08/2020

ŠKODA Mobil<br>Srpen 2020

• Title

  
  

• Flight through the ŠKODA world

  FLIGHT THROUGH THE ŠKODA WORLD

  WHAT IS HAPPENING AT ŠKODA AUTO

  UNDER NEW LEADERSHIP

  In August, the position of Chairman of the Board of Management at ŠKODA AUTO was taken over by Thomas Schäfer, who replaced Bernhard Maier after almost five years on the job. The German manager has previously worked, among others, for Daimler AG, where one of his responsibilities was the construction of the Mercedes-Benz plant in China. He joined the Czech carmaker from the top of Volkswagen Group South Africa, where he oversaw the successful development of the Group brands in sub-Saharan Africa for the past five years, bringing Volkswagen, Audi and VW Commercial Vehicles to a record market share of 23.5 percent. The construction of additional production plants, the introduction of new ways of cooperation with importers and the development of mobility concepts for Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda and Ghana all contributed to this success. You will find an interview with the new Chairman of the Board of Management in the next issue of ŠKODA Mobil.

  FIRST, I WILL BE MOSTLY LISTENING. I WANT TO UNDERSTAND HOW THE ŠKODA AUTO FAMILY WORKS AND WHAT IT THINKS ABOUT – WHAT YOU THINK IS GOING WELL OR WHERE WE COULD IMPROVE OURSELVES.

  Thomas Schäfer 

  CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF MANAGEMENT AT ŠKODA AUTO

  You can read the letter from the new Chairman of the Board to the employees on ŠKODA Space.
  

  CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

  
  

  TOP CULTURE SUPPORT

  The carmaker has extended its cooperation with the Czech Philharmonic and the National Theatre until 2023. “ŠKODA AUTO has long been one of the greatest sponsors of culture in the Czech Republic, and this also applies during this period that is not entirely easy for all of us”, said Bohdan Wojnar, Board Member for HR Management. The carmaker has been cooperating with the Philharmonic since 1993 and started supporting the National Theatre five years later. 

  THE YEAR OF SMALL BUSINESSES

  ŠKODA AUTO has become the guarantor of a project that aims to support the development of small and medium-sized businesses. As part of the Year of Small Businesses 2020, a number of conferences, seminars and webinars will take place in which the company’s representatives will also take an active part. This year’s main agenda is digitisation and cybersecurity – areas in which ŠKODA relies on an ever-widening range of its online services, extended by a completely redesigned e-shop this year (see The new ŠKODA e-Shop on page 14).

  ŠKODA has completed its 3 millionth car in China, where it started production in 2007. This milestone vehicle, a KAROQ, 

  rolled off the production line in Ningbo in July.

  HOW THEY SEE US 

  
  

  AUTOBILD.DE (20 July 2020)

  OCTAVIA RS TSI 180 kW

  Final score 

  7/10

  WE ARE SURE THAT THE NEW ALL-ROUND ŠKODA SPORTS CAR HAS A PROMISING FUTURE.
  

  excellent first impression

  wide range of other drives, including PHEV

  very comfortable sports seats

  despite being a sports model, the test car’s engine and exhaust didn’t produce very audible sounds (it should be stronger in the marketed version)

  NEWS FROM THE GROUP 
  

  A FRUGAL JOURNEY BY SHIP

  For the first time in history, a ship powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG) transported newly manufactured cars from Europe to North and Central America. VW Group Logistics took care of the ship’s departure from Emden, Germany. Thanks to its alternative propulsion, the vessel called ‘Siem Confucius’ has significantly lower emissions – up to 25 percent less CO2, 30 percent less nitrogen oxide, 60 percent less particulate matter and 100 percent less sulphur oxide. The 200-metre ship can accommodate 4,800 cars on 13 floors, and an ocean voyage to Mexico takes three weeks.

  
  

  NEW TIGUAN 

  ALSO AS A HYBRID 

  The most successful SUV in Europe has undergone a facelift and a number of other improvements. The new look of the car’s front will grab your attention at first glance. Additional innovations can be found mainly under the bonnet and in the cockpit. Customers can also opt for the eHybrid PHEV version or the sporty Tiguan R with all-wheel drive. That one will have a special torque vectoring function to accentuate the car’s dynamics when taking turns. Volkswagen has also equipped the car with a new-generation steering wheel, which, upon request, can be used to control the air conditioning by touch.

  ACHIEVEMENTS 
  

  BEST COMMUNICATION DURING THE PANDEMIC

  ŠKODA AUTO received a total of five Fénix awards for its content marketing. The expert jury awarded the carmaker first place in the ‘Best Distribution of Corporate Content’ category for its internal communication during the COVID-19 pandemic and also in the category of ‘Employee Newspaper’ for the new look of ŠKODA Mobil. The VTM – Marketing CZ department earned two third places for the ‘Proudly supporting our hockey players on the way to victory’ campaign – in the ‘Best in Auto/Moto’ and ‘Social Media Campaign’ categories. The carmaker also received the special ‘Client of the Year’ award.

  
  

  IN AUGUST, ŠKODA AUTO MADE THE 13TH MILLION GEARBOX OF THE CURRENT GENERATION. CURRENTLY IT INCLUDES SYSTEMS MQ/SQ 100 AND MQ 200 PRODUCED IN MLADÁ BOLESLAV AND THE AUTOMATIC DQ 200 FROM VRCHLABÍ.

  MEASURES AGAINST COVID-19

  ŠKODA AUTO reflects the regulations of the Czech government and continuously updates its measures to combat the spread of the coronavirus. Up-to-date information can always be found on the ŠKODA Space homepage. Further details will be provided by managers and foremen, or you can find them in the ŠKODA Weekly and leaflets and on noticeboards.

• eMobility – premiere

  emobility – Premiere

  A DYNAMIC PREMIERE

  THE ŠKODA ENYAQ iV WAS PRESENTED IN PRAGUE IN FRONT OF 500 GUESTS AND ALSO ONLINE

  KODA car fans witnessed an extraordinary event on 1 September. On its main stage, Prague’s O2 universum cultural centre presented the eagerly awaited new model, the purely electric ENYAQ iV, to guests as part of an almost hour-long programme. Thanks to the live broadcast by 360-degree cameras, viewers from all over the world were in the middle of the action and could admire the electric car, which was accompanied by famous models from the brand’s successful 125-year history in impressive driving demos, including bicycles, motorcycles and the first car made in Mladá Boleslav, the famous L&K Voiturette A.

  The new fully electric SUV ENYAQ iV introduces not only a number of breakthrough technologies but also a completely new structure and interior design concept. “By introducing the ENYAQ iV, ŠKODA AUTO is entering a new era. It is the first purely electric ŠKODA car based on the modular platform for electric vehicles (MEB). Thanks to the long driving range, short charging times, easy operation and affordable prices, this vehicle is providing Simply Clever electromobility”, said Thomas Schäfer, Chairman of the Board of Management, at the premiere. He also emphasised that the electric car will be manufactured in the Czech Republic, at the main plant in Mladá Boleslav. “It is going to become the only plant in Europe where cars on the MEB modular platform are also manufactured outside Germany. This proves ŠKODA AUTO’s excellent technical expertise. Our thanks go out to the entire team that built the ENYAQ iV model. I’m proud of it. It’s a great car”, Schäfer declared. Sales are scheduled to begin in the first half of next year; in many countries, customers can pre-order the ENYAQ iV.

  Exclusive edition

  The brand’s successful history is called to mind by the Founders Edition, a limited offer of 1,895 (a reference to the year when Václav Laurin and Václav Klement founded the car manufacturing company) ENYAQ iVs. This special range will be available in Magic Black and Arctic Silver. It is decorated with the illuminated Crystal Face mask with a sports front and rear bumper and has a number of additional elements, such as an inscription on the stern in glossy black. The interior is dominated by a two-tone instrument panel and cognac-coloured ecoSuite design leather seats. ED
  

  Come to recharge!

