Škoda Mobil

Škoda Mobil is the company newspaper for Škoda Auto employees, published monthly and presenting up-to-date information on what is happening at Škoda Auto and the Volkswagen Group. The regular columns focuses on employees, innovations and interesting projects from within the company, current information from Škoda Motorsport and many other topics.

NEW MODEL

A ramp-up full of challenges

The new OCTAVIA is ŠKODA AUTO’s most comprehensive car to date

roduction of the second car body version of the new-generation OCTAVIA already began before the shutdown that was implemented to combat the spread of coronavirus. The liftback complemented the estate version, which, thanks to its widespread popularity, was given priority at the SoP for the first time in history since the brand joined the VW Group. The first series-production car already rolled off the line in Shop M13 on 28 November last year, and the production of the liftback started there in early March.

According to Petr Kuba, Head of PA – Ramp-up Management, the launch of the fourth-generation OCTAVIA has been the biggest challenge for many departments until now. “It’s a very diverse car; it has the most derivatives, equipment sets and drive types of all the ŠKODA models”, he explains.

We are all used to having smart phones and consider push-button phones a retro experience; this is why the OCTAVIA has also replaced the buttons and their panel with a modern touch screen.

PETR KUBA

PA – Ramp-up Management

While the OCTAVIA has been using petrol, CNG and diesel engines, the new generation has added the plug-in hybrid and mild hybrid. On top of that, there are also several variants, which again increased production complexity. “The support provided by Technical Development played an extremely important role”, explains Martina Wagnerová from PAC – COMPACT Project Ramp-up Management, adding that when the model was entering production, everyone encountered a number of situations and solutions they had not known before. One of these was the completely new and permanently connected infotainment with full touch screen, as well as an affluent set of assistance systems. These devices place completely new demands on our assembly procedures and employees’ experience on the line. “The OCTAVIA is now a standalone smart product that takes care of your safety and keeps you informed and in maximum comfort”, says Pavel Ševela, Head of PAC – COMPACT Project Ramp-up Management.

The model started production while the lines were running. New equipment was installed, and employees were trained over weekends and during planned shutdowns. Everything had to be carefully coordinated and planned during the production of prototypes and pre-series cars, also because some pressed parts were shipped to the Czech Republic from South Korea. Despite the model’s significantly greater complexity, the full SoP and market launches of all variants will take place at about the same rate as the previous generation. Luděk Vokáč

Škoda Weekly

Weekly Thursday newsletter for employees. A summary of the last week‘s main events at Škoda Auto, regional news as well as cultural events.

Skoda Supplements

Škoda Mobil, the employee newspaper of the Mladá Boleslav-based carmaker, includes special supplements that focus on especially important topics from Škoda's perspective. Supplements can be a part of the newspaper, in the same format as the newspaper, inserted, for example, in the form of a flyer, or they can be stand-alone unique magazines in a specific format, such as supplements dedicated to new models, the brand's historical anniversaries, or other important information from the company's environment.

Škoda GreenFuture

Green Future