Výročí / 130-let-srpen-2
Caring for customers and their cars
1920 Václav Laurin and Václav Klement took care of their customers from the very beginning, and from 1920, they even had a special company that provided after-sales services to customers.
Elka, výzbroj a opravy automobilů, s. s r. o., was established as a service centre in part of the Wallenstein Riding Hall. (Today, this Baroque complex is used by the National Gallery and the Senate.) The name and logo were derived from a phonetic rendering of the original abbreviated name of the company Laurin & Klement. Even in the days when the automobile was a pioneering novelty, it offered its customers top-quality services. In addition to car servicing, the company also sold tyres, spare parts and nearly new cars to its customers.
Today, this tradition is continued by the Škoda Original Parts division and numerous departments responsible for after-sales services. As in the past, customers most often encounter after-sales services at car dealerships or authorised service centres. However, customers can also purchase some accessories for their cars in the Škoda eShop.
Production in August 1968
On the night of 20–21 August 1968, when Warsaw Pact troops led by the USSR entered Czechoslovakia from several sides, the soldiers focused primarily on occupying communication hubs and industrial cities, including Mladá Boleslav. Under these circumstances, it was natural that the carmaker employees stopped working and turned their attention elsewhere. Information meetings were held and statements were signed. On 21 August, a special edition of the company newspaper Ventil was published. The so-called brotherly assistance of the Warsaw Pact armies was from the outset aptly described as an occupation. As a result of these events, there were production losses amounting to about 1,400 cars during the first week, which continued until September. The total decline was around 2,200 cars. The shortfalls were made up for by voluntary “Dubček” shifts, for which normal pay was due. The first such shift was announced on 7 September and continued until October, as the plan had not been fulfilled even by 20 September.