  The new model will be presented to employees at the ENYAQ iV roadshow in September. When will it arrive where you are?

  9–11 Sep. 10 am–11 pm
  Mladá Boleslav, expo at Hall M15

  14 Sep. 10 am–11 pmMladá Boleslav, expo at Hall M3

  15 Sep. 10 am–5 pm
  Mladá Boleslav, expo at Hall M3

  17–18 Sep. 9 am–4 pm
  Mladá Boleslav – Česana, parking lot in front of the Design Villa

  21 Sep. 10 am–11 pm 
  Vrchlabí, parking lot at C1

  22 Sep. 10 am–4 pm Vrchlabí, parking lot at C1

  24–26 Sep. 10 am–11 pm
  Kvasiny, parking lot at K13

  ALL ABOUT OUR LATEST MODEL

  You can read more about the new model and the technologies used, as well as the experience of the experts who participated in developing the electric car, in the ENYAQ iV supplement, which is included with this month’s edition of ŠKODA Mobil.

  You can find the photo gallery of the ENYAQ car at

• eMobility – experiences

  emobility – experiences

  NO FEAR OF VOLTAGE

  ANSWERS TO THE FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT E-VEHICLES THROUGH THE EYES OF OUR ŠKODA AUTO EXPERTS

  eople are talking about eMobility more and more. However, these discussions are not always based in fact, so a number of inaccuracies and myths are taking hold. Below, you can find the answers to the most frequently asked questions in this area.

  Are electric cars more environmentally friendly than cars with internal combustion engines?

  “First and foremost, electric cars do not produce any local CO2 emissions; thus, they contribute to cleaner air in city centres. Moreover, operating electric cars is as ecological as the production of electricity in a given country is ecological. Although the differences in this respect are tremendous, the pressure to increase the use of renewable resources is growing everywhere, and in many countries, green energy already has a larger share than that of fossil fuels”, says Petr Konopka from G32 – Model Line MEB.

  Does the battery capacity not decrease significantly during an e-car’s lifecycle?

  “Sure, there is certainly a decrease. In the case of the CITIGO0e iV and ENYAQ iV vehicles, however, we can guarantee our customers that a minimum of 70 percent battery capacity will remain available for eight years or up to 160,000 km”, explains Jan Špatný from the VAD/3 – eMobilty.

  Is maintaining and servicing an e-car not expensive and difficult? 

  “On the contrary, drivers will save money on several traditional servicing expenses. Regular exchanges of fuel filters and distribution lines will no longer be required. Even the brakes have a longer service life, as most of the braking torque is provided by the engine thanks to the recovery system. Of course, this doesn’t mean that the e-car user can avoid regular service inspections. The intervals are similar to those of conventional drive cars, but the work will be faster and cheaper”, adds eMobility specialist Špatný.

  
  

  Do you want to ask something else?

  Send your questions to us, then we will publish the answers from the ŠKODA AUTO experts in ŠKODA Mobil or via other internal communication channels. Send your questions to: skoda.mobil@skoda-auto.cz
  

  Aren’t there too few charging points?

  “The charging station network is constantly evolving and now safely covers the main routes. Thanks to the MyŠKODA Powerpass card, drivers can comfortably travel all over Europe and have more than 150,000 charging stations at their disposal. For the time being, everyone has to watch and be more careful when planning a route to more remote locations. The MyŠKODA Powerpass application will help drivers to find suitable charging stations. As far as everyday driving is concerned, it’s enough to charge one’s electric car at home when electricity is cheaper (at night) and in the battery-saving mode”, says Klára Schönfeld from VC – Customer Experience Management.

  How big is the risk of a battery fire?

  “Tests carried out by the German ADAC car club revealed that the risk is definitely not higher than for classical combustion engine cars. The electric car has a system that disconnects the battery in the event of an accident. If a fire still occurs, other extinguishing procedures are needed. Rescue services have already developed reliable procedures. If the vehicle catches fire, it is extinguished and cooled with a mixture of water and wetting agent. Furthermore, a special extinguishing wetting agent for traction batteries is being developed so that the hazardous substances that form do not have a chemical reaction”, adds Zbyšek Orzech from SO/1 – Fire Service. ED
  

  GREEN FLEET

  At ŠKODA AUTO, alternative drive cars have become an integral part of the company’s fleet. “Currently, 176 of them are driving under the usual conditions, two-thirds of which are SUPERB plug-in hybrids. The rest are CITIGOe iV models, whose practical usability was tested by some of our colleagues when they visited Budapest and Bratislava on their journeys. They didn’t encounter any difficulties with the vehicle nor with the charging infrastructure”, explains Michal Bílek from the VTK/3 – Management of Company Cars department. “For my Prague–Bratislava trip, I reasonably planned my charging stops so as not to make them disproportionately long while giving the car a safe balance of energy for travel,” adds one of the drivers, Tomáš Lukáč from FIE – System Integration Product Creation. After the launch, employees will also receive other models from the IV family. A new generation of the OCTAVIA with a hybrid drive will arrive first, and the ENYAQ iV will follow. 

  THE ENYAQ iV IS JOINING THE ELECTRIC CARS AND HYBRIDS THAT ARE ALREADY IN USE.
  

  Wide charging network

  Charging infrastructure is developing rapidly, and ŠKODA AUTO is playing a major role in this regard. “We are fully prepared for the start of electromobility. Currently, about 600 charging stations are in service already, 261 of which can be used for company vehicles and 62 for our employees’ private cars. We will further develop this infrastructure in the years to come”, says Bílek. What if you need to recharge your electric car or hybrid car somewhere else? “Recharging hybrids and electric vehicles outside the plant and in the adjacent car parks is covered in cooperation with PRE”, explains Bílek. Rani Tolimat

• eMobility – production

  emobility – production

  SOLAR SIMULATION
  

  WHERE THE ELECTRIC VEHICLES WILL GET REALLY HOT

  he new solar simulation chamber extends the existing equipment that the GQ – Quality Management department has been operating for many years in the C17 lab building. While the existing workplace is used for working with combustion engine cars, the new test area, located in the U65 building in the main production plant, will be used mainly for electric cars. It is one of the most modern devices of its kind in the world. “Audi is the only brand in the entire VW Group to use an e-car testing solar chamber, but ours is a bit more modern”, says Petr Sobotka, head of GQM-2 – Material Technology and Special Measurements, regarding the condition of the new workplace.

  Desert conditions in Hall U65

  The device  of a carefully insulated room equipped with a set of 28 light emitters with an output of 2.5 or 4 kW. It is next to the engine room with special air conditioning and the “brain” for power control. The chamber can simulate different temperature, humidity and sunlight conditions. “We are able to simulate, for example, a desert climate, but also frosty mountain nights. During the test, we gradually switch between a hot Arizona day with an air temperature in the shade of 42°C and a solar radiation intensity of 1,000 W/m2 and a cold alpine night with a temperature of -10°C”, describes Dalibor Kopáč, a coordinator from GQM-2/1 – Material Engineering – Polymers. The test lasts 25 days and simulates about four years of exposing the car to the conditions of the Central European climate.

  Safety first 

  With extreme temperatures tests, where the car’s interior heats up to 110°C in some places, safety has to be taken into account, as the risk of fire is almost constant. Thermo-cameras in front of the chamber are constantly monitoring cars that the workers are preparing for the test or those that have already passed the test. Each car is equipped with up to 60 sensors that measure temperatures at individual spots and can also warn of sudden fluctuations via a special datalogger (device for collecting and storing analogue or binary information – ed.).

