directs fresh air from above the windscreen into the cockpit, optimizes the air flow over the roof. On a road car the respective air vent usually is situated at the lower end of the windscreen. But on special stages of gravel rallies, this area of a car is very prone to dust or water splashing over the hood.

The ŠKODA Motorsport development team verified the results of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations with studies in the wind tunnel followed by extensive test sessions. Lately, various test drivers took to the wheel of the development car on gravel and asphalt roads in Spain.

Article source: www.skoda-storyboard.com

ŠKODA AUTO will be broadcasting this year’s annual press conference live online on Tuesday, 22 March from 10:00 Central European Time. The stream will be available on the ŠKODA Storyboard and the company’s social media channels. The company will be presenting its financial figures for 2021 and reviewing the results during the one-hour event. The car manufacturer will also be providing information about the latest developments and upcoming plans and projects at ŠKODA AUTO.

ŠKODA AUTO’s Annual Press Conference will be featured on the ŠKODA Storyboard. The company is also sharing the event on its social media channels. The media can broadcast the livestream on their own channels via an embed code.

Following the presentation and review of the financial figures, a Q&A session with the members of the Board of Management will be held for media representatives.

Questions can be submitted in advance to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or addressed to the panellists at the location via Slido.

Date: Tuesday, 22 March from 10:00 CET

Livestream: ŠKODA AUTO Annual Press Conference website: http://www.skoda-apc.com/
ŠKODA Storyboard: https://www.skoda-storyboard.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/skodaautonews
Thomas Schäfer’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomas-schaefer-61b446138/
ŠKODA AUTO’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/skoda-auto/mycompany/
YouTube: https://youtu.be/CMGgriAm2_Q

Article source: www.skoda-storyboard.com

The ŠKODA ENYAQ iV has added to its growing collection of industry accolades by scooping a top honour at the annual Top Gear Electric Awards. The in-demand all-electric SUV was named as the Best Value Electric Car by a panel of experts.

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