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)