The launch of the fourth-generation OCTAVIA sees ŠKODA reach new heights yet again: The brand’s bestseller is even more emotive and offers an even greater level of active and passive safety. Furthermore, it comes with plenty of new assistance systems and advanced infotainment. Available with an efficient petrol or diesel engine, or one of three alternative powertrains, the new-generation OCTAVIA is also significantly more sustainable. The OCTAVIA e-TEC is the first ever ŠKODA to feature mild hybrid technology. The OCTAVIA iV and the sporty OCTAVIA RS iV are modern plug-in hybrids and the OCTAVIA G-TEC is designed to run on eco-friendly natural gas (CNG). Thanks to the three sustainable powertrain variants, the new OCTAVIA’s CO₂ emissions have been considerably reduced.

In its fourth generation, the ŠKODA OCTAVIA is once again available as a hatchback and an estate; a rugged SCOUT and three sporty RS versions have also been added to the line-up. Fitted with a choice of front- or all-wheel drive and manual or automatic DSG transmissions, there is an OCTAVIA to suit every ŠKODA customer.

The fourth generation since the modern-day OCTAVIA’s launch in 1996 will further cement the model line as the brand’s heart and engine as well as its top volume model. With more than seven million produced, the OCTAVIA is the bestselling ŠKODA ever and a real icon in numerous international markets. In addition to its domestic market, the Czech Republic, the OCTAVIA tops the bestseller lists in seven other countries, including Poland, Austria, Switzerland and Finland. In its second-largest sales market, Germany, the OCTAVIA has been the most sought-after import vehicle for years. The OCTAVIA COMBI, Europe’s most popular estate, has played a major part in this. 

ŠKODA manufactures up to 400,000 units of its bestseller each year. The OCTAVIA is the brand’s only model to be made in four different countries: it rolls off production lines in the Czech Republic, China, Russia and India.

The reasons for the OCTAVIA’s success story are obvious: In addition to its ŠKODA-typical generous amounts of space and excellent value for money, the brand’s heart and engine provides an impressive level of safety too – as illustrated by its five-star rating in the Euro NCAP tests. In its fourth generation, the OCTAVIA offers numerous innovative safety and assistance systems. These include Park Assist with Area View whose four cameras create a 360-degree image of the vehicle’s immediate surroundings, Adaptive Lane Assist, which is able to identify roadworks as well as conventional road markings, and the Local Traffic Warning function that automatically warns of traffic hold-ups in the car’s vicinity, such as the end of a traffic jam. For the first time, ŠKODA is offering the new head-up display for the OCTAVIA; this projects information such as the car’s speed, navigation instructions, detected traffic signs and activated driver assistance systems directly onto the windscreen. 

The OCTAVIA offers a choice of three infotainment systems from the latest generation with screens measuring between 8.25 and 10 inches. Thanks to a built-in eSIM, the vehicle is always online – thus enabling the use of new ŠKODA Connect online services.

Three alternative powertrains: plug-in hybrid, mild hybrid and CNG

The three letter combinations – iV, e-TEC and G-TEC – make reference to the wide range of new alternative powertrain variants available for the new ŠKODA OCTAVIA. Both the OCTAVIA iV and OCTAVIA RS iV feature plug-in hybrid drive and provide an all-electric and therefore zero-emission range of up to 60 km in the WLTP cycle. The e-TEC designation is new to ŠKODA and is reserved for cars equipped with mild hybrid technology – another first for the brand. The TSI petrol engines in these models are electrified by a 48-V belt-driven starter motor and a 48-V lithium-ion battery. The OCTAVIA G-TEC primarily uses eco-friendly compressed natural gas (CNG). This type of fuel boasts cleaner combustion, meaning that CO₂ emissions are approximately 25 per cent lower than when running on petrol.

Article source: www.skoda-auto.com

ŠKODA AUTO has manufactured its 13 millionth transmission from the current generation. At present, the Czech carmaker makes MQ/SQ100 and MQ200 gearboxes for Volkswagen Group at its main plant in Mladá Boleslav, whilst the DQ200 direct-shift transmission is built at the Vrchlabí factory. These are fitted in various ŠKODA models as well as vehicles made by other Volkswagen Group brands. 

Michael Oeljeklaus, ŠKODA AUTO Board Member for Production and Logistics, stressed, “Today we have reached the impressive mark of 13 million current-generation gearboxes built. This production milestone is the result of our team’s high level of expertise and formidable team spirit. Due to these strengths, ŠKODA AUTO’s component production has continuously gained in strategic importance and developed into a key pillar of the group’s cross-brand production network.” 

Christian Bleiel, Head of Component Production at ŠKODA AUTO, added, “Our Mladá Boleslav and Vrchlabí plants are among the most modern and efficient production sites in the entire automotive industry. Our gearboxes meet the highest quality requirements. Manufacturing these transmissions using our complex, high-tech equipment requires many years of experience and a high level of skill from the team. Through innovation, continuous optimisation, automation and – most importantly –digitalisation, we are resolutely developing component production at ŠKODA.” 

At present, ŠKODA AUTO makes a total of three types of gearboxes, which are used in ŠKODAs and other Volkswagen Group cars. At its main plant in Mladá Boleslav, ŠKODA has been manufacturing the MQ200 five-speed transmission for vehicles with a 1.0- to 1.6-litre petrol engine since 2000; since 2011, the MQ200 has also existed as a six-speed gearbox. More than 7,590,000 of this transmission type have been built to date since their manufacturing began in 2000. The daily production volume currently amounts to 2,000 gearboxes. 

