He meets half his family at work. And his wife, too
Jiří Kunst comes from another large family of Škoda employees. His grandmother, grandfather and father all worked at the carmaker; today, you'll find his aunt, uncle and cousin there. It was also here that he met his wife. They work together in the same Technical Development department, where their responsibilities include corrosion testing.
Jiří Kunst
Škoda Have Been with Us All Our Lives
His grandparents joined Škoda Auto, followed later by his parents, and today Jiří Kunst works here too, alongside other relatives and his wife. He combines the family tradition with a passion for development, Škoda cars and rally driving.
Jiří Kunst
EKX/2 – Corrosion, Weather Resistance, Development of Materials
He grew up surrounded by the automotive world from an early age. After studying at the SPŠ secondary technical school in Mladá Boleslav, he joined the company in 2014 as a trainee, gradually moving from checking drawing documentation to corrosion testing and weather resistance. "Getting into development was my lifelong goal. I managed it on my first attempt," he says.
Where does your family's story at Škoda Auto begin?
In 1967, when both my grandfather and grandmother joined the carmaker. My grandfather spent 42 years here. In 1991, my father and his brother followed. My uncle still works here today, as does his wife, and my cousin joined as well. On top of that, I met my wife at the company. We both now work in the EKX department, so Škoda Auto is truly part of our family life.
What did the individual family members do?
My grandfather and father both worked at the rework station on the assembly line. My father later moved to the CKD Centre as a coordinator for knocked-down cars. My uncle works in hall M1 and test-drives new cars on the proving ground, my aunt works in component production logistics, and my cousin is at the Kosmonosy Service Centre. We sometimes tease each other that he repairs what I develop, and I have a say in the repair procedures he uses.
My job is basically my hobby. My wife and I both want to work in a way that our daughters can one day be proud of.
Were you aiming for Technical Development from the very start?
Yes. I studied at the Secondary Technical School in Mladá Boleslav, and while attempting to get into university, I joined the carmaker as a trainee. When my studies didn't work out, I was offered the chance to stay. First as an external worker, later as a full employee. I started by checking drawing documentation, and later took charge of corrosion testing and weather resistance.
With my father at rally events
"I started doing rally driving in 2017. I took over the role of co-driver from my father and have carried on with it ever since."
Felicia Kit Car
"Of all the historic cars, I'm most fascinated by the Felicia Kit Car 1600 rally special. I fell in love with its characteristic green bumpers, and especially its sound, back when I was young."
Which project do you remember most fondly?
The first car I worked on from a corrosion resistance perspective was the third-generation Fabia. We worked on its release in 2015. The India 2.0 project was a major learning experience. We had to adapt a lot of things, including testing, to local conditions and customers. It was new, different and professionally refreshing.
Is the automotive world strong in your private life too?
Definitely. Our family has almost always had Škoda cars. A Škoda car brought me, my brother and my daughters home from the maternity hospital. My father now looks after a Favorit as a veteran car, and it was with this very car that he started rally driving in 1991. I took up rally driving myself in 2017. My last competition was in 2024, and I'm currently taking a break because of family commitments, but I'd like to return. My fondest memories are of the times when my father taught me how to take on the co-driver's role and prepare the pace notes.
When were you most proud of the carmaker?
I vividly remember the launch of the third-generation Superb. The carmaker's head at the time, Bernhard Maier, called it the Czech flagship developed by Czech engineers. I was 23, and that sentence really made an impression on me. But I often feel proud, especially when I see everything we're able to develop and put into practice.
Always a Škoda car
"I started with the Citigo, then came the second-generation Octavia, the Scala, and today I drive a fourth-generation Octavia. This year, I got myself a Felicia just for fun."
Felicia Kit Car
"Of all the historic cars, I'm most fascinated by the Felicia Kit Car 1600 rally special. I fell in love with its distinctive green bumpers, and especially its sound, when I was young."
What do you think Škoda Auto should keep for the future?
The ability to listen to both employees and customers and adapt to how their needs change. Today's children will one day use cars differently than we do, and the carmaker must be able to respond to that. My wife and I want to work here in a way that our daughters can one day be proud of us. If they have an interest in technology, I'll gladly recommend a career at Škoda Auto to them.
Are you more of a lover of old cars or new technologies?
Both. I'm a bit of a nostalgic type, which is why I got into restoring old motorcycles. But I also enjoy technology. I like both combustion and electric cars, each fascinates me in a different way. With modern cars, I appreciate the practical features. For instance, I'm looking forward to being able to use a smartphone instead of a key, which will make sharing a car within the family easier. That's also why I have my eye on the electric Peaq for the future.
The Š Generation