03/2021

ŠKODA Mobil<br>March 2021

• Title

• Flight through the ŠKODA World

  Flight through the ŠKODA World

  What’s Happening at ŠKODA AUTO

  Changes to the Board of Directors

  Two new faces will join the ŠKODA AUTO leadership on 1 March. Maren Gräf, who previously led the Group’s HR Top Management, will become the Board Member for Human Resources Management. She will replace Bohdan Wojnar, who is leaving his position after 10 years. At the same time, the Czech top manager of the VW Group, Martin Jahn, is returning to the carmaker, taking over from Alain Favey as Board Member for Sales and Marketing. 

  Commitment to sustainable business

  In 2020, the carmaker joined the project and platform of the Czech-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DTIHK), partner companies and institutions named #PartnersForSustainability. To date, the main milestone of this initiative has been the signing of a joint “Driving Sustainability” memorandum. It contains a commitment to further develop sustainable business principles, as well as an appeal addressed to the government and institutions of the Czech Republic to create the conditions that would support companies’ sustainable activities as much as possible.

  
  

  
  

  Sustainable

  development is

  an integral part

  of our business

  activities.

  
  

  You can read the details of this memorandum on ŠKODA Space.
  

  Anniversary battery for plug-in hybrids

  The carmaker produced the 100,000th high-voltage traction battery carmaker at its Mladá Boleslav plant in February. From there, the batteries go to plug-in ŠKODA, Audi, SEAT and Volkswagen hybrid cars. In 2019, ŠKODA AUTO invested more than EUR 25 million (approximately CZK 650 million) in production operations, including state-of-the-art testing equipment to ensure compliance with the strictest safety and quality standards.

  
  

  months after the start of battery production in Mladá Boleslav was enough to exceed the goal of 100,000 units.
  

  Models and services

  
  

  An app that protects against danger

  The new Traffication application introduced by ŠKODA AUTO can draw attention to risky situations in traffic, including unintentionally driving the wrong way. It is currently available for the SUPERB, KODIAQ, KAROQ, KAMIQ and SCALA models equipped with their top infotainment systems based on the third-generation Modular Infotainment Matrix. It will become available for other models throughout the year. The application runs in the background and alerts the driver with a message on the central display only in the event of impending danger – such as a parked vehicle. The carmaker plans to gradually expand the scope of its functions.

  
  

  Read at ŠKODA Storyboard

  
  

  The new ENYAQ SPORTLINE iV

  A sporty and dynamic variant has been added to ŠKODA’s electric SUV range. A lowered sports chassis and striking black details characterise the exterior and interior of the ENYAQ SPORTLINE iV. It offers a choice between three powertrain variants, the most powerful of which features two electric motors with a combined output of 195 kW and all-wheel drive.

  
  

  Find more about ENYAQ SPORTLINE iV at ŠKODA Storyboard

  
  

  
  

  Bigger and safer FABIA

  The fourth generation of the popular hatchback will soon be introduced. ŠKODA AUTO has now presented pictures of the car from the covered drive and revealed several details. The new FABIA will be 110 millimetres longer, and its boot capacity will increase by 50 litres to 380 litres. It also has a wide range of powertrains to choose from between 48 kW and 110 kW.

  
  

  Find more about new FABIA at ŠKODA Storyboard

  How we are perceived by 

  
  

  Auto Express (1. 2. 2021)
  

  SCALA 1,5 TSI 110 kW DSG

  Final score 

  3,5/5

  The drive unit works very smoothly, and you will hear it more distinctively only at very high speeds.
  

  smooth and agile engine operation with sufficient torque, 

  reliable infotainment with many functions,

  large baggage compartment and plenty of space in the rear seats

  the interior, which has a lot of hard plastics, is not very pleasant to touch

  worse price/performance ratio than the lower SCALA model variants

  News from the Group

  
  

  Almost completely recycled batteries

  Volkswagen Group Components has opened its first electric car battery recycling plant in Salzgitter, Germany. Besides recovering valuable materials such as lithium, nickel, manganese and cobalt from discarded batteries, the plant will also sort aluminium, copper and plastics. The long-term goal is to recycle up to 90 percent of battery materials. In the pilot phase, the plant will process up to 3,600 battery systems per year with a total weight of approximately 1,500 tonnes.

  Even lower CO2 emissions 

  In 2020, the VW Group managed to significantly reduce the average amount of CO2 emissions of the new passenger car fleet in the European Union thanks to its electric offensive. The emission values decreased by approximately 20 percent to 99.8 g/km. Thus, the Group missed the limit set for 2020 by a small margin, mainly as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The key to reducing emissions lies in the share of electric cars and plug-in hybrids in total sales, which reached 9.7 percent in the Group last year – more than four times as high as in 2019. As a result, the Volkswagen and Audi carmakers met their CO2  emission limits for the new passenger car fleet as expected. This year, the new ŠKODA electric and hybrid cars should also play a greater role in meeting the limits.