  Of course, sensors in the chamber are also monitoring ambient temperature and warning about gas leaks when the electric vehicle batteries overheat. A special “black box” monitors the temperature of the e-car’s battery. In case there is a problem, the security system ends the test and calls in the firefighters. In the event of a real fire, there is a distinctive red container in front of the U65 building. The car is pulled into it from the solar chamber with a winch, the container closes, and the firefighters cover the e-car with water. Luděk Vokáč
  

  

  NEW CENTRAL PILOT HALL

  TOP FACILITIES FOR CONSTRUCTION AND TESTING OF PRE-SERIES HYBRIDS AND ELECTRIC VEHICLES

  KODA AUTO started constructing the new Central Pilot Hall (CPH) because of the growing number of new model launches and the expansion of the product range, given the BEV and PHEV cars in the brand’s portfolio. In the CPH, pre-production cars will be manufactured and put into operation, real and virtual installation tests will be carried out, 3D printing will be done, and control measurements, including analyses, will be performed. Thus, the PA – Launch Management department will have a multifunctional basis for future projects. “The preparation of the project itself was a big task for the project team and me. We turned the long-term vision into a reality by convincing investment committee members of the CPH’s fundamental contribution in the pre-series process”, says Josef Václavík, head of the PAP – Central Pilot Hall department.

  From 2021, the CPH will be providing top facilities not only to all employees participating in the construction of pre-production cars but also to visitors. All of them will have enough parking spaces available, including e-car charging stations, as well as practical and educationally designed representation spaces and a ViKo room with access to the audit workplace, including a light tunnel to present the pre-production cars. ”We designed the CPH concept in cooperation with the company’s SO – Security department so that the space where secret pre-production cars are located is as secure as possible. The Virtual Reality Studio will play an integral role in performing construction analyses in accordance with the virtual reality strategy and using three-dimensional LED wall technology”, adds Václavík. The last step will be to manage the relocation of production technologies and staff during full-scale operation so that the CPH team will be able to operate inside it from 2021. ED
  

• eMobility – preparation

  eMobility – preparation

  PRODUCTION IS READY FOR THE ENYAQ iV
  

  START OF PRODUCTION OF THE FIRST MEB PLATFORM MODEL IS SCHEDULED TO BEGIN THIS YEAR
  

   he carmaker has finished reconstructing the assembly line in Hall M13 in its main plant. It is the only one in the entire VW Group to provide for parallel production of cars on the MEB and MQB platforms. This means that the ENYAQ iV electric car, the OCTAVIA and the compact KAROQ SUV will all be rolling off the same line.

  ŠKODA AUTO HAS INVESTED EUR 32 MILLION IN THE ASSEMBLY LINE FOR THE ENYAQ iV MODEL.
  

  ŠKODA AUTO has invested EUR 32 million in the assembly line for the new electric drive. Modifications have been made since last summer and have involved changes to the building’s statics or in the parts transporting technology, which has been adapted to suit the weight of purely battery-powered electric vehicles and built-in parts. Additionally, the conversions have contributed to fully automating the final assembly of the platform and the high-voltage traction battery. The carmaker has installed auxiliary robots to handle heavy batteries and also to set up a larger workstation for head-up displays adaptations. During the reconstruction, it focused particularly on safety, mainly in the area of battery handling. To this end, it took extensive fire-fighting measures. For example, thermal imaging cameras have been installed to  monitor the temperature in the production hall and to trigger an alarm if a deviation occurs. ED

  SOFTWARE INSPECTION ASSISTANT

  he E-Meisterbock or Elektromeisterbock (test tool used to ensure the quality of electric vehicles, ed.) was used by the PAM – Launch Management Project MIDSIZE team for the first time while preparing the ENYAQ iV model production. It is one of the first pre-production vehicles whose luggage compartment contains a huge flashing computer. After the car is built, the computer is connected to each wire and control unit so that it records everything that happens with the car. About 300 different functionalities are started in the car, most of which are not perceptible at first glance. Therefore, the computer stores a comprehensive amount of information about when someone opens the door, turns on the ignition, closes the side window or turns on the radio. It then analyses the data and checks whether everything went as it should (e.g., whether the left window started instead of the right window, etc.). In case any of the functions are not working properly, the computer immediately reports this issue to the Technical Development staff. E-Meisterbock testing takes place in the pre-series phase every two weeks. “If an error is detected, we wait for a new set of control units and their associated software to be released by Technical Development. Then we immediately rebuild the car, adjust it to the new state and start testing again to see whether the software bugs have been fixed or not”, says Radek Liška, head of PAM. At a time when ŠKODA cars are, to an increasing extent, becoming computers on wheels, E-Meisterbock is proving to be an essential part of the ramp-ups. “That’s why we’ve decided to use the E-Meisterbock in other projects as well – even in cars with conventional drives”, concludes Liška. ED
  

• eMobility – training

  emobility – training

  Focusing on eMobility

  Modern types of training, analyses and testing in one place
  

  new eTC technology centre has been set up in Hall M6 in cooperation with several production departments that use it for eMobility training and education, to test the quality of manufactured batteries and cars and as a laboratory to analyse battery systems. 

  Training centre

  The centre’s primary purpose is to train newly hired staff or improve the skills of existing staff. To date, 70 employees have been trained here. The training modules focus on individual component production areas (e.g. PHEV batteries, motor, gearbox and quality). The training for one module always takes place over two days and has a daily capacity of up to 24 employees. Thanks to virtual training, the centre also makes it possible to train personnel to operate Kuka, Fanuc and ABB robots, which are used in the production of electric cars. This course has three parts: basic robot control, gripping and handling parts and simulating a real workplace. 

  Battery systems analyses

  This PKM Component Production workplace focuses primarily on manually simulating individual e-test steps, which are carried out at production line testing stations to reveal the shortcomings of purchased parts. Furthermore, there is a test of the cooling circuit tightness and of the battery as a whole, where the detection of possible leaks reveals unsuitable or damaged parts. The batteries are broken up into smaller sets that are easier to analyse. 

  Quality testing

  At the quality management workplace of the GQH – QS Components department, audit tests and stress tests of high-voltage batteries are performed, battery systems components in pre-series phases are analysed in detail, battery systems parameters (including their components) are evaluated after long-term driving tests, and climatic chamber tests are also performed here. The results of these tests are used to release high-voltage batteries installation methods for series production. Last but not least, complaints from the service network are analysed in detail at the quality workplace. ED

  SPECIALISED COURSES
  

  WHICH NEW CLASSES FOCUS ON RAISING AWARENESS ABOUT eMOBILITY AMONG EMPLOYEES?

  he ŠKODA Academy launched specialised electromobility training in 2011 and subsequently renewed it in 2016. Most of the original training focused on work related to developing and producing cars. Thus, in cooperation with the GGE – eMobility Infrastructure department, new programmes were created for employees from departments that are not directly involved in production. These include, among others,  training on electric drives and traction batteries. The Skype overview training entitled “The future is electric” in June was also very successful, and it will be repeated in the second half of the year and next year. These courses are intended for all employees. You can sign in for an educational event on ŠKODA Space via the App (orig.: “Přihláška na vzdělávací akci”) or contact course guarantor Stanislav Hackl (SEA/2–Technical Training and Subsidiaries department) via email stanislav.hackl@skoda-auto.cz.  

  Webinars with experts

  If you are looking for an easily accessible yet specialised way to learn more about eMobility, try your favourite webinars. In addition to external lecturers, internal experts also take part. “The carmaker has numerous experts on many topics, and one of the tasks of the ŠKODA Academy is to pass its unique knowledge onto other employees. At the same time, the lectures contribute to the experts’ personal development”, highlights Pavla Kavuloková from the SE/33 – Specialist Courses and Internationalisation department. The webinars are usually recorded and stored in the media library, which is part of the eDoceo internal e-learning system. Therefore, you can play them whenever you have time and are in the mood.

