A Great Journey for the Škoda Brand

A Great Journey for the Škoda Brand 

1947 The transformation of the Kvasiny plant from traditional manufacturing to state-of-the-art technologies and extensive expansion.

The Kvasiny plant was founded in 1934 by František Karel Janeček, son of the Jawa brand founder. Initially, the plant produced the Jawa 700 car bodywork. The Škoda brand’s story began at this plant in 1947, and it got off to a great start. The first car produced there was a version of the Škoda Superb OHV, based on a pre-war design. Between 1947 and 1949, 49 cars were built at the factory in East Bohemia, marking the beginning of a great journey for the brand with the winged arrow on the bonnet. Officially, the Kvasiny plant was nationalised and incorporated into AZNP (Automobilové závody národní podnik – ed.) in 1949.

In the past, the Kvasiny plant has faced the prospect of becoming just a spare parts factory. Thanks to its precise craftsmanship and a number of turning points, it has stood its ground and is set for major development in the future.

Over the years, a very active development department began operating there, producing, for example, the Škoda 450 roadster and its successor, the Škoda Felicia, as well as the very popular Octavia Combi and Škoda 110 R Coupé models. The bodies of the highly successful Škoda 200 RS and 130 RS sports cars were manufactured there as well. After the merger with the VW Group, most SUVs (including the Group’s first SUV, the Yeti) and the first-generation flagship Superb (2002) were produced in Kvasiny.

The plant continues developing to this day: Its automated warehouse for small parts has been put into operation, the carmaker has opened a multifunctional competence and training centre, and its welding shop has been expanded. In 2019, Škoda Auto launched production of its first plug-in hybrid model, the Superb iV, there. Today, the Kvasiny plant produces the Karoq and Kodiaq SUVs, as well as the Octavia. Last year, for example, a total of 248,000 cars rolled off the production lines.

Škoda Felicia

Between 1959 and 1964, this model from Kvasiny was one of the most attractive cars in its class. It enjoyed significant commercial success in demanding European and overseas markets but was chronically in short supply in its home country. This model’s chassis were manufactured in Mladá Boleslav, while the bodywork and assembly took place at the Kvasiny plant. However, the production was still manual and piecework, since there was no production line.

Škoda 110 R 

The iconic coupé celebrated its exhibition premiere in Brno on 5 September 1970. This timelessly elegant rear-engine sports car was not only a commercial success but also became the basis for the legendary Škoda 180 RS, 200 RS and, above all, the Škoda 130 RS competition and racing models. However, development of the ‘Erko’ began as early as 1966, and the first prototype was completed in Kvasiny in March 1968. Its production, however, lagged significantly behind demand, with only 121 cars produced by the end of 1970. 

Škoda Superb

The first modern Superb rolled off its production line at the Kvasiny plant on 1 October 2001, and in the spring of 2002, the comfortable saloon reached its first customers. At that time, Škoda began offering them a lifetime mobility guarantee. The successful era of the first modern generation of the model, marked by several prestigious awards and other achievements, came to an end in 2008. A total of more than 136,000 units were produced. In addition to the Kvasiny plant, they also rolled off their production lines abroad.

Škoda Yeti

Škoda Auto unveiled its production version of this model at the Geneva Motor Show on 5 March 2009, and it was already the fifth model series in the range at the time. The public responded positively to the absence of the aggressive design elements characteristic of numerous SUVs. The Yeti model’s series production began at Kvasiny on 12 May 2009.