  In the next issue of ŠKODA Mobil

  30 years with the VW Group

  You can look forward to the topic of the merger with the VW Group, which took place in 1991 and played a major role in making the Mladá Boleslav carmaker one of the top players on the global market. Read how the Czechoslovak company joined the German carmaker and what has changed since then.

  On 12 February, the 400,000th ŠKODA car was produced in Nizhny Novgorod, and the KODIAQ model was the anniversary car. Czech cars have been produced by the Russian plant since 2012; at present, the OCTAVIA and KAROQ models are also rolling off the line there.

• Coronavirus

  Coronavirus
  

  Situation remains very serious
  

  he number of people infected and/or hospitalised with COVID-19 remains very high in the Czech Republic, and virus mutations are spreading rapidly. Therefore, all the health and safety measures introduced in cooperation with the KOVO Trade Union continue to be in force at ŠKODA AUTO. We would like to remind you that only strict adherence to the measures will prevent the coronavirus from spreading across the company.
  

  This is about the health of each and every one of us and our loved ones, so do not forget the following rules in particular:

  Wear properly fitted respiratory protection.

  
  

  Observe the absolute ban on smoking in all the indoor and outdoor plant areas.

  
  

  Check your health before going to work. If you have any symptoms, stay home and contact your doctor. 

  
  

  Get tested for free

  COVID-19 can spread even when people are not showing any symptoms. Therefore, the carmaker continues to offer all MFA card holders the opportunity to get an antigen test free of charge. All you have to do is schedule an appointment via the COVID-19 Case Records application, which is available in the ŠKODA Space or @SMART Applications.

  Stay informed

  In addition to regular monitoring of the current coronavirus-related information on the ŠKODA Space homepage, it is a good idea to download a COVID info card onto your phone (by scanning the QR code at the bottom of this article). By having it, you will stay informed, for example, about all the measures in effect at ŠKODA AUTO plants. For any inquiries regarding the measures against the spread of the disease, you can also send an e-mail to  interni.komunikace@skoda-auto.cz.

• Changes in the Board / Area 'V'

  Changes in the Board / Area 'V'

  ŠKODA BRAND HAS A GREAT FUTURE AHEAD

  ALAIN FAVEY, BOARD MEMBER FOR SALES AND MARKETING, IS LEAVING AT THE END OF FEBRUARY. WHAT WERE HIS FOUR YEARS AT ŠKODA AUTO LIKE?

   lain Favey is very optimistic about the brand’s future. He is convinced that the carmaker is well prepared for the coming years.

  ŠKODA AUTO’s European sales dropped by about 16 percent last year, but it was able to increase its market share from 4.8 percent to 5.3 percent, ranking eighth, just a few thousand cars short of sixth place. How do you assess last year’s sales?

  The increase in market share means that we managed to gain a bigger part of the market and sell 66,000 more cars. This is an extremely important increase that has helped both the manufacturing plants and the sales network. Last year was very difficult, especially for our dealers.

  The only major region where ŠKODA AUTO grew last year was Russia. While the local market fell by 9 percent, ŠKODA was one of the few companies to grow and saw a substantial increase of 7 percent. What is the recipe for such a successful result?

  First of all, we introduced new models, the upgraded RAPID, then the KAROQ, and the new OCTAVIA premiered in Russia only recently. Moreover, we can rely on an excellent import organisation in Russia, and the COVID-19 pandemic hasn’t affected the Russian market as much as the European market. 

  During your time managing the Sales and Marketing department, ŠKODA entered the SUV segment, with SUVs accounting for 40 percent of the total share. Will the share increase any further?

  I think we’ve reached an adequate level that corresponds to the situation on the market. However, we are now introducing the ENYAQ iV electric model, and this is another SUV. This is why I expect that the sales of our SUVs will continue to grow. And what’s more, SUVs are very profitable, so the larger the share of these cars, the better for the carmaker and our dealers. 

  Last year, the company announced its aim to focus on more affordable cars like those ŠKODA produced for a long time in the past. However, the current trend is electrification, which, by contrast, means an increase in costs and prices. So, what can we expect?

  I don’t think we need to introduce a completely new car. The main goal is to offer an affordable car that will stand out for its value for money. This doesn’t mean we’re talking about the cheapest car on the market, either, but rather a good buy with everything our customers expect from ŠKODA: striking design, a high level of safety and technological equipment, as well as quality. And you can do this with the more affordable specifications of existing cars such as the KODIAQ and the SCALA.

