Flight through the ŠKODA world

What is happening at ŠKODA AUTO

We’re standing firmly on our feet 

A management information meeting on the current situation at ŠKODA AUTO took place in early June. Owing to the measures implemented to prevent the spread of COVID-19, this event took place as a live online broadcast. Chairman of the Board Bernhard Maier assured the managers that the carmaker is handling the current situation calmly and standing firmly on its feet. Further details were presented by Bohdan Wojnar, Board Member for HR Management, and Jiří Prokop, Head of SG – Health Care Services and Ergonomics, who addressed sanitary and safety measures, because of which the regular breakfasts with the Chairman of the Board are not taking place either. Employees will still be given an opportunity to ask him what they are interested in, however. This may be done either via e-mail or the OPEN TALK, which will take place on 15 July as an online broadcast.

Send questions for the Chairman of the Board

We have good reasons to remain optimistic regarding our future. ŠKODA AUTO is strategically well situated and has solid foundations and an attractive model range.

Bernhard Maier 

CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF ŠKODA AUTO

6 years

Dieter Seemann has served as the Board Member for Purchasing since October 2014. In six years, he has managed to strengthen cooperation with the supply network of ŠKODA AUTO.

Change in management

Karsten Schnake (pictured) is taking over the post of Board Member for Purchasing at ŠKODA AUTO on 1 July, replacing Dieter Seemann, who is retiring early after six years on the job. The new member of the Czech carmaker’s management team previously held the position of Executive Vice President of Volkswagen Group China, which put him in charge of strategic purchasing and contract awarding for all Group brands.

Models and services

OCTAVIA for worse roads

The third generation of the lifestyle estate OCTAVIA SCOUT is having its world premiere at the beginning of July. The car boasts a number of robust features, is 15 mm higher and has all-wheel drive. Customers selecting the version with the most powerful 2.0 TDI engine of 147 kW will be able to pull a braked trailer weighing up to 2 tonnes. The car’s specifically shaped front and rear bumpers with the lower part in matt silver give it a particular look. A whole range of distinctive elements stand out in the interior, too. One of the things that the seat covers, steering wheel, armrest and dashboard impress with is the contrasting brown stitching.

One made out of two

The updated ŠKODA Connect App has merged the functions of its previous version, such as remote car locking and unlocking, with the ŠKODA OneApp. By using the SmartLink+ technology, it provides access to the car data via a smartphone. Thus, the new unified version becomes even more Simply Clever and user-friendly. It’s been also enriched with other solutions facilitating remote access and communication with the car and is available for free for Android and iOS.

How they see us

de.motor1.com (09/06/2020)

ŠKODA KAMIQ 1,0 TSI G-TEC 

Final score 

8/10

In the relatively limited offer of natural gas vehicles, this is one of the best.

Lots of space even on the rear seats

Simply Clever solutions

Alternative drive doesn’t hinder driving characteristics

Reduced luggage space

More expensive default navigation

News from the Group

Closer cooperation with Ford

The VW Group’s Supervisory Board has approved global cooperation with Ford. Projects in commercial vehicles and e-mobility will come first. The Group wants to adapt a medium-sized pick-up developed by the American brand for some markets and will take care of the development of an urban delivery truck. In turn, Ford will use the Group’s MEB platform for EVs in a vehicle intended for Europe and will be responsible for designing a 1.5-tonne van. Both carmakers expect their shared development costs to secure them a number of benefits.

Changes in top management

Starting on 1 July, the VW Group is changing the division of functions in top management. Herbert Diess, Chairman of the Board, will concentrate on tasks within the entire Group, leaving the management of the Volkswagen brand to Ralf Brandstätter (pictured), who has been working for the German carmaker as Operational Director for the past two years. Another change will take place in the Board of Management as Dr. Stefan Sommer is leaving at the end of June at his own request. Frank Witter will temporarily assume his remit. 

With its new visual design, ŠKODA Mobil scored in the Czech Public Relations (‘Lemur’) Awards 2020 by winning first prize among corporate publications and taking second place in the Internal Communications category.

Awards

Driving comfort with a seal of quality

‘Aktion Gesunder Rücken’, the German initiative for a healthy back, awarded a seal of quality for the ergonomic front seats of the OCTAVIA of new generation. The model met the strict criteria jointly developed by independent physicians and therapists from various fields of expertise. The award-winning seats are optional. Drivers and passengers are offered electrically adjustable lumbar supports, retractable seats and massage and ventilation functions. 

Two AWDs of the year

Two ŠKODA models won in their categories in the poll of the German ‘Auto Bild Allrad’ magazine. Readers chose the OCTAVIA model in the ‘4×4 Passenger Car up to EUR 40,000’ category as the best imported car and the absolute winner. The SUPERB was then chosen as the winner among imported cars in the ‘4×4 Passenger Car over EUR 40,000’ category. In total, voters chose from among 218 models divided into 10 categories. 

Employee collection The “Help Medical Staff Fight COVID-19” employee collection initiative brought in a total of CZK 1,148,490. The amount included a CZK 380,000 contribution by the

KOVO Trade Union, and the resulting amount was matched by the carmaker.

Motorsport

Back to racing

After two cancelled races, the shortened Czech Rally Championship series will start on 11 July and open with the Rally Bohemia Mladá Boleslav event. The ŠKODA Motorsport factory team will be there and put one FABIA Rally2 evo car on the track. Jan Kopecký and his navigator, Jan Hloušek, with whom the driver completed two WRC2 Pro World Championships last year, will try to defend the Czech title. They already had their first joint start this season after participating in the MOGUL Test Rally at the Sosnová Autodrome in June.