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The energy provider ŠKO-ENERGO, in which ŠKODA AUTO holds a 44.5% stake, has today commissioned a new electrode boiler in Mladá Boleslav.

The innovative Power-to-Heat system produces environmentally friendly district heating, and at the same time serves as a buffer during peak loads in the public power grid. This once again makes ŠKO-ENERGO a pioneer in efficient and resource-efficient energy production. In addition, the company is making an important contribution to the environmental targets defined in ŠKODA AUTO’s ‘GreenFuture’ environmental strategy. Among other things, ŠKODA AUTO and the company, which has been operating for more than 20 years, have been able to halve the energy consumed in manufacturing each vehicle.

“ŠKO-ENERGO as an energy provider and supplier of energy services for ŠKODA AUTO constantly strives for innovation in the field of energy production,” says Michael Oeljeklaus, who serves as both ŠKODA AUTO Board Member for Production and Logistics and Chairman of the Supervisory Board at ŠKO-ENERGO. “ŠKO-ENERGO works closely with ŠKODA AUTO to continuously reduce the consumption of resources. By implementing the ‘Power-to-Heat’ project, ŠKO-ENERGO has achieved another significant milestone in innovation.”

The electrode boiler, designed jointly by ŠKO-ENERGO and the energy supplier E.ON Czech Republic - also a shareholder in the company, is connected to ŠKO-ENERGO’s modern thermal power station in Mladá Boleslav. The new system converts electrical energy into heat. The core is a cylindrical tank in which electrodes heat the water at a voltage of 6.3 kV. In ŠKO-ENERGO’s power-to-heat project, the electrode boiler is coupled to a heat exchanger that feeds the heat generated into the existing district heating system.

In addition to generating district heating, the capacity of the public electricity network can be regulated via the electrode boiler. If critical load peaks occur during periods of low consumption, the excess current is used to heat the boiler. In this way, the new system reduces the risk of blackouts and increases the security of the power supply in the Czech Republic and Europe.

Miroslav Žďánský, who initiated the project of the electrode boiler at ŠKO-ENERGO, explains: “With the power-to-heat project, we have once again expanded our portfolio and created a new important service for the network operator ČEPS - in an innovative and highly efficient way.” As an exclusive service provider, ČEPS operates the electricity network in the Czech Republic, which is also closely linked to the European-wide networks.

In addition to ŠKODA AUTO Board Member Michael Oeljeklaus, the leading representatives of E.ON Czech Republic, ŠKO-ENERGO and the other shareholders of ČEZ and VW Kraftwerk took part in the commissioning of the electrode boiler.

ŠKODA AUTO combines all environmental activities under the umbrella of the 'GreenFuture' strategy that rests on three pillars: ‘Green Product’ deals with the development of environmentally friendly vehicles – both in terms of fuel consumption as well as materials and recycling capabilities. With ‘GreenRetail’, the brand supports dealerships and workshops through environmentally friendly management. ‘GreenFactory’ summarizes all activities supporting production operations that are as resource-efficient as possible. ŠKO-ENERGO has been making an important contribution to these measures since the company was founded in mid-1995.

ŠKO-ENERGO has been ŠKODA AUTO’s energy supplier for over 20 years. The main task of the company located in Mladá Boleslav is to supply ŠKODA AUTO’s three Czech plants in Mladá Boleslav, Kvasiny and Vrchlabí with electricity, water, heat, natural gas and compressed air. In addition, residents, businesses and institutions around Mladá Boleslav are supplied with district heating. ŠKO-ENERGO’s shareholders are, in addition to ŠKODA AUTO a.s. (44.5%), VW Kraftwerk GmbH (22.5%), E.ON Czech Holding AG (21.0 %) and the energy company ČEZ a.s. (12.0%).

Working in partnership with the energy supplier, ŠKODA AUTO achieved significant improvements in CO2 emissions per vehicle produced. Between 1995 and 2014, the automotive manufacturer more than halved this figure: the energy consumption per vehicle produced decreased from 3.9 to 1.75 MWh.

The increased use of biomass for generating electricity at the ŠKO-ENERGO heating power station in Mladá Boleslav has made a major contribution to the reduction of CO2 emissions. The heat and power plant generates one third of its energy from wood pellets, i.e. renewable biomass. Compared with the former use of coal and gas, this measure alone saves up to 130,000 tonnes of CO2 per year.

Article source: www.skoda-auto.com

‘Heart of the brand’ with new design elements in the front and rear. Headlights available with latest full-LED technology. ŠKODA Connect provides versatile networking.

