We Can All Be Proud of Škoda Auto

Martin Jahn

Working in the automotive industry still gives me joy

Current Board Member for the Sales and Marketing area, Martin Jahn, will move to the same position at the Volkswagen brand at the start of October. For the editor-in-chief of the Škoda Mobil, Dominika Králová, this was an opportunity to interview him and sum up his twenty-year career at the carmaker.

Describe your beginnings at the carmaker. What role did your grandfather's legacy, as chief designer and driver, play in them?

It was actually a coincidence. I never thought I would end up at the carmaker. It was even more of an honour for me to join a company that I believe is the best in the Czech Republic. And it was interesting to follow in the footsteps of my grandfather, whom I never met, as he died before I was born. Even though I'm from Prague, not from Mladá Boleslav, I effectively continued the family tradition.

When you became a Board Member, you had your grandfather's file retrieved from the company archive. What did you find out from it?

It was a powerful moment, and rather than closing the story of my family, it felt like a continuation of it. I found out, for example, that my grandfather had to leave the company immediately after February 1948. But even more interesting was meeting people who had known him. Petr Hrdlička senior told me that the others saw him as a real globetrotter, because he travelled a lot, and people would come to him to find out what was happening in the world. To this day, his notes still turn up in the archive, describing the early days of motorsport, for example from the 1000 Miles of Czechoslovakia race.

In my opinion, the car will still have a great influence on how we live. For many people, it is a member of the family or a business partner.

Can you remember your first day at Škoda Auto, twenty years on?

I don't remember that exactly. However, I do recall that I very quickly understood that I had to learn German well. After the first Board meeting, I realised that English alone wouldn't be enough. And I also once arrived at a meeting a minute early, and from the looks of the others, I understood that I was late. At Škoda Auto, time is a bit relative, after all.

What are you most proud of during your time at Škoda Auto?

This reflects how far the Škoda cars brand has come in recent years. Today it is in great shape, has strong sales revenue and holds an exceptional position in Europe. I believe that in more than 130 years, the carmaker has never been as strong and well-known. All employees can be proud of that.

How has your job and the corporate culture at Škoda Auto changed during your time here?

Technology is changing work significantly – we have digitalisation, artificial intelligence, more information and better tools for decision-making. But its essence remains the same. It is still primarily about people: building a good team, supporting it and helping employees make the most of their potential. And alongside data, experience and intuition remain important when making decisions.

What has pleased you most recently about the people at Škoda Auto?

I'm always pleased when someone comes up with a good idea or something new. And also when I see enthusiasm and optimism, even in these complicated times. There are a number of people in the company who are driving it forward, and I would like there to be as many of them as possible.

You are also active in industry associations, boards, or universities. What do these roles bring you, and how do you manage work-life balance?

Roles in industry associations, supervisory boards or universities allow me to influence the environment in which the carmaker operates. Thanks to my experience from politics and public administration, I can better understand how governments or the European Commission work, and look for practical solutions for the carmaker. One example is the change in the rules for EU7 or spreading the CO₂ limit fines over three years. And work-life balance? You have to create that for yourself. I'm helped by family, friends and hobbies, and fortunately I have all of that.

There are many people in the company who drive it forward, and I would like there to be as many of them as possible.

I spent four years in the management of FAW-Volkswagen in China. What lessons did you bring back from there for your current leadership role?

What impressed me most in China was the strong work ethic, inventiveness and long-term strategic thinking. The Chinese car industry has strong government support, and Europe should quickly learn from its long-term approach. At the same time, I confirmed there that customers behave differently in every country. You have to understand them and offer them what they truly want.

What do you think will be most important for the success of the Škoda brand over the next five years?

The carmaker should have clear values and, above all, live by them. Our brand is human, simplifying and surprising, and this should hold true even in the age of artificial intelligence. We must keep making cars for people to make their lives easier, and keep bringing smart solutions that surprise them in a positive way.

Which Škoda car model is your favourite, and what car do you currently drive?

It's hard to pick just one favourite. I currently drive a Kodiaq RS and an Enyaq RS. Both have their strengths and are lovely to drive, but each serves a slightly different purpose. What's more, RS models have long been among my favourites, and they have a tradition at the carmaker.

Do you have any habits when driving – whether it's music, timing, or choice of roads?

I don't have any special habits. In the car, I prefer listening to music rather than podcasts. I enjoy driving most early in the morning or late in the evening, when the roads are empty, or on interesting back roads.

Do you follow your own ritual that you can't start your day without?

I like to start the day with tai chi or some other form of movement. As you get older, you realise how important it is to get your body moving in the morning. Apart from that, I don't have any special rituals – I prefer to spend my time with family.

If you could try a different profession, what would you choose?

I'm happy in the automotive industry and I'm not really tempted by another field. But if I had to choose, I've always been fascinated by the world of startups. The public sector also interests me, and I've already had some experience of it.

You have four children. What advice would you give to parents who are looking for a balance between work and family?

At the seminars, I always said that the quality of time matters more than the amount of it. Finding shared interests with your children, feeling good together, and passing on both experience and values. A parent should set boundaries, but at the same time trust their children and respect their individuality, so they can follow their own inner compass. I have four daughters and each one is completely different, so I don't think there's a one-size-fits-all recipe.

If you had to pass on one core value to them, what would it be?

Confidence in themselves, because I always tried to teach them to listen to their soul, follow their heart and not be afraid to go their own way.

What was your first "big mess-up", and what did you learn from it?

When I worked in Russia, we were dealing with a problem with the starter on one model. We tried to solve it ourselves, because I believed that a manager's job is to solve problems, not report them. But my boss wanted to know about the problem and solve it together with us. What I took away from this is that a good manager must understand not only their team, but also what their boss expects.

A good cup of coffee, a short walk outside, or a call with a close friend – small things like these can turn a bad day around.

I don't have any guaranteed recipe. I try not to worry about what has already happened, because I can't change it. What matters is learning from it and focusing on the next day.

Do you have a story from your more than twenty years at Škoda Auto that still makes you smile today?

I probably remember most the first clashes with Jarda Povšík (Chairman of the Company Council of the KOVO Trade Union) during pay negotiations. We were both hot-headed back then, and the union even wrote a song about me, marched in front of the Pentagon building (the former seat of the company's management) and banged drums. It wasn't that funny at the time, but today I look back on it with a smile. And those clashes eventually turned into great respect and friendship.

What still attracts you professionally today?

I'd like to try being a Board Member of the Volkswagen brand (laughs).

If you were to look back on your career at Škoda Auto in ten years' time, what would you like to leave behind at the company?

I would like the people I have worked with to feel that I helped them make the most of their potential, and that this enabled them to do their best work for the company. That would give me the greatest satisfaction from the time I spent at the carmaker.

What would you wish for Škoda Auto and its employees in the future?

Let everyone here enjoy it and have fun at work.