› The joint venture allows private carsharing to be combined with bus and rail transport 
› ŠKODA AUTO is now one of the largest providers of peer-to-peer carsharing in the Czech Republic
› ŠKODA AUTO DigiLab strengthens the Czech car manufacturer’s innovative capability and digital development competence 

Mladá Boleslav, 6 April 2018 – The carsharing portal HoppyGo has merged with the mobility services provider SmileCar from Czech transportation company Leo Express, thus allowing private car carsharing to be combined with bus and rail transport. From now on, customers are able to book and pay for everything offered by the one-stop mobility services provider using a single smartphone app. The joint venture makes HoppyGo one of the largest carsharing providers in the Czech Republic. As HoppyGo remains a brand of the ŠKODA AUTO DigiLab, ŠKODA AUTO has also become one of the largest providers of peer-to-peer carsharing in the Czech Republic. ŠKODA AUTO is thereby taking the next step in its transformation from purely a car manufacturer to a provider of integral mobility services. 

“ŠKODA considers mobility to be an integral concept involving vehicles and services. The ŠKODA AUTO DigiLab is rigorously progressing this concept – developing all sorts of new business models,” explained Andre Wehner, Chief Digital Officer at the long-established Czech company. “The ŠKODA AUTO DigiLab’s new joint venture is putting two important aspects into practice: the shared economy and multimodal mobility by interlinking several modes of transport,” said Wehner at the joint venture presentation in Prague.

Jarmila Plachá, Head of the ŠKODA AUTO DigiLab, pointed out that, “Peer-to-peer carsharing is one of the most significant mobility trends. With the HoppyGo joint venture, we are adding multimodal transport to the offering. HoppyGo is an important step in the development of comprehensive mobility services.”

“Our joint project offers solutions to all today’s transport challenges, whether with its sustainability, infrastructure constraints in cities and on roads, or problems with transport accessibility. Our goal is to make HoppyGo carsharing available throughout the Central European region and especially in locations where Leo Express trains and buses have their stops,” says Peter Köhler, CEO of Leo Express.

ŠKODA AUTO introduced the new joint venture today at the ‘Smart Mobility Hackathon’ in Prague. In this competition, which the ŠKODA AUTO DigiLab is supporting as a partner and co-organiser, the participating teams developed creative ideas and projects relating to the individual mobility of the future.

The ŠKODA AUTO DigiLab first established the carsharing provider HoppyGo in Prague and has since built it into one of the largest private carsharing portals in the Czech Republic. Car owners wishing to privately rent out their vehicle and people interested in renting them can find one another quickly and easily via the smartphone app. In addition to various ŠKODA models, the carpool also includes vehicles from other brands.

The integration of rail and bus transport as well as of the carsharing portal ‘SmileCar’ take the offering to a new level: from now on, HoppyGo users can also have the app suggest multimodal travel arrangements – meaning several modes of transport can be combined. After long bus or train journeys, a private car can be rented at the destination with ease. Therefore, an increasing number of HoppyGo users make their cars available near bus or train stations. Thanks to the joint venture, more than 750 cars are now available – and this number continues to increase. Carsharing is targeted in particular at younger users, for whom it is less and less important to have their own car. Carsharing is equally attractive for people who don’t want to give up having their own car and at the same time are open to new mobility concepts.

ŠKODA AUTO DigiLab combines innovative capability and digital development competence
Digitalisation and connectivity are two cornerstones of ŠKODA’s 2025 Strategy. With this programme for the future, ŠKODA AUTO is preparing itself for future changes in society and the automotive industry. Here, the ŠKODA AUTO DigiLab serves as a central development workshop for new digital solutions, services and technologies. Just like the ŠKODA AUTO DigiLab itself, HoppyGo is an innovative start-up. ŠKODA’s think tank is recognised as part of the start-up scene and is constantly looking for opportunities to collaborate with other creative entrepreneurs from the IT industry.

Article source: www.skoda-storyboard.com

Backseat bickering and sibling squabbles have been an on-going issue for parents since the invention of children. But now, thanks to the introduction of an innovative noise-cancelling front seat headrest, parents can enjoy their journeys and concentrate on driving. 

Featuring ŠKODA’s new QuarrelKancel™ technology, the newest addition to the brand’s range of accessories features in-built speakers that can be deployed by the driver within seconds of a rear seat fracas breaking out. 

Available exclusively as an option for the all-new ŠKODA Karoq, the noise-cancelling headrests are activated at the touch of a button via the ŠKODA infotainment system. The system can also work in ‘automatic’ mode, and can ‘listen’ for the first signs of an argument.