  Learning paths

  You can also learn about electromobility through the new Learning Journey courses, which enable participants to visit operations where electric cars are made and can learn more about advanced technologies, automation and digitisation. This educational format will tell them how the OCTAVIA’s plug-in hybrid traction batteries or the ENYAQ’s batteries are made. This year, managers are going on these internal “learning journeys” in the M6 and M13 production halls; other employees will be given the opportunity next year. ED

• eMobility – Partners

  emobility – Partners

  
  

  IMPRESSIVE CHANGE
  

  HOW THE SALES AND SERVICE NETWORK IS PREPARING FOR THE START OF eMOBILITY
  

  he ENYAQ iV will be added to other electrically powered models in showrooms. The new iV series products (CITIGOe iV, as well as the SUPERB and OCTAVIA hybrids) have been on sale since last September, and the sales and service partners have also had to adapt to them. 

  Charging according to sales capacity

  In addition to training employees, we have had to add charging elements to our infrastructure. Two ŠKODA wallboxes are standard: One is used for presentations in the showroom, the other for presenting functionalities at the car handover point. There is one mobile charging station and one other charging point in the area, both with an 11 kW output. “This is the absolute minimum, and we have prepared a so-called ŠKODA Charging Matrix for dealerships recommending the number and performance of charging elements based upon the expected number of cars sold”, explains Jiří Pitrmoc from the VBO/1 – Distribution Strategy and Special Projects department. For example, if a dealer sells six to 10 electric cars a week, they should have 10 charging stations, including one with a 50 kW output.

  MONTHS OR 30,000 KILOMETERS REPRESENT THE INTERVAL AFTER WHICH AN E-CAR OWNER HAS TO GO TO THE FIRST MANDATORY SERVICE INSPECTION  

  DEALERS WILL CHARGE AN E-CAR AT LEAST TO THIS VALUE WHEN HANDING IT OVER TO THE ELASTOMER

  Digital performance

  Dealers can choose between two basic ways of presenting e-cars. The first option is to place it in front of a special screen, where the car complements a wallbox stand. In the second case, visitors will find an interactive stand next to the car (see picture). In addition to the charger, it has a large touch screen to guide customers through the car’s specifics or charging options. It also contains interesting tools to convince potential buyers of the e-car’s benefits, such as a range calculator or a tool to compare the e-car operating costs with a combustion engine car.

  Dealing with the batteries

  eMobility also places high demands on service stations. Brand partners are divided into three levels, depending on their qualification for working with high-voltage devices. The service stations in the first category, which is mandatory for all partners, only carry out car maintenance. In the second, batteries are handled but, in this case, are not dismantled by the employees. Third-level partners are allowed to make repairs inside the battery. The manufacturer’s or the importer’s service team will take care of any specific problems with the batteries. Given the risks associated with working with high-voltage batteries, all service stations also have to be equipped with a so-called quarantine area. It is an open-air space at least 5 metres away from other cars, buildings and flammable objects. ED

• Azubi Car

  Azubi Car
  

  LIKE THE WIND

  THE SEVENTH STUDENT CAR TAKES ITS INSPIRATION FROM THE LEGENDARY 1957 SPECIAL – ŠKODA 1100 OHC

  he latest iteration of the Azubi Car project, in which the VSME students are supported by their teachers in vocational training to design and build their own car, looked back into the carmaker’s history on the occasion of its 125th anniversary. Apart from the inspiration found in the ŠKODA 1100 OHC sports roadster from 1957, its name SLAVIA also calls history to mind, as it was the name that Václav Laurin and Václav Klement gave their bicycles manufactured from 1895 onwards.    

  Captivated by sporty driving

  The students of the vocational school, which is part of the ŠKODA Academy, chose the SCALA model as the foundation for their concept and transformed it into a sports car with an open body of type spider. The first sketch was created with help straight from the brand’s chief designer, Oliver Stefani. “Despite the wider use of computers and simulations, drawing is still an essential part of car design. The sketch is the first of many steps on a long and exciting journey to create a new car”, is how Stefani describes the start of work on the prototype in March. The preparations were disrupted by the impact of the coronavirus, so discussions about the car’s shape, for example, often had to take place online, and the model’s presentation to the public was delayed by about a month. The students were divided into several teams: One took care of the design, and another of the paint or the electrical installation. A great deal of work went into modifying the body, which lost its roof and rear doors in the process. The students also played with a number of details. “One of the things we’ve come up with are dynamic turn indicators in the front grille, which will follow the usual turn indicators”, explains Ludvík Arazim from the team of electricians. He speaks highly of the cooperation with ŠKODA experts, who helped the team to develop those ideas. “They also provide us with technologies that we don’t have in school yet. They helped us with the 3D printing of the backlit lettering”, Arazim adds.

  Stunning student skills

  While working on the project, the students learn not only their own craft but also teamwork and the basics of communication. According to Arazim, it is the most difficult skill in the whole project. “We reached agreements within individual micro-teams quite easily, but the meeting of the whole big team was challenging. We come from a number of different fields, and sometimes we have very different views. Therefore, we had to look for compromises and meet each other halfway”, Arazim concludes. Rani Tolimat
  

  Appraisal by Jan Kopecký

  “The VSME students did a great job and built a beautiful car this year. Its dynamic curves catch the eye at first glance, and it is clear that they paid attention to every detail. Even though everything was made by hand, the quality of the workmanship is absolutely excellent. Thanks to the tough bodywork, the SLAVIA offers a very sporty ride and evokes emotions similar to that of its paragon, the ŠKODA 1100 OHC”, says the ŠKODA Motorsport factory driver, who tested the seventh student car on the track in Bělá pod Bezdězem with his co-driver, Jan Hloušek.

• FORCE Program

  FORCE Program
  

  CHANGE MEANS OPPORTUNITIES

  ACTION FIELD CONTENT CAN BE ADAPTED TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC BECAUSE THE FORCE PROGRAM IS TIMELESS

  
  

  OUR GOAL:
  

  Trough efficiency towards flexibility for globalisation 

  OUR WAY:

  Simply Clever solutions 

  OUR MOTIVATION: 

  Changing mindset to secure the future 

  he objectives and tasks of the FORCE Program laid down in action fields F1–F8 also apply at a time when both industry and the market are recovering from outages in the first half of the year. Not only field F5 (Competitive cost structure) but also all the others are related to making financial savings and maintaining cash flow and liquidity. In production processes, this means accelerating towards the onset of a higher degree of digitisation within the F1 (Future factory) field. Furthermore, the challenge regarding F2 (Customer-oriented quality) is to continue to look for ways to avoid additional costs this year to reduce control activities by 5.2%. Reducing activities that do not add value (the goal is a 6% improvement in 2019–2020) and decreasing the underuse of employees, for example as a result of the sub-optimal sequencing of special equipment, will also help to save money and to streamline, which is addressed by action field F3 (Value creation). The gradual start of production and fluctuations in demand changed the market structure and have led to a quick adjustment in the range of manufactured cars. Action fields F4 (Capacities) and F6 (Ramp-up challenges) will, therefore, be focused even more on assessing capacities and ensuring the smoothest possible path to other projects – especially when it comes to new cars literally crammed with control units and software or electromobility. 

