Flight through the ŠKODA world

What’s happening at ŠKODA AUTO

Freight transport using natural gas

The carmaker will support the broader use of liquefied natural gas (LNG) in road freight transport. It wants to motivate its carriers to choose an environmentally friendly, safe and advantageous alternative to diesel and petrol. ŠKODA AUTO was the first carmaker to respond to the call by the Czech Gas Association, which will support the construction of filling stations and provide driver training. Together, they will also promote the introduction of state aid to acquire and operate LNG-powered trucks.

Peter Olah takes over management of Interior Design

One of the main figures behind the design of ŠKODA cars is getting more responsibility. As the new head of EDI – Interior Design, Colour and Trim, Peter Olah will continue to be in charge of the car’s interior architecture, which he has overseen since 2015. However, his area of responsibility will also include designing control elements, forming user experience (UX) and selecting colours, fabrics and materials. Olah also designs trophies for Tour de France riders and has created cups for the Ice Hockey World Championships.

OPEN TALK
on “We, Not Me”

The last OPEN TALK of 2020 took place on 24 November and focused on the VW Group’s  sixth principle, “We, Not Me”. Dr. Michael Oeljeklaus (Board Member for Production and Logistics) and Christian Strube (Board Member for Technical Development) discussed cooperation during coronavirus and eMobility with remotely connected employees. They were joined by Karel Švábek, head of EB – Conceptual Development, and Jiří Drbout, head of PP – Brand Planning. The debate was led by the head of the ŠKODA Academy, Alois Kauer.

You can watch the video in the ŠKODA Academy Media Library. 

Achievements and trophies

The best for the 20th time

Even in a challenging year plagued by the coronavirus pandemic, the carmaker was able to defend its title in the Czech Top 100 competition. The pan-European Comenius company has been organising the survey every year since 1996, and ŠKODA AUTO has come out on top 20 times during that period. “The biggest thanks go to our employees, who, despite the difficult situation, contribute to the positive development of our company through their daily work”, says Bohdan Wojnar (pictured), Board Member for Human Resources Management. At the end of the year, the carmaker also won the COMPANYBEST 2020 award, with which journalists from 31 European countries praised it for, among others, its development on foreign markets and innovative production concepts. 

Six victories in Germany

For the seventh time in a row, Auto Zeitung magazine readers have chosen ŠKODA as the best imported car brand on the German market. In total, ŠKODA AUTO collected six victories in the 33rd year of the Auto Trophy survey. Readers chose the OCTAVIA model as the best imported vehicle in the compact class, and its RS version as the best imported sports car. The ENYAQ iV, which became the best imported e-SUV, also succeeded during its premiere. Other victories were achieved by SUPERB as the best imported car in the upper-middle class and KAMIQ among the imported SUVs of up to EUR 25,000.

Models and services

New Zealand Police choose SUPERB

ŠKODA New Zealand won a bid for new patrol and emergency vehicles for the local police force. It will gradually deploy the Czech carmaker’s flagship cars to replace the Australian brand, Holden. The police officers will drive SUPERB COMBI cars in two- and four-wheel-drive variants. The cars impressed them with their environmental friendliness, which will help the police significantly reduce CO2 emissions, as well as their driving characteristics, safety and large interior space.

How they see us 

ŠKODA AUTO helps 

Help during the pandemic 

During the current second wave of the coronavirus pandemic, ŠKODA AUTO is helping where it is needed, just as it did during the spring. All 100 of the OCTAVIA cars that the carmaker donated to medical and social facilities or other organisations are part of the effort. They have enabled disadvantaged children from the Mladá Boleslav, Rychnov and Vrchlabí regions to successfully tackle distance learning with laptops and Internet connections, to which the carmaker contributed CZK 625,000. The ŠKODA AUTO Endowment Fund, in cooperation with the Civil Society Development Foundation, has launched the second round of its crisis fund, through which it will support public benefit organisations in the Mladá Boleslav region with more than CZK 900,000.

packages with vitamins, disinfectant, respirators and other products for frontline workers were prepared by the carmaker together with the ŠKODA AUTO Endowment Fund.

Motorsport

End of the season in Monza

This year’s World Rally Championship season culminated with the ACI Rally Monza race in Italy. The customer teams did well with their FABIA Rally2 evo cars. The Norwegian duo Andreas Mikkelsen and Anders Jæger won the WRC 3 category, ahead of Oliver Solberg (supported by the ŠKODA Motorsport team) and co-driver Aaron Johnston. In the WRC 2 category, the Pontus Tidemand/Patrik Barth crew placed second and narrowly missed the world champion title. Behind them was the Jan Kopecký/Jan Hloušek pairing, also representing the Toksport WRT Team, which ultimately won the title in the WRC 2 team championship. 

Dear Readers

Thank you for supporting our newspaper throughout 2020 and for all your suggestions, contributions and ideas on how to move the flagship of ŠKODA AUTO’s internal communications forward. We wish you a peaceful Christmas and as much happiness, joy and health as possible in 2021. Last but not least, we wish you relaxing moments with the pages of upcoming ŠKODA Mobil issues, which we are already preparing for you.

ŠKODA Mobil editorial staff

The Vrchlabí plant has already produced more than 3.5 million DQ 200 automatic transmissions. The jubilee unit rolled off of the production line on 3 December. Owing to high demand, the operation has increased its capacity to 2,340 units per day.