The system was conceived by ŠKODA’s Chief of Family Relations, Professor Si Lence and Special Projects leader, Dr April Fürst. “To create this technology, we recruited a ŠKODA ‘Scream Team’ – a group of volunteers dedicated to solving this global parenting issue,” explained Lence.

“We tested 1,000 families over 10,000 miles and identified that 80dB, the sound equivalent of a vacuum cleaner, is the pitch most unbearable for parents,” added Fürst.

Developed in partnership with sound specialists CANTON, the speakers are engineered to continuously monitor, measure and react to the in-cabin child decibel level. Once activated, the speakers generate unique sound waves that intelligently block out bickering but still allow parents to hear essential road noises, such as emergency sirens.

We know backseat bickering is a serious issue for our customers, the hotline to the Family Relations team is constantly ringing with parents at a loss of how to solve the problem,” said Lence.

“This is why we have spent thousands of hours coming up with this stress-busting solution. We’re the first manufacturer to offer an accessory this smart and we think it will change the lives of many parents throughout the UK, we certainly might see fewer grey hairs.”

The noise-cancelling headrests are the latest item in ŠKODA’s range of acclaimed accessories, which already include an inbuilt umbrella holder, integrated ice scraper and virtual boot pedal.

Article source: www.skoda.co.uk

ŠKODA AUTO is going to produce models that run purely on electric at their Mladá Boleslav site. As of 2019, the brand will also be manufacturing electrical components for plug-in hybrids. The production of electric vehicles and parts is a significant step in the implementation of the brand's future strategy.

“ŠKODA's future will be electric," says ŠKODA AUTO CEO Bernhard Maier. "By 2025, we plan to offer five purely electrically powered models in various segments. We are pleased that the first all-electric ŠKODA will be built in the Czech Republic. This decision underlines the Group’s confidence in the ŠKODA workforce. This is an important step for the future of the SKODA brand and the Czech Republic as an automotive location.” 

In addition to producing electric cars, the Mladá Boleslav plant will also be manufacturing electrical components for plug-in hybrid models of several Volkswagen Group brands as early as 2019. 

ŠKODA's first electrified series model will be launched in 2019: the ŠKODA SUPERB with plug-in hybrid drive, which will roll off the Kvasiny plant production line. Mladá Boleslav will then manufacture the first purely battery electric model in 2020. At this year's Auto Shanghai, the manufacturer presented its vision of electric and autonomous driving with the electric study ŠKODA VISION E. 

Electrifying the ŠKODA model range and producing electrical components for the Volkswagen Group are among the cornerstones of ŠKODA Strategy 2025. Other key areas of action include digitising products and processes, conquering new markets and expanding the company’s business areas from traditional automotive engineering to a wide range of mobility services.

Article source: www.skoda-auto.com

ŠKODA has launched the next instalment of its Driven by Something Different series, featuring British recording artist, Paloma Faith. 

Milton Keynes, 20 March 2018: ŠKODA’s latest creative is based on the brand’s Driven by Something Different ethos that celebrates individual spirit, self-confidence and a desire to stand out from the crowd; attributes shared by its customers.

Taking a starring role is ŠKODA’s latest partner, music artist Paloma Faith. The advert follows Paloma through a series of flashbacks as she fights to make it in the music industry. It depicts her struggling to fit in as a young child to performing to empty pubs, to an iconic moment early in her career where she rebukes a music executive for not listening to her sing. The flashbacks are juxtaposed with images of her now as she enjoys chart-topping success and a new period in her life as a mother.

Paloma’s forthright determination is eminently captured in the advert, which has also been turned into a feature-length music video for the ad’s soundtrack, Make Your Own Kind Of Music, performed by the songstress.

Created by Fallon London, the advert was directed by acclaimed music video director, Georgia Hudson, who has recently worked with P!nk and Ellie Goulding. The multi-channel campaign kicks off on 24 March with the full 60 second version that will air during ITV’s The Voice. The soundtrack, specially chosen by ŠKODA to mirror its message of self-confident individuality is available to listen to via streaming services.

Speaking about the new advert, Paloma Faith said: “It’s been strangely emotional to see my life on screen and I think ŠKODA has done a fantastic job capturing my journey. ‘Make Your Own Kind of Music’ is a song that really resonates with me. It’s about a fearlessness of being who you are and it’s a message that stands out strongly in the advert.”