  Measures to combat the pandemic have also led to restrictions on personal meetings or business trips; however, modern working and communication methods started to be fully used. These are now playing a fundamental role regarding field F7 (Regionalisation) and the management of foreign projects. While 15 lectures were held at foreign universities last year to spread awareness about the carmaker among students, working meetings between Czech and Indian plants are now held exclusively online, which saves time and money. Additionally, the carmaker pays great attention to reducing the impact of its activities on the environment and within the action field F8 (Green future – environment). It has managed to make significant improvements in recent years, and this year’s goal is zero landfill waste per car. Despite the negative impact of COVID-19, the topic of environmental protection is at the forefront of its activities, just as it is with competitors or key economic units, such as the European Union. However, further steps will not be possible without new technologies on which ŠKODA AUTO employees are actively working, such as electromobility, biomass combustion and the use of solar energy. MIroslav Kroupa

• Strategy 2025

  Strategy 2025
  

  Smart ideas push us forward

  The long-term targets of Strategy 2025 are still relevant despite the corona crisis

  KODA AUTO’s priorities as formulated in its strategic programme remain valid even after the crisis caused by the coronavirus. Thus, the Strategy 2025 targets still include an increase in car sales, as well as an expansion of the portfolio with digital business models and mobility services. Specific priorities are demonstrated by the strategy’s logo, the crystalline arrow pointing forward. The link with the tradition of Czech crystal is also a reference to the significant 125 years of the car company, and in this decade it is seeking enthusiastic customers, advanced products, an excellent team and substantial profitability, as well as sustainability and integrity. The carmaker’s direction is summed up in the long-term vision: “ŠKODA – a Simply Clever company for the best mobility solutions.” The basic principles are captured in our company’s mission: “Inventiveness drives us forward.”

  A common future

  Thomas Schäfer, the new Chairman of the Board, has a clear idea of the Czech carmaker’s position. “In recent years, ŠKODA has been developing in all areas and today is considered a prosperous and popular brand. I am convinced that together we can build an even more successful future”, Schäfer says.

  Greater speed and determination

  Just like ŠKODA, the entire VW Group has responded to dynamic changes and updated its TOGETHER 2025+ strategy. The main elements include the introduction of new strategic modules and an updated vision: “Shaping mobility – for generations to come.” It represents even faster progress on the previously set path, as well as higher concentration and consistency with greater determination to a change. In the case of the Group strategy, ŠKODA AUTO helps with the preparation of specific measures and their implementation. There is conformity between the principles of the VW Group’s strategy and that of the Czech carmaker.

  Future issues of ŠKODA Mobil will provide information on the current state of selected areas and what awaits the car company in this regard. ed

  Strategy 2025 – targets reached

  The inter-area initiatives of ŠKODA AUTO, which form the backbone of the strategy implementation programme. 

  Brand’s strategy

  It concentrates on ŠKODA’s values: humane, unexpected, facilitating. These are consistently applied by the carmaker in all communication campaigns to further strengthen our customers’ loyalty.

  Product strategy

  It represents the continuous product offensive that includes the launch of eight new models and derivatives since 2016. It emphasises the strong focus on SUVs (KAROQ and KAMIQ), as well as the introduction of the first electric vehicles: the CITIGOe iV and the SUPERB iV plug-in hybrid. This year’s main event is the debut of the fully electric ENYAQ iV (see picture).

  Digital transformation

  The carmaker's digitisation efforts have resulted in the creation of ŠKODA AUTO DigiLab, which is currently working on 16 active pilot projects. The specialisation in services and connectivity has led to the introduction of the voice assistant, Laura, and the further development of ŠKODA Connect services. 

  
  

  Flexibility and scalability

  Owing to increasing production capacity (e.g. the construction of the new Paint Shop in Mladá Boleslav), continuous modernisation of production systems and the world market offensive, the carmaker has achieved record deliveries to its customers (2018 and 2019). The car company has shown itself worthy of being tasked with responsibility for India thanks to its successful regional and sales policy.

  Culture and organisation aim for performance

  ŠKODA AUTO is undoubtedly one of the best employers in Central Europe. It is developing its open and innovative corporate culture even further. For example, it has set up a central innovation team that facilitates the implementation of new working methods and projects in all areas.

  Environment

  By promoting sustainable development, the impact of production on the environment has so far been reduced by over 48 percent as compared with 2010. ŠKODA AUTO has also committed to reducing its carbon footprint by a third by 2025.  

  
  

  ŠKODA Space and its info page on Strategy 2025, where you can also complete an e-training course.

  No time to relax

  The pandemic affected all ŠKODA markets, but the implementation of the strategic development plan continues in these regions

  India

  Emphasis on cooperation

  In 2018, the VW Group entrusted ŠKODA AUTO with the entire Indian market. Despite the problems related to the coronavirus pandemic, the goal is still to have a market share of 5 percent by 2025. To this end, the activities of individual brands need to be properly coordinated, which is why they are working together on a sustainable Group Strategy 2030 for India. They will focus on Indian trends, opportunities and specifics to reflect the individual brands’ activities while transforming them into strategic targets and initiatives. The corporate strategies and activities to achieve these goals are now being defined in workshops attended by representatives from all the brands.     
  

  CHINA

  Digital future

  Three million ŠKODA cars have already rolled off the assembly line in China (more on page 3). To increase its success in the decade ahead, the carmaker has been developing and executing a comprehensive long-term business strategy together with its partner SAIC Volkswagen. ŠKODA is also driving digital transformation at full speed, especially via the recently established ŠKODA AUTO DigiLab China. In this way, the Czech brand expects to remain a major mobility provider for its Chinese customers in the future. 

  Russia and new markets
  

  Further opportunities

  Last year, the ŠKODA brand hit another record high on the Russian market, reaching a market share of 5.4 percent thanks to the delivery of 88,600 vehicles. In line with its 2025 Strategy, the carmaker intends to expand the range of markets to which it supplies its cars, which currently includes Kazakhstan, Belarus, Azerbaijan, Armenia and Tajikistan. In the upcoming years, it intends to enter the markets of Uzbekistan, Mongolia and Kyrgyzstan as well. The brand is also deepening its position in Southeast Asia: It has new importers in Brunei and Singapore and is preparing to enter the market in Sri Lanka. 

• INDIA 2.0

  INDIA 2.0
  

  Reliable Indian team

  Despite the coronavirus crisis, pre-series production of the new ŠKODA car has begun in Pune

   s part of the INDIA 2.0 project, ŠKODA AUTO Volkswagen India Private Limited (SAVWIPL) is preparing four new models for the Indian market: two SUVs and two ŠKODA and Volkswagen sedans. “For us, these cars are the future of the local market. Thanks to this project, we are able to double our production capacity in Pune”, says Stephan Walden, who is in charge of Launch Management at the Pune plant. Although the spread of the coronavirus complicated the situation, preparation of the ŠKODA SUV on the MQB-A0-IN platform has already entered the pre-series phase. “We won’t let anything – not even a virus – stop us on our path to success in India”, adds Walden. 

  Without respecting local values and using local resources and people’s skills, success would have been impossible. Therefore, we decided to produce 95 percent of the components in India.

  StephAn Walden

  Head of Launch Management at the Pune plant

  The Indian market is highly diversified with fierce competition and has been growing rapidly in recent years. The demanding local customers mostly value the cars’ useful features, assistance elements and connectivity, but they also want an affordable price. Consequently, cooperation with Indian suppliers plays an important role.

  The start-up team offensive

  The problems started when work in China was interrupted. Tools and moulds like sheet metal stampings are produced there that are used to make parts in India. Next, the pandemic affected Europe, from where the Pune plant receives professional support from experts who were unable to travel. The difficult situation in India continues, where it has led to an occasional shortage of manpower and outages in the supply of parts, as well as production. A solution has been found – the key role was played by the exceptional personal commitment of experts from all professional departments and, at the same time, the use of new modern communication methods, such as Skype conferences or video transmissions. Given the current situation, the start-up team became active linking the required professional departments and preparing the necessary steps to manage the pre-series phase. “Another, no less important task with the start-up team was to train the supplier of weldments for production according to the carmaker’s standards”, Walden adds, defining the 30 most important processes to facilitate the pre-series phase. These include the implementation of ŠKODA AUTO standards within the supply chain and a structured product optimisation process. Rani Tolimat

  A new era of quality

  Pune’s modern car testing centre has been providing all activities under one roof since the spring

  he aim of the INDIA 2.0 project is not only to introduce new models and technologies but also to keep pace with customers’ increasing requirements and the demands of the local market. This is why SAVWIPL has opened a new Quality Centre in Pune this year, which combines all analytical and testing activities in one spot. “For the Quality Management area, this is a milestone that means a transition to a higher level of local capabilities and options. Analytical capacities with precisely defined goals will enable us to succeed within a competition focused on customers and services”, says Pavol Zaic, head of GQ1 – PL Quality Management SMALL.  