  Speaking of affordable cars, we’ll introduce a brand-new generation of the FABIA this year, and later the FABIA COMBI. However, until this new estate hits the market, the current model, which will be part of our model range for the next two years, is certainly worth every penny.

  What does the arrival of the ENYAQ iV electric car mean for the ŠKODA brand in terms of marketing? How important is this model for brand perception? 

  It is a game changer. In some markets in Western Europe, such as Norway and the Netherlands, as well as in the southern regions, we expect that this car will appeal to completely new customers who have never had or considered buying a ŠKODA. They may be younger and perhaps more tech-savvy, as this model is also an expression of a certain lifestyle.

  After four years at ŠKODA AUTO, what impression has the company made on you?

  I am confident that the company has extraordinary potential for further growth. ŠKODA AUTO is not only a range of high-quality products – it is also the people behind them. I think this is unique in the industry. In more than 30 years of working in the business, I’ve never encountered such a skilled, united and motivated team as here in the Czech Republic. It was a real honour for me to be part of this team, and I believe that ŠKODA has a great future ahead. ED
  

  Alain Favey (54)

  He became the Board Member for Sales and Marketing at ŠKODA AUTO in September 2017. Since then, the ŠKODA brand has significantly boosted its profits and increased its European market share.

  Alain Favey is leaving ŠKODA AUTO at the end of February 2021 to take on a new role inside the VW Group.

  Dear colleagues,

  On 1 March, ŠKODA AUTO’s Board of Directors is changing. Allow me a moment to thank both of the outgoing members and welcome two new faces to our leadership team. 

  Bohdan Wojnar has played a crucial role in the huge progress that the carmaker has made over the past decade. This development is reflected, among other things, in the increase in the number of employees from 26,000 at the beginning of his work to almost 42,000 today. I look forward to continued cooperation with him in his role as president of the Czech Automotive Industry Association, and I wish him all the best for the next phase of his life. At the same time, I would like to welcome Maren Gräf to the Board of Directors. Maren is a recognised HR expert with international experience. She is taking over Human Resources Management from Bohdan Wojnar in a very good condition, and her task will be to take it to a new level. We wish to offer all of our ŠKODA employees a job with a long-term perspective and significantly strengthen and expand their expertise in the field of eMobility and software solutions. At the same time, we wish to support the diversity of ŠKODA AUTO in all the areas and at all the levels. I wish the new Board members a lot of success in all of this, including the best possible start.

  During his time as Board Member for Sales and Marketing, Alain Favey has contributed significantly to ŠKODA AUTO’s success. His business-oriented and cooperative approach to our dealers and importers was the decisive factor in his success, especially in the crisis year that was 2020. I would like to thank him for his excellent work and cooperation full of mutual trust and wish him all the best for the future. I would like to welcome Martin Jahn, who is returning to the carmaker as a proven sales and marketing expert after spending more than 12 years abroad. His main tasks will include further digitising sales, developing new business models and further strengthening our customer orientation. I wish him great success as well.

  Thomas Schäfer

  Chairman of the Board of Directors of ŠKODA AUTO
  

  
  

• Changes in the Board / Area 'S'

  CHANGES IN THE BOARD / AREA 'S'

  ŠKODA AUTO and its employees have made tremendous progress

  Bohdan Wojnar, Board Member for Human Resources Management, is leaving the carmaker’s management team after more than 10 years of successful work. On this occasion, he looks back on his career and the company’s development during this period

   is work activities included not only HR but also many activities in the field of social responsibility, including major support for education. 

  Ten years in the top position is an unusually long time. What is the company’s most significant shift or transformation that you would highlight? 

  ŠKODA AUTO can be proud of what it has achieved with the help of each of its employees. Be just as proud of your company.

  There are many topics I could mention. The successful transformation of Vrchlabí into a technically advanced component production plant certainly deserves mentioning. I would also like to note the development of the Kvasiny plant: In a short time, it has more than doubled its capacity and become one of the most modern production sites in Europe. The support for and modernisation of education, which we carried out in agreement with the KOVO Trade Union headed by Jaroslav Povšík, is also important. We have our vocational school and university, and we run the lifelong learning academy, which is truly unique. Investing in education provides the best value for money.

  You have just had a challenging year marked by the coronavirus pandemic. How do you rate it? 

  The past year was challenging for everyone in both their professional and personal life. Together with our social partner, we adopted strict hygiene measures, and thanks to the responsible approach of all the employees, we’ve reduced the spread of the virus at work. I would like to thank everyone for that. However, the coronavirus crisis appears to have served as a catalyst for change and accelerated a number of processes. For example, it has expanded the corporate education options in the form of a new employee qualification deepening concept. 