ŠKODA has made major revisions to the bestseller. The ŠKODA OCTAVIA will be available from the end of the year with a newly designed front and rear section, state-of-the-art driver assistance solutions, infotainment and connectivity, as well as new equipment. The compact model is presented in top form as both a saloon and estate, and once again highlights its unique position in the category.

“The ŠKODA OCTAVIA has always been in a class of its own in the compact segment,” says ŠKODA CEO Bernhard Maier. “As the 'heart of the brand', the Octavia has decisively shaped ŠKODA’s outstanding development from the very start, and has made the company what it is today: an internationally successful automotive manufacturer with a presence in more than 100 markets worldwide. With the now extensively revised ŠKODA OCTAVIA, we are keen to continue this development sustainably.”

The ŠKODA OCTAVIA is the Czech automaker’s best-selling model by far. At the upper end of its segment, ŠKODA’s bestseller has set new standards in terms of space, functionality, safety and comfort technology, design and value for money. In the 20 years since the 1996 reintroduction of the ŠKODA OCTAVIA, five million customers from all over the world have opted for one of the model versions in the OCTAVIA family. With the extensively revised version of the ŠKODA OCTAVIA, the brand plans to continue the success story of its predecessors and to further strengthen ŠKODA’s position in the international markets.

The lines of the new ŠKODA OCTAVIA have been further streamlined, especially at the front. The two adjacent headlights form the dual face with a crystalline look. On request, they shine in full-LED technology. The brand logo has gained even more presence, the front is more powerful, wider, and has more character.

The space available in the revised ŠKODA OCTAVIA remains one of the largest in its class. Both the saloon and estate offer 1782 millimetres of interior space and 73 millimetres of legroom in the rear. Their luggage compartments measure 590 and 610 litres, respectively; with folded rear seat backrests up to 1580 and 1740 litres respectively. There is an optional electric tailgate available for OCTAVIA COMBI.

The revision has brought new infotainment systems to the ŠKODA OCTAVIA. All four – Swing and Bolero as well as the navigation systems Amundsen and Columbus – now have capacitive displays in glass design that respond to light touch. The Columbus now features a full 9.2-inch display; the top system has a WLAN hotspot and, if desired, a SIM card module with an LTE speed for an ultra-fast connection to the Internet.

The revised ŠKODA OCTAVIA also offers state-of-the-art solutions for connectivity. ŠKODA Connect is divided into Infotainment Online and CareConnect. CareConnect is available in all equipment variants (except G-TEC) of the revised ŠKODA OCTAVIA.

The revised ŠKODA OCTAVIA is also moving ahead with assistance systems – with technologies that have so far only been used in the mid-class. If the OCTAVIA is used as a towing vehicle, the trailer assistant will take over the steering when the vehicle is slowly reversing. . Predictive pedestrian protection complements Front Assist. In addition, the parking assistant has been further optimized. Thanks to the rear radar, Blind Spot Detection and Rear Traffic Alert ensure safe lane changes and also help while reversing out of a parking space. The rear-view camera displays the car’s immediate surroundings on the on-board monitor.

New features have been added to the ŠKODA OCTAVIA’s numerous ‘Simply Clever’ solutions: a customizable key, allowing multiple users to save their own vehicle settings, as well as a heated steering wheel, folding tables on the back of the front seats, bottle holders which facilitate the opening of PET bottles, and the estate version features a removable torch in the boot.

The five TSI and four TDI that make up the engine programme combine strong performance with low fuel consumption. Their displacements range from 1.0 to 2.0 litres, the output range begins at 63 kW (84 hp) and ends at 135 kW (184 hp). For almost all engines in the revised ŠKODA OCTAVIA, a DSG transmission with six or seven gears is available in addition to manual transmission. ŠKODA supplies all-wheel drive 4×4 for the 1.8 l TSI and the 2.0 l TDI. A highlight in the chassis is the optional Dynamic Chassis Control (DCC), which enables the driver to regulate the steering and damping characteristics in the Comfort, Normal and Sport modes. The light alloy wheels range from 16 to 18 inches and come in numerous new designs.

The revised ŠKODA OCTAVIA saloon and estate version will be available in the first markets from the end of the year. Deliveries will begin in early 2017.

Article source: www.skoda.co.uk

Seventh series expands ŠKODA’s portfolio in a strongly growing segment. Extensive expansion and modernization of manufacturing facilities for production launch in Kvasiny.