  When producing or developing cars, the carmaker relies on local suppliers, and establishing a new top facility is similar. Thanks to these steps, costs are significantly reduced. One example of a facility involving local suppliers is a watertightness test facility equipped with a device for testing inclined vehicles. The lab has received special equipment for acoustic and noise tests from Europe and even has a darkroom for calibrating lights and a device for axle geometry adjusting. Cars for the Indian market have to withstand specific conditions. Customers are using them more frequently in more demanding terrain or during the monsoon season on roads impacted by the downpour. ED

  Let’s Help India

  ŠKODA AUTO and the KOVO Trade Union have launched a fundraising campaign to help the home and school for blind girls in Pune. You can contribute with a one-off contribution from your salary via the @SMART Employee fundraising Campaign application or by sending a donation to the ŠKODA AUTO employees’ charity account with the transparent account no. 8610022/0800. The carmaker and the trade union will then double the collected amount. The fundraising runs until 25 September. 

• Component Production

  Component Production

  Vrchlabí shifts into higher gear

  Cooperation between man, machine and technology as an optimised future-oriented solution

  he Vrchlabí plant is continuing to digitise component production. By implementing and using the principles of Industry 4.0, it is consolidating its position as a technologically highly advanced production plant. Consequently, the staff has used the so-called digital twin here to expand the production line by an entire workplace during full-scale operation. “Owing to space constraints, we couldn’t install the new unit next to the existing one; besides, neither adjustments nor test operations are possible during normal operation. The digital twin technology has allowed us to use a detailed virtual image of the line to simulate processes or procedures and continuously expand the production line during operation”, says Christian Bleiel, head of PK – Component Production. 

  The digital twin

  Before creating an exact digital twin of a real workstation, a 3D model was designed on a computer. The entire process involved a thorough imitation of robotic arms, sensor logic and safety features. In this way, the implementation team faithfully simulated all mechanical and kinematic processes of the device. The twin’s software functions succeeded in mediating communication between all of the production line’s hardware components and software-guided control processes. Using this setting, the engineers developed, tested and optimised control electronics while calculating how much space they needed for a new workplace. They also eliminated the collision of robotic arms and determined the ideal composition of the production cycle. Using a computer model, the project implementation period was cut by about three weeks to achieve savings of approximately 40m2 of production space. The robot control programmes for the digital twin had been developed before the machines and their accessories arrived at the plant. ED

  Following the example of Industry 4.0 

  New parts for CNC machines are supplied by an automatic robot controlled by Internet of Things (IoT) sensor technology. And how does everything work? Logistics workers collect a crate of parts in the warehouse, and an automatic transport robot picks it up and transports it to one of the CNC machining lines. On the way back, the robot takes an empty crate with it, which reports its return to the warehouse. Thus, the robot delivers more than 50,000 parts to machining tools per day, exactly when needed. The entire process increases not only production productivity but also occupational safety (logistics employees are no longer moving around inside the production area). Investments in this project will pay off for the carmaker in less than three years.

• Risk Management

  RISK MANAGEMENT
  

  Protective shield against risk

  he setting up of the Internal Control System (ICS) at ŠKODA AUTO acts as a new protective shield against risk. Risk management is essential to ensuring the carmaker’s success in the long term. Its employees have to recognise risks in time and manage them actively, which also includes preventing them from happening. Whether everyone is actively preventing risks will be checked by the ICS in the coming months. The system was created based on the requirements of the VW Group’s Board of Management and the principles of the Together4Integrity programme. “The aim of the project is to shift towards a process-oriented company and create a kind of protective shield that will allow the carmaker to reduce major process risks – for example, through regular standardised checks and their subsequent effective testing”, explains Helena Frostová from GO – Governance, Risk & Compliance. The ICS also clearly assigns responsibility, identifies weaknesses in key processes, complies with internal and external regulations and makes use of a unified IT system. A project team was formed in July and consists of the GO department, a partner department from the VW Group and the consulting company Deloitte. Heads of departments will get acquainted with the ICS project in the first wave before its three-stage implementation. The last of these stages will take place by the end of 2021. ED

  Three implementation stages of the ICS

  1 

  In-depth analysis of key processes, including the existing checks and their comparison with the Group’s requirements, defined by the so-called catalogue of sample checks (MCC Catalogue). 

  
  

  2

  Determining whether the existing checks of key processes in departments are appropriate or whether new ones have to be set up and effectively tested.

  
  

  3

  Testing the effectiveness of the new ICS.

  
  

• Together4integrity

  Together4integrity

  A PROUD FAMILY

  THIS YEAR’S FOURTH OPEN TALK CENTRED ON THE GROUP PRINCIPLE ‘WE ARE PROUD OF THE WORK WE DO’

   nother OPEN TALK debate took place at the end of July. It was held using the new online format, which was originally necessary due to the strict security measures against the coronavirus pandemic. In front of the camera were Klaus-Dieter Schürmann, Board Member for Finance and IT, Alain Favey, Board Member for Sales and Marketing, Frank Schakau, Head of FC – Controlling, and Libor Myška, Head of VV – Sales Management. The discussion, during which they answered questions posted through the Slido platform, was viewed by more than 100 employees on their work computers. 

  We came out of the crisis better than others

  The participants in the discussion agreed that the employees’ pride is deeply rooted in the rich 125-year history of the ŠKODA brand. It is something for which everyone has to prove their worth, and our employees are successfully meeting the challenge. The current coronavirus pandemic situation served as an example. All of us have dealt with this situation very well. After all, a large part of the questions focused on the development of this situation and the state of the measures. 

  For example, the head of the VV department, Mr. Myška, compared the current situation to the previous economic crisis and described the fundamental difference as follows: “The situation in 2008 had an economic basis. The current crisis was caused by medical circumstances and led to great uncertainty, which in many respects still persists.” The carmaker’s initial reaction to the crisis also helped with the subsequent restart. “Following the crisis, we increased our market share, and we have outclassed many other manufacturers”, said Schakau, who heads the Controlling department.

  Sustainable goals

  According to the participants, the bet on sustainability may reduce current uncertainty. “This year, in particular, we are addressing the CO2 issue, which is important not only for the environment but also for our business model”, Schürmann noted regarding the new emission targets that have been in place for carmakers since this year. However, the future of ŠKODA AUTO and its proud employees is not just e-cars, although their importance will grow rapidly. Financial sustainability is important, too. And here, the carmaker has an advantage thanks to its budgetary discipline. “We can be proud of our foundation and our cost monitoring”, Favey said, adding that only a company that invests money efficiently and prudently without waste is a sustainable one. Luděk Vokáč

• Integrity Stories

  INTEGRITY STORIES

  I PROVIDE A SAFE SPACE

  PSYCHOLOGIST TOMÁŠ MERTIN HELPS EMPLOYEES TO ORGANISE IDEAS AND FEELINGS

  omáš Mertin works as a psychologist for the Mladá Boleslav plant and provides 15 to 25 consultations per month to company employees. “I really appreciate people who come to me, often when they are faced with difficult life situations”, says Mertin, who also works as a senior consultant, coach and psychotherapist at Centrum dohody. It leads employees to organise their ideas and feelings and to look for ways to make decisions. “I have to be prepared to respond to all topics. But I also have to be humble to admit the fact together with the client that not knowing what is right is sometimes normal”, he adds. He considers a psychological consultation successful when clients begin to perceive the situation from a different angle or increase their zest for life. Sometimes, a request pops up during the consultations that would exceed the defined limits of the service provided (e.g. the time limit or the client’s wish for the psychologist to be directly involved in a process). At that moment, it is necessary to observe the limits and direct clients to another solution. “In order to keep up the safe haven function of the psychological counselling centre, I have to be able to say no”, he adds. In connection with the topic of integrity, he recommends the concept of “everyday life”, where one looks for even small dilemmas in order to refine decision making. “If you want to have the capacity for such training, take care of your life and emotional needs. At the end of the day, however, you have to be able to return to your home environment, where you can relax and recharge your batteries”, Mertin concludes. Helena Fričová
  

  IT IS POSSIBLE TO DEVELOP RESPONSIBILITY AND INTEGRITY BY FIGHTING BACK AGAINST ONE’S OWN COMFORT AND INDIFFERENCE.

