WEEKLY

FOR ŠKODA AUTO EMPLOYEES

THOMAS SCHÄFER’S

LETTER TO EMPLOYEES

OF ŠKODA AUTO

30/2020

PROTECTION

AGAINST COVID-19

DURING THE COMPANY HOLIDAY, COVID-19 CASES HAVE

INCREASED IN SEVERAL COUNTRIES. UNFORTUNATELY,

EVEN IN CZECHIA, THE NUMBER OF THE INFECTED IS

THE HIGHEST SINCE THE EPIDEMIC STARTED.

However, it‘s positive that there is no widespread occurrence

and community spread. The occurrence is mostly limited and

connected with a specific event. There is no massive cluster

among high-risk groups (retirement homes and hospitals) either.

All of this gives us a solid chance to reduce the risk of infection

very effectively with a number of practical steps in everyday life.

Minimize the possibility of carrying

infection into the company

Dear colleagues,

Many of you are just returning

from a well-deserved summer

holiday, and I hope you have had a

good rest. After all, we have

plenty to do in the second half of

the year. My name is Thomas

Schäfer, and I took over as CEO

of ŠKODA AUTO on 3 August.

I am not only excited about the

new task but also the new

country, the people, Czech

culture and of course the first

face-to-face meetings and

discussions with you. 2020 is a

very special year; ŠKODA is

celebrating its 125th anniversary,

making it one of the pioneers

of the automobile. You can be

rightly proud of this unique company. ŠKODA has developed

impressively in all areas over

recent years and is today

a thriving and likeable brand with

a clear profile and convincing

products. The multitude of tasks

that the brand now performs for

the Volkswagen Group also

speaks for ŠKODA’s strength –

be it the regional responsibility for

India or the responsibility for

developing the new SUPERB and

Passat generations. I congratulate

you on these great achievements

and thank you and my predecessor for what you

accomplished together.

First and foremost, I will be

focusing on listening. I want to

understand what makes ŠKODA

tick and what motivates you.

What do you think is going well

and where can we improve? I

believe in open dialogue on eye

level – so don’t be afraid to talk

to me also outside of meetings!

Together we are now writing

a new chapter and taking the next

steps in the transformation

process. Under the current

circumstances with the coronavirus and global political and

economic uncertainties, this will

not be a walk in the park.

However, I am confident that

we will overcome this difficult

situation together.

Dear colleagues,

In the future, the car will be

electric and fully networked.

That’s why I’m paying particular

attention to the further

electrification and digitalisation

of our products. These will be a

crucial factor in ŠKODA

remaining desirable to its

customers. We are

demonstrating our vision of this

transformation with the ENYAQ

iV. This model is the

gamechanger for the brand, and I

am looking forward to the world

premiere on 1 September.

What’s important to me is that

we always focus on the customer

in everything we do. A ŠKODA

must always offer that little bit

more car for the money and

surprise in a positive way. This

and the outstanding quality of

the team and the products

distinguish the brand and will

continue to do so in the future.

Dear colleagues, ŠKODA’s future

begins now. And it starts with

your ideas, your passion and your

commitment. Let us create this

future together; I am looking

forward to it!

Best regards,

Thomas Schäfer

It's up to each of us - let's be responsible to ourselves and to

others. Every employee (internal, agency or external) should

thoroughly consider their current health condition, travel history

(a week ago before returning to work) and make sure that they

haven‘t been in contact with an infected person. The SelfAssessment Questionnaire with 5 questions can help you

decide. The eventual detection of COVID-19 inside the

company will not only cause quarantine for the potentially

infected person, but for their colleagues at the workplace as well.

The decisive factor is time and quick action – do not be afraid

to report even a suspicion of contact with the patient or your

illness to your superior.

Face Masks

We recommend employees who want to protect their own

health as well as the health of their colleagues, to use their own

face mask or assigned nano-scarf (effective and comfortable)

from the employer, and keep using it at work during the first

week after returning to work at least. It will provide the best

protection in contact with people from other teams

or departments, as well as in common areas such as toilets, etc.

Disinfection

Hand disinfection is available all over the company and is

being regularly replenished. Please use this option to

disinfect your hands, especially if there is no spot to wash

them with running water and soap.

Home Office

For departments with the opportunity to meaningfully utilize

work from home for their employees, we recommend increasing

the mobile work volume in the first week after the companywide holiday (i.e. from 10 to 15 Aug 2020), as agreed with the

employees and according to operational possibilities. This will

also significantly reduce the risk of possible quarantine.

Latest news can always be found at the ŠKODA Space Portal.