Launch of the ŠKODA KODIAQ: The series production of ŠKODA’s new large SUV model was launched today at the Czech plant in Kvasiny.

“We are pleased that it’s now underway. The series production launch of the ŠKODA KODIAQ is an emotional moment for the entire company and especially for our colleagues in Kvasiny“, says ŠKODA Board Member for Production Michael Oeljeklaus. “Over the last few months, the whole team has been preparing for the start of production of our new SUV model.”

The brand is strengthening its position in the world’s fastest growing market segment with the ŠKODA KODIAQ. From February 2017, ŠKODA’s latest model will be showcasing all the brand’s strengths: with a distinctive design and an exceptional amount of space, with practical intelligence and innovative technologies that would usually only be found in higher vehicle classes. Orders can now be placed for the new SUV in many markets.

The manufacturing facilities in Kvasiny have been extensively modernized and expanded for the production of the Czech automobile manufacturer’s latest models. In addition to the newly commissioned car body construction and the conversion of the assembly line, the paint shop and logistics areas have also been expanded.

Kvasiny is one of ŠKODA’s three production sites in the Czech Republic. Approximately 5900 people are currently employed there, making the plant one of the largest industrial employers in the Hradec Králové region. The plant is currently undergoing the most extensive modernization and expansion in its history. Over the next few years, the production capacity of the East Bohemian site will increase to 280,000 vehicles annually. In this context, ŠKODA will be creating jobs for around 2000 specialists and investing some 7.2 billion Czech crowns into the expansion of the Kvasiny plant by 2018.

Besides the ŠKODA KODIAQ, the ŠKODA models SUPERB and YETI currently run off the production lines at the Kvasiny site. In 2015, around 142,000 ŠKODA vehicles were produced here. The automobile plant was founded 82 years ago.

Did you know, that ŠKODA AUTO:
› is one of the longest-established vehicle manufacturers in the world. The company was founded in 1895 – during the pioneering days of the automobile. Today, the company’s headquarters remain in Mladá Boleslav.
› currently offers the following models in the range: CITIGO, FABIA, RAPID, OCTAVIA, YETI, KODIAQ and SUPERB.
› in 2015 delivered more than 1 million vehicles to customers worldwide.
› has belonged to Volkswagen Group since 1991. The Volkswagen Group is one of the most successful automotive manufactures in the world. ŠKODA, in association with the Group, independently manufactures and develops vehicles, as well as components, engines and gear transmissions.
› operates at three locations in the Czech Republic, produces in China, Russia, Slovakia and India mainly through Group partnerships, as well as in Ukraine and Kazakhstan through local partners.
› employs over 26,600 people globally and is active in more than 100 markets.

Article source: www.skoda-auto.com

ŠKODA is strengthening its innovative power and digital development expertise by establishing a digital lab in Prague.

Creative teams will be exploring and developing new business models in the innovative ideas workshop. This will involve integrating digital technologies more strongly into ŠKODA’s current core business, and developing innovative connectivity and mobility services. The pilot phase for the development of the digital lab will run until the end of 2016. The digital lab is then going to operate as an independent ŠKODA business entity.

“The development of new digital technologies and solutions is of central importance for ŠKODA’s future development,” says ŠKODA CEO Bernhard Maier “We are preparing for the digital age with our Digital Lab. Digitization, connectivity and new mobile services are among the cornerstones of our 2025 strategy. Our goal is to develop entirely new mobility solutions for our customers. The car shall remain our core product. In the future, we will complement this with services that make daily driving easier, safer, more efficient and comfortable. As a result, ŠKODA will be shifting from being purely a car manufacturer towards a mobility service provider.”

Innovative connectivity and mobility services will make a significant contribution to the company's future sales. The requirements for this are being created at the ŠKODA Digital Lab. Customer-oriented ideas and solutions can be quickly generated, tested and turned into marketable products.

In addition, the ŠKODA Digital Lab will be developing new working methods and forms of cooperation with external partners. This will include, among others, speed, adaptability and flexibility. The experience gained from the digital lab will be integrated into ŠKODA's corporate culture. Following the fundamental change in the automotive industry, the company will be in a position to meet the requirements of modern industrial culture.

“We want to send out signals for the mobility of the future – both internally and externally,” explains André Wehner, Head of Corporate Development and Digitization at ŠKODA. “The digital lab is creating the prerequisites for even greater innovative strength at ŠKODA, and will connect the automobile to the digital world.”