• Think Digitally

  THE NEW
  ŠKODA E-SHOP

  A NOVELTY THAT MANAGES LARGE NUMBERS OF CONTRACTS AND CAN MEET DEMANDING REQUIREMENTS HAS BEEN A CHALLENGE FOR OUR IMPLEMENTATION TEAM

  iven the growing number of orders and the need for increasingly complex functionalities, the original version of the e-shop with accessories, parts and other ŠKODA brand goods was no longer sufficient. Therefore, the VAS – After Sales Systems and Resources and FIV – System Integration Sales and Marketing departments initiated the development of a modern platform. “The new e-shop does not merely replace old technology but heralds a radical change in the business model with the most important benefit, which is establishing a direct relationship with the customer”, as Petr Bešík from the VAS department points out.

  The new modern design helps customers to enjoy shopping in a responsive way and the site is optimized for all convetional devices. “In addition to providing 100 percent functionality and maximum user comfort for customers, we also had to meet other parameters in the course of the development”, explains Marian Pavlík, head of the FIV department. Among others, the developers dealt with integration into a group system for user login and registration purposes, as well as the use of various payment methods and invoicing systems. So far, this is only a Czech-Slovak project, but the new platform is ready to expand to other markets.

  The final testing and commissioning of the website had to be dune during the period of the toughest coronavirus measures. The project teams worked exclusively in a remote format. “Given these demanding conditions, we had to align everything from a distance, basically only through Skype meetings, phone calls and e-mail communication. It was a project linked to many areas inside the carmaker.”, says Miloš Nožička from the FIV/1 – Architecture, System Integration, Rollout, UX department. RED
  

  6

  MONTHS IS HOW LONG IT TOOK TO DEVELOP A NEW PLATFORM FOR INTERNET TRADE

  14,149

  CUSTOMERS PLACED ORDERS DURING THE FIRST FOUR MONTHS OF OPERATION

  30,257

  NUMBER OF ITEMS SOLD DURING THE SAME TIME PERIOD

  297,960 

  CZECH CROWNS IS THE PRICE OF THE LARGEST ORDER TO DATE

  Application of new technologies

  The implementation team used a number of entirely new technologies on the project. The basis is formed by the SAP Commerce and SAP Billing systems. They are closely linked to the corporate ERP system, which the platform uses, for example, for prices and the stock quantities of products.

  Home delivery or free delivery to the dealer

  Customers can have goods from the e-shop sent to their home via a contractual courier for a fee of CZK 99. The option to pick up an order at one of more than 200 authorised ŠKODA AUTO partners in the Czech Republic is available free of charge. 

  Did you know that ...

  … as a ŠKODA AUTO employee, you get a 10 percent discount on goods in the new e-shop? All you have to do is log in and enter your personal number in the Account Settings section. This number is listed on your MFA card.

  You can find the online store here.

  A PROJECT THAT FREED UP THE HANDS OF THE FOREMEN
  

  Since 1 September, a digital solution has facilitated some of the foremen’s tasks in training direct area employees. The project was established thanks to the analysis of SVP expert Martin Bezděčík, who, in cooperation with the PFS-P/4 – Digitisation and Optimisation of Production Management Processes department, gradually collected and monitored the requirements of foremen in the Production area and presented opportunities to improve or simplify some unnecessary steps and activities. The role of PF1-M tutor was also important and accompanied pilot testing, including the overall deployment of digital modules in the Assembly Shop MB I. Together, they found a solution that would save the foremen’s time when carrying out important process tasks.

  Each production employee goes through regular training blocks at least once a year. Fulfilling them is essential for the occupational development of employees. At the same time, it is an important task for ŠKODA AUTO as an employer in the controlled fulfilment of obligations by inspectorates and labour offices. However, this training set (Environment, Quality Management System, Energy, Fire Protection, Code of Ethics) puts a great burden on the foremen of the operations concerned. Not only do they have to prepare the training in terms of content, but they then pass on factual information to their subordinates. Part of the training includes a signed confirmation of having completed the course, which is also archived. It was digitised from the original paper form thanks to the SVP team. Production workers confirm the training by simply attaching the MFA card to the reader near the Team Board (or the eKKV panels, which are used to make the outputs from technological equipment electronic), and archiving continues in the electronic format via the DFView application. ED
  

  5,000 

  ANNUAL REPORTS USED TO BE INITIALLED AND ARCHIVED BY HAND

  MOBILE ACCESSORIES WITHOUT WAITING

  THE AUTOMATON HANDS OUT CHARGERS, COVERS AND OTHER EQUIPMENT 24 HOURS A DAY, 7 DAYS A WEEK

  n the entrance area of the IT Point, there is a vending machine that dispenses accessories for business mobile phones. This machine is located next to the V8 building, towards the third gate. Here, you can pick up your items, like protective glass, cover or charger. The new solution, developed by the FIO department and supported by the SVP team, allows you (if you are a business phone user) to pick up accessories for your phone at any time without prior ordering or approval. You also do not have to struggle to find the equipment in the catalogue that is right for you. You can select the piece that is compatible with your mobile phone from among the available stocks in the machine. ED
  

  Frequent questions

  Which accessories can I pick up?

  The machine contains the usual accessories for currently offered mobile phones. These are mainly protective tempered glass shields, covers and cases for phones, travel chargers and USB cables. 

  Where and when can I pick up these accessories?

  The vending machine is located at the entrance to the IT Point in Mladá Boleslav, at the V8 building, towards the third gate. The vending machine is available 24 hours a day, so you can pack accessories for your mobile phone anytime.

  Won’t I be confused and accidentally choose accessories that don’t fit my phone?

  This vending machine is smart and connects to a database that verifies which mobile phone belongs to your PKI card. Therefore, it will only hand out equipment to you that is compatible with the device you have registered.

  
  

  How often can I get accessories?

  Every business phone user is entitled to one protective glass, one cover or case and charger per year. The machine will display your current deadline, after which you can draw a new item again. 

  How does the machine handle payment for accessories?

  Each item has a price that will be billed to your cost centre. Everything is automated, and you do not have to report that you are relying on the automaton.

  What if I need accessories for my colleagues? 

  As far as subordinates and colleagues are concerned, this can only be done by senior managers and secretaries, as they are not limited in their choices at the automaton.