The MQ100/SQ100 transmissions built in Mladá Boleslav since 2011 were originally designed for ‘New Small Family’ models from Volkswagen Group and were initially fitted in the ŠKODA CITIGO, the VW up! and the Seat Mii. With the exception of the VW up!, these models are now exclusively available with an all-electric powertrain and as a result, the gearboxes are now mainly used in the ŠKODA FABIA and other small Volkswagen Group cars powered by a 1.0-litre petrol engine. In August 2020, the two millionth MQ100/SQ100 transmission left the factory in Mladá Boleslav. 

Since 2012, ŠKODA has also been building the DQ200 automatic 7-speed direct-shift gearbox (DSG) at its component plant in Vrchlabí. At a rate of 2,300 units per day, more than 3,300,000 DQ200s have already been manufactured to date. This transmission is also installed in ŠKODAs as well as cars made by other Group brands. 

In 2019 alone, ŠKODA AUTO built approximately 1,125,200 transmissions; the average daily production volume across all models was around 4,800 units.

Article source: www.skoda-auto.com

50 years ago, the legendary ŠKODA 110 R Coupé celebrated its trade fair premiere in Brno. The elegant sports car with a rear engine was a huge sales success and served as the basis for the Czech car manufacturer’s legendary rally and racing cars. Alongside the ŠKODA 180 RS and 200 RS prototypes, the ŠKODA 130 RS, which later became known as the “Porsche of the East”, was also derived from the 110 R.

At the same time as celebrating the 125th anniversary of its founding, ŠKODA AUTO is also looking back in 2020 on the market launch of several models that have played a significant role in the automaker’s history. These vehicles include the 110 R, which added a dynamic sports coupé to ŠKODA’s model range at the beginning of the 1970s. 

In 1964 ŠKODA began producing the ŠKODA 1000 MB notchback saloon. With its self-supporting body, rear engine and rear-wheel drive, this model heralded a new technological era at the Czech car manufacturer. ŠKODA invested heavily in modern production facilities for the new series and soon concentrated fully on the production of this newcomer due to the sales success of the rear engine saloon in export markets. For this reason, ŠKODA discontinued production of the FELICIA convertible. However, demand for sports models remained strong, particularly in Western European markets. ŠKODA responded to its customers’ wishes with a vehicle that would give the brand an image boost despite remaining a niche product in terms of the planned number of units. While the development of the ŠKODA 100/110 L series was underway (the successor to the 1000 MB that received body upgrades, front disc brakes and improved safety equipment), work began on the two-door coupé version ŠKODA 110 R.

Article source: www.skoda-auto.com

The measures to contain the coronavirus pandemic also had a negative impact on ŠKODA AUTO’s vehicle deliveries and financial indicators in the first half of 2020. The ŠKODA AUTO Group’s sales revenue was €7.55 billion in the first six months, but the operating profit still amounted to €228 million – despite the 39-day shutdown of the Czech plants and the disruption to the sales channels, particularly in April. Against this background, the return on sales stood at 3.0%. ŠKODA AUTO delivered a total of 426,700 vehicles to customers from January to June. Since June, the Czech automobile manufacturer has been experiencing the positive effects of its restart programmes, which have been adapted to each market, and incoming orders have recently exceeded last year’s level. Provided the COVID-19 situation does not deteriorate significantly again, ŠKODA AUTO expects the conditions on the world markets to stabilise gradually over the coming weeks and months. Investments in tangible assets remained at a high level of 261 million euros over the past six months; ŠKODA AUTO continues to invest consistently in the company’s future and development. 

ŠKODA AUTO CEO Bernhard Maier explains: “ŠKODA AUTO has performed well in recent years and has a solid financial foundation. In response to the current exceptional situation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, we immediately implemented comprehensive measures to stabilise sales, sales revenue and operating profit. These measures are already proving effective and we will consistently continue along this path in the months ahead. I am convinced, that ŠKODA will emerge from this situation even stronger.”

Klaus-Dieter Schürmann, ŠKODA AUTO Board Member for Finance and IT, adds: “Our goal is to continuously improve on the current level through to the end of the year. To achieve this, we are consistently pursuing our ongoing performance programme. The same applies to our recently introduced short-term special measures focusing on overheads and material costs as well as optimising expenses and current assets. ”

Despite the 39-day shutdown of its Czech plants and the economic impact of the measures to contain the COVID 19 pandemic, ŠKODA AUTO posted an operating profit of 228 million euros. At the end of April, the car manufacturer gradually ramped up vehicle production again as planned, observing the necessary health protection measures. As the car dealerships in the European markets have reopened, customer demand for vehicles has noticeably increased. At the same time, the sales channels have been largely restored and are functioning smoothly.

Alain Favey, ŠKODA AUTO Board Member for Sales and Marketing, explains: “Although our worldwide deliveries to customers decreased in the first six months of the year due to the exceptional starting position, the outlook is positive: in June we were able to make significant gains compared to the previous months. We are particularly well positioned with our attractive, modern model portfolio. In order to support the positive developments on the international markets, ŠKODA has introduced comprehensive restart programmes for its trade partners alongside the government support measures, which we warmly welcome. Against this background, we expect a recovery in the third quarter and anticipate a return to the previous year’s level in the fourth quarter.”

The company remains committed to its medium and long-term goals and is consistently rolling out the largest model campaign in its history. The manufacturer plans to launch 30 new models, derivatives, product upgrades or variants between 2019 and the end of 2022. Also, with the all-electric ENYAQ iV, it is taking a major step forward in implementing its electric mobility strategy – the SUV is ŠKODA’s first electric vehicle to be developed as such from the outset. The most important ŠKODA model in 2020 will be presented to the public for the first time in September.

Article source: www.skoda-auto.com