INTERVIEW

WE HAVE AN

EXCITING YEAR AHEAD OF US

INTERVIEW WITH CEO BERNHARD MAIER

1

How would you describe 2018 in one

word?

Thrilling!

Which event from last year is set

to become a milestone in ŠKODA

history?

The automotive industry is undergoing

major change. At the MMK conference,

you underscored that every employee

can make a difference by actively

participating in shaping the future.

How exactly?

By being open to new impulses, self-improvement and adjusting

our mindset. The time has

Our models have

come to kick the old habbeen accepted by

its. This is an opportunity

the customers very

for everyone who is able to

well and awarded by

look at the bigger picture.

international media, too.

That is why I would like to

It is important for us

appeal to everyone who has

to be able to meet the

an interesting idea to share

high demand.

it and bring it to life.

There were a few: As part

of the strategic redistribution of production within

the Volkswagen Group, it

was decided that the Passat

model range will be made

in Kvasiny starting in 2023.

We also introduced seven

new releases, including the

model KODIAQ RS and the

brand-new SCALA. We have

taken over managing new regions within the Group. And I must not forget the biggest investment programme in ŠKODA’s history was launched last year. In the next four

years, we will invest two billion euros in alternative drive technologies and new mobility-related services. All of that is crucial to

ensure the carmaker’s future and compatibility and, as a consequence, employment.

4

ŠKODA MOBIL JANUARY 2019

Where do we currently stand in

meeting the goals of Strategy 2025?

For me, implementing a strategy is a lot like

running a marathon. We have completed

12 very solid kilometres and have, in many

respects, made progress faster than expected. Thanks to the new models, the product

campaign is in full swing on all the global

markets, digital transformation is underway

throughout the company, we are assuming

responsibility for further regions, and, finally, this year we will enter the EV era. Naturally, there are regions in which we hoped

to perform better – China, for instance.

However, we have a plan ready to be carried

out there. All in all, things are very good. At

this point, I want to send a warm thank you

to all Škodovians, whose team spirit makes

it possible for the company to evolve every

day.

ŠKODA AUTO is now in charge

of the Indian market for the VW Group.

What is the next important step

in this region?

A key event was the opening of the Technology Centre for our R&D specialists (see

page 2 for details). This allowed us to start

preparing new models for the ŠKODA and

Volkswagen brands.

What do the terms integrity,

compliance and corporate culture

mean for the carmaker?

Our industry is going through one of the

greatest transformation processes in its

Bernhard Maier

(*1959)

Key account manager at Nixdorf

Computer AG (1984)

Head of retail division at Wallhäuser

Anlagen Gesellschaft (1986)

Various positions in national and

international management at BMW

AG (1988–2000)

Executive director at Porsche

Deutschland GmbH (2001)

Board member for Sales and

marketing at Porsche AG (2010)

ŠKODA AUTO CEO

(from 1 November 2015)