• Green Future

  Responsibility towards nature in India

  The Czech carmaker’s activities on the subcontinent highlight sustainable development

  
  

  Alibaug

  444,000

  mangrove seedlings were plante+d by 300 locals to restore 100 hectares of forest

  Pune

  8.5

  is the installed capacity of 25,770 photovoltaic roof modules

  15* 

  up to this percentage of total consumption is covered by “green” energy

  9,000*

  tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions will be reduced per year

  
  

  Aurangabad

  0.98

  is the installed power 3,492 roof panels in the parking lot

  30* 

  up to this percentage of the plant’s annual electricity consumption will be covered from this source

  922*

   tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions will be reduced per year

  
  

  Editor’s note: * The data hold for a full utilisation of production capacities

   s part of its Green Future strategy, ŠKODA AUTO Volkswagen India Private Limited (SAVWIPL) is supporting a whole range of environmental activities. One such project at the Pune site includes putting up some of the largest roof-top photovoltaic (solar) panels in the country. They not only produce renewable energy but also help to insulate the factory buildings. The carmaker had already installed solar panels at its other site, in Aurangabad, where, in addition to their main purpose, they were installed in the roof of the car park to provide shade. “Complementing the environmental benefits of renewable energy, the lighting systems in both facilities were renovated to be as efficient as possible; they combine energy-saving LEDs and natural light to maximise energy savings on sunny days when there is a minimal need to use light inside the factory buildings”, says Helena Kotková from GRI – India Region Management. The company is also planning to recover about 70 percent of steam and waste heat from an electrodeposition oven and reuse it for the hot water circuit. On top of all these environmental initiatives, SAVWIPL has taken a number of steps to assist with water conservation – by investing in water recycling technology and preserving rain water run-off in its facilities to make its operations’ water use net-positive.  

  Helping the landscape and people 

  Another interesting project supported by SAVWIPL involves the restoration of damaged mangrove forests in Alibaug, where the carmaker is preserving existing trees and planting new ones. “We are contributing 30.8 million Indian rupees to this project over the next seven years (more than CZK 9 million – ed.)”, says Kotková. Mangroves act as a bio-shield protecting the shorelines from erosion and providing breeding areas for aquatic animals and are vital to sustaining coastal fishing areas. They support the environment by removing up to four times more carbon dioxide than terrestrial forests do. SAVWIPL will work closely with the Mangrove Foundation to improve the mangrove ecosystem, which will lead to healthy fishery and fertile land supporting the fishermen and farmers in and around the area. 

  In December 2019, SAVWIPL also inaugurated an ‘Oxygen Park’ (a densely planted urban forest) in the industrial sector of Aurangabad. More than 15,000 shrubs and trees are growing there, which fundamentally balances CO2 emissions in this area. The park is also a source of livelihood for the local community of socially disadvantaged women who care for the trees and flowers. Rani Tolimat

  Sanjay Khare

  SAVWIPL Board Member for Sustainability, Safety & Environment 

  Sustainability is one of the most important demands at the moment. Without it, life and work do not make sense. ŠKODA AUTO knows this very well. Our strategy motivates us to establish top personal mobility solutions for the current and future world with a minimal impact on the environment and a positive impact on society and regional development. ŠKODA is one of the most respected brands in the Czech Republic, and we are working to achieve this position in the Indian region as well. 

• GeenFuture – fotogalerie

  SAWIPL employees have planted a mangrove forest in Alibaug.

  
  

  Seedlings in the mangrove tree nursery. 

  
  

  Volunteers from SAWIPL have planted about 444,000 mangroves. 

  
  

  Solar panels in Aurangabad. 

  
  

  Solar panels cover the roof of the Pune plant. 

• eMOBILITA – ŠKOLENÍ – fotogalerie

  The new training centre will be used to train new personnel
  or improve the skills of current employees.  

  
  

  Employees will be introduced to the full process of battery assembly
  in the training centre and will attempt to put one together. 

  
  

  Each of training desks is focused on a specific step of the battery assembly line.
  Here you see the assembly of the so-called e-box. 

  
  

  The eTC uses cordless tighteners during training.
  On the production line, electronic tighteners can collect the relevant data. 

• MartinNemec – fotogalerie

  Martin se do včelaření pustil spolu se svou přítelkyní.

  Martin stáčel med z některých úlů v polovině června.

  Před vytočením plástů je potřeba odstranit vosková víčka z medných buněk.

  Výsledky letošního medobraní

• Chocholouskova – fotogalerie

  Malebnou zahradu si užívá nejen Petra s celou rodinou, ale i bezpočet ptáků, hmyzu a plazů.

  Nechtěla jsem botanickou zahradu, ale spíše přirozené prostředí.

  Suché zídky vyhovují ještěrkám.

  V jezírku se hemží pulci a létají zde vážky.

• VZOR

  Sysel při západu slunce na Radouči

  Bedřichov po cestě na přehradu 

  Zima v Arberu

  Přehrada Souš

  Kozí hřbety nad Špindlerovým Mlýnem

  Mléčná dráha nad osadou Jizerka

• eMOBILITA – PŘÍPRAVY – fotogalerie

  The main plant is preparing for the production of the ENYAQ iV.

  
  

  The ENYAQ iV will be produced on the same line as the OCTAVIA model. 

• eMOBILITA – VÝROBA – fotogalerie

  The solar simulation chamber will be used primarily for electric vehicles. 

  
  

  GQM-2 employees check the car mounted with 60 sensors. 

  
  

  The cars are tested in a carefully sealed room with a set of 28 light emitters. 

  
  

  Thermal cameras check the differences in temperature,
  which the GQM-2 employees are constantly evaluating.

  
  

  The chamber is next to the control room with a special ventilation system
  and the “brain“ of power management. 

  
  

  In front of the U65 building, there is a container to extinguish the tested car if needed.

  
  

• Azubi – fotogalerie

  The pearlescent hue of the White Crystal Blue colour, which has a blueish effect, gives the study car an exceptional lustre. The students applied it in three layers.

  
  

  Inside the vehicle, a big lion – a reference to Mladá Boleslav’s coat of arms – will capture your attention.

  
  

  The backlit ŠKODA lettering on the rear also works as a third brake or reversing light.

  
  

  The car gets its optimal aerodynamics from the specially arched covers behind both seats.

  The team of young designers turned to the KODIAQ RS to get 20-inch wheels made of the Xtreme light alloy.

  
  

• Together4integrity – fotogalerie

  The OPEN TALK was moderated by Alois Kauer (on the right), the head of SE – ŠKODA Academy.

  
  

  This would not have been possible without the necessary technical background and equipment.

  In July, the online-streamed discussion took place for the second time this year.

  
  

• Stimmungsbarometer – fotogalerie

  V kvasinské Montáži využívají nový systém na odsávání výfukových plynů při válcových zkouškách.

  Nový systém dodatečného odsávání zde nasadili na dvě pracovní pozice.

  Zaměstnanci oddělení nyní provádějí válcové zkoušky v lepším pracovním prostředí.

  Jednoduché vylepšení odbouralo fyzicky náročnou činnost pracovníků na dráze průběžných pecí v Kalírně.

  Na tamních válečkových drahách vzniklo i druhé vykládací místo, které zaměstnancům umožní ergonomickou manipulaci s rošty pro převodovkové díly.

  Na 13. bráně slouží řidičům externích dopravců jednoduchá navigace.

  Každý řidič si na bráně prostřednictvím multifunkční obrazovky zvolí svůj cíl.

  Mapu s trasou i pokyny si naskenuje prostřednictvím QR kódu…

  … nebo si ji vytiskne.

  Navigaci si navíc může zobrazit v několika jazykových mutacích.

  OPEN TALK se členem představenstva za Technický vývoj poskytují prostor pro výměnu názorů a nápadů celého oddělení.

• Výroba komponentů – fotogalerie

  In Vrchlabí, parts are transported to CNC machines
  via an automatic robot controlled via IoT technology. 
  

  Using a digital twin saved three weeks and 40 square metres 

  during the extension of the manufacturing line.

  
  

• eMOBILITA – PREMIERA – fotogalerie

  New chairman of the Board of Directors, Thomas Schäfer, spoke to the guests.

  New cars design was introduced by chief designer Oliver Stefani.

  
  

  Historical cars reminded 125 successful years of the carmaker. 
  

  The colourful show full of energy culminated with the arrival of eagerly awaited novelty.