The exchange with other future workshops within the Volkswagen Group will be key. The ŠKODA Digital Lab will be working closely with the people responsible for digitizing the Volkswagen Group and the brands. The exchange of experience and results will therefore benefit the entire Volkswagen Group.

At the ŠKODA Digital Lab, creative minds from various fields will be developing ideas, and solutions – regardless of their parent company, start-up centre or incubator – that can be used in practice by the Czech automobile manufacturer. “With the Digital Lab, ŠKODA is taking a new path in the development of products and services. It will be important to optimally combine the learned working methods of the automotive industry with the requirements of the young digital world,” says Wehner.

The pilot phase of ŠKODA Digital Labs is currently underway. The Czech carmaker is working on this project in a strategic partnership with several development companies. IT professionals from ŠKODA and development companies are jointly developing novel technologies and solutions.

ŠKODA examined three vibrant areas of Prague, which are characterized by their creative environment, as possible locations for the digital lab. The Czech capital also has the advantage of being in close proximity to ŠKODA’s headquarters in Mladá Boleslav and leading technology companies in the country. The company envisages the workshop will commence operations as an independent ŠKODA business entity in 2017.

ŠKODA AUTO
› is one of the longest-established vehicle manufacturers in the world. The company was founded in 1895 – during the pioneering days of the automobile. Today, the company’s headquarters remain in Mladá Boleslav.
› currently offers the following models in the range: CITIGO, FABIA, RAPID, OCTAVIA, YETI, KODIAQ and SUPERB.
› in 2015 delivered more than 1 million vehicles to customers worldwide.
› has belonged to Volkswagen Group since 1991. The Volkswagen Group is one of the most successful vehicle manufacturers in the world. ŠKODA, in association with the Group, independently manufactures and develops vehicles, as well as components, engines and gear transmissions.
› operates at three locations in the Czech Republic, produces in China, Russia, Slovakia and India mainly through Group partnerships, as well as in Ukraine and Kazakhstan through local partners.
› employs over 26,600 people globally and is active in more than 100 markets.

Article source: www.skoda-garage.com

An expedition led by renowned British adventurer Alastair Humphreys is set to answer the question that has vexed explorers for centuries – does the Yeti exist? The adventure, which begins early next month, is backed by ŠKODA UK and will see a fleet of Yeti cars drive high into the Bhutan mountains to visit areas where sightings have been made.

The Yeti, or Abominable Snowman, has been part of Bhutanese folklore since the late 18th Century. Thought to be a part-man, part-animal, the Yeti has been the subject of countless expeditions over the past 200 years with number of high-profile sightings that remain unexplained to this day. Many locals firmly believe in the Yeti’s existence, while experts have suggested in recent years that the creature could be a present day specimen of the giant ape ‘Gigantopithecus’ which is thought to be extinct.

The ŠKODA team will work under the direction of Alastair Humphreys and will start their epic journey in Samdrup Jonkhar in the South East of Bhutan. The team will then travel north for more than 300 miles and up to an altitude of 3,530 metres.

The expedition route will take the team to the 162,000 acre Sakteng Wildlife Sanctuary where the Yeti is thought to reside. A number of local experts will act as guides and will show the team where sightings have been made in the past.

Alastair Humphreys said: “I’m excited to be part of this expedition with ŠKODA. Bhutan’s surroundings are some of the most beautiful in the world and we’ll seek to uncover the stories of the Yeti within these communities. I’m pretty certain nowhere else on earth can claim to have a sanctuary for an apparently mythical creature, and that is a fascinating adventure to be part of.

“Whether the Yeti exists or not may always be a mystery, but what is true is the strong belief that the people of Bhutan have in the creature.”

The team will rely on a fleet of ŠKODA Yetis to carry themselves and equipment across some of the most challenging roads in the country. Like its namesake, the Yeti can survive the harshest of conditions and is perfectly at home in the rugged surroundings of the Himalayas.

The vehicles used for the expedition will be Yeti Outdoor models equipped with ŠKODA’s optional off-road package that adds additional protection to the underside of the vehicle. All will benefit from the Yeti’s Outdoor standard multi-plate four-wheel drive system that provides the perfect balance between on and off-road performance.

Unlike the Himalayan Yeti, the ŠKODA version is somewhat easier to spot in the wild. Since the start of production in 2009, more than 580,000 examples have been sold worldwide, with demand increasing year on year.

Adventure enthusiasts can follow Alastair and ŠKODA’s expedition on Twitter via @ŠKODAUK and @Al_Humphreys.

Article source: www.skoda.co.uk

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