Kirsten Stagg, Head of Marketing, ŠKODA UK, commented, “Paloma is an inspirational person who champions confidence and individuality and she stood out as the perfect choice to take Driven by Something Different that one step further. Her new role as a working mum reflects the modern-day family pressures that a lot of our customers will identify with and she will be the face of our family-friendly SUV, the ŠKODA KAROQ.”

Paloma Faith is also working with ŠKODA for its Driver’s Seat Initiative, in partnership with The Prince’s Trust – a programme which aims to give young adults a platform to learn new skills in a discipline matched to their artistic interests; such as music, art and photography. The Driver’s Seat Initiative is open to those aged between 16-25 who are not currently in employment, education or training and who exude a Driven by Something Different attitude.

Article source: www.skoda.co.uk

ŠKODA AUTO delivered 92,800 vehicles to customers worldwide in February, an increase of 14.3% compared to the same period of the previous year (February 2017: 81,200 vehicles), and the best February result in its 123-year history. The Czech carmaker posted particularly strong growth in China (+30.6%), Germany (+17.6%), Russia (+38.6%) and Turkey (+79.3%). In addition to the international bestseller OCTAVIA, the two SUV models KAROQ and KODIAQ also made significant contributions to the strong overall result. 

"ŠKODA AUTO’s growth continues with another record month. Demand for the ŠKODA KAROQ and KODIAQ continues to increase, making our young SUV range a key pillar of our success,” says Alain Favey, ŠKODA AUTO Board Member for Sales and Marketing. "Our new, attractive models will provide us with fresh growth impetus, setting the stage for a successful future."

At the International Motor Show 2018 in Geneva, the car manufacturer from Mladá Boleslav is presenting the ŠKODA VISION X study, and the comprehensively revised ŠKODA FABIA also celebrates its world premiere. With the ŠKODA KODIAQ Laurin & Klement, the top model in the popular SUV series is presented to the public for the first time.

In Western Europe, ŠKODA AUTO achieved 38,300 deliveries in February, an increase of 10.2% over the same month of the previous year (February 2017: 34,800 vehicles). Deliveries in the strongest European single market, Germany, increased to 14,800 vehicles (February 2017: 12,600 vehicles; +17.6%). ŠKODA AUTO also achieved double-digit growth rates in Italy (2,600 vehicles; +18.6%), France (2,300 vehicles; +20.7%), Austria (2,300; +18.4%), the Netherlands (1,400 vehicles; +19.9%), Norway (700 vehicles; +30.2%) and Greece (200 vehicles; +43.3%).

In Central Europe, deliveries rose to 18,400 vehicles, up 6.1% on the same period last year (February 2017: 17,400 vehicles). Last month, ŠKODA AUTO delivered 8,300 vehicles in the domestic market of the Czech Republic, up 1.5% on the same period of 2017 (February 2017: 8,200 vehicles). In Slovakia (1,800 vehicles; +10.6%), Hungary (1,100 vehicles; +15.8%) and Croatia (400 vehicles; +44.5%), ŠKODA AUTO achieved double-digit growth rates.

In Eastern Europe excluding Russia, unit deliveries grew by 10.8% year-on-year to 3,100 vehicles (February 2017: 2,800 vehicles). The manufacturer posted particularly strong growth in Romania (900 vehicles; +22.8%). and Bulgaria (300 vehicles; +32.3%).

In Russia, deliveries to customers increased by 38.6% to 5,900 vehicles (February 2017: 4,300 vehicles).

In China – ŠKODA AUTO’s largest global market – the Czech brand achieved an increase of 30.6% to 19,600 vehicles (February 2017: 15,000 vehicles).

In Turkey, the manufacturer recorded significant growth, increasing by 79.3% to 2,200 vehicles (February 2017: 1,200 vehicles).

In India, ŠKODA AUTO delivered 16.8% more cars in comparison to the same month last year, with deliveries increasing to 1,400 vehicles (February 2017: 1,200 vehicles).

ŠKODA AUTO deliveries in February 2018
(in units, rounded off, listed by model; +/- in percent compared to February 2017):

ŠKODA OCTAVIA (31,800; +11.1 %) 
ŠKODA FABIA (16,400; -1.9 %) 
ŠKODA RAPID (14,500; -3.2 %) 
ŠKODA KODIAQ (10,200; +>500 %) 
ŠKODA SUPERB (11,300; +3.2 %) 
ŠKODA YETI (1,300; -78.8 %) ŠKODA KAROQ (4,700; -) 
ŠKODA CITIGO (Only sold in Europe: 2,600; +10.6 %)

Article source: www.skoda-auto.com

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  3. ŠKODA KODIAQ LAURIN & KLEMENT
  4. THE NEW ŠKODA FABIA

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