  ŠKODA AUTO invests significantly in social responsibility projects and has established an endowment fund of whose Supervisory Board you are a member. Which projects do you consider the most important? 

  We managed to improve both the internal and external social infrastructure of our plants. We’ve invested more than CZK 3 billion in these projects since 2011. I would mention two parking garages for employees, new factory restaurants and kiosks, as well as the renovation of team spaces and locker rooms. For me, the ŠKODA AUTO Endowment Fund is a good example of social responsibility, but I would also like to mention the ŠKODA AUTO Helps Programme (see pages 26 and 28). However, I consider the most important benefit to be that we have activated the civil society, for example, in the form of Employee Collections. The fact that employees and the carmaker have contributed more than CZK 34 million to charities since 2014 needs no further comment.

  Can you tell us what you intend to do in the future? 

  My colleagues want me to continue to help connect ŠKODA AUTO with the automotive industry, which concerns my activities at the Czech Automotive Industry Association and the Confederation of Industry and Transport of the Czech Republic, as well as in public administration. However, I would very much like to participate in the development of the regions and the activities of the ŠKODA AUTO Endowment Fund. Last but not least, I would like to be involved in corporate education issues. 

  What would you like to say to the employees? 

  I would like to thank them all for their commitment and the coherence they have shown, especially during the past year. I also greatly appreciate the cooperation with the KOVO Trade Union, with which we have always been able to find common ground and harmonise attitudes leading to employee satisfaction. I would like to say that, just as ŠKODA AUTO can be proud of what it has achieved with the help of each of its individual employees, our employees can be proud of their company. The carmaker is interested in the development of its employees, takes care of the environment in which they live and, thanks to its importance, also benefits the entire Czech Republic. Michael Kudela
  

  Bohdan Wojnar (60)

  Joined ŠKODA AUTO more than 35 years ago and worked in various positions in the Czech Republic and abroad. 

  He took over Human Resources Management in January 2011 and went on to become the Mladá Boleslav carmaker’s longest-serving Board Member from the Czech Republic. In this position, he participated in the transformation of Human Resources Management, the development of the employee education system and the establishment of the ŠKODA Academy and also closely cooperated with the carmaker’s social partner, the KOVO Trade Union. 

  He created the carmaker’s social responsibility strategy and was part of the inception of the ŠKODA AUTO Endowment Fund. He also coordinated negotiations with the Czech government in the field of the automotive industry transformation, digitisation and electromobility. 

  From 2011 to 2016, he was the vice-president and, since 2016, has been the president of the Czech Automotive Industry Association. 

  Since 2013, he has also been a member of the Board of Directors of the Confederation of Industry and Transport of the Czech Republic. 

  Since the spring of 2020, he has been a member of the National Economic Council of the Government (NERV). In addition, he holds several positions in academic institutions. He will continue working in these positions and representing the interests of the Mladá Boleslav carmaker.

• eMobility / Stress test

  eMobility / Stress test

  At Full Speed
  

  The charging ‘nest’ on the premises of the Mladá Boleslav plant has been stress-tested by Component Production 
  

   t the beginning of February, 12 ENYAQ iV cars arrived at the charging stations in front of the V19 facility, also known by the nickname Prior. Led by Pavel Hanák, the PKV – Project Management and Pre-Series Component department tested how the full simultaneous operation of all the local charging points would work. “We thought that since we were testing new electric cars, it would be a good idea to test the infrastructure as well. In other words, what will the simultaneous charging at all the points in one location do? Will it somehow affect the distribution network or data transmissions? And how will everything go?” explained Hanák. Charging from 12 connectors was tested simultaneously on six Siemens combined 22 kW chargers for slow charging with alternating current (AC) and 50 kW chargers for fast connectors with direct current (DC). Thus, the maximum charging power was 432 kW; however, because of the conditions (e.g. the outside temperature and the car charge status), it was only used to a maximum of 75 percent.

  We organised a meeting of 12 test drivers and tested the full load of chargers at the V19 facility. In addition, our colleagues from ŠKO-ENERGO succeeded in measuring the behaviour of the power grid when fully locally loaded.

  Pavel Hanák

  PKV – Project Management and Pre-Series Component Centre

  “The load test presented an excellent opportunity to verify the electrical-technical properties and variables, such as inrush currents and transients, which we expected when planning the charging infrastructure construction. Thanks to the appropriately selected technology with above-standard specifications, the performance of the chargers is gentle on the distribution system. Therefore, there is no risk of interference that would negatively affect the production sections in the area”, according to David Hošek from the ŠKO-ENERGO Charging Infrastructure Planning and Project Management department.

  Three hundred electric cars tested

  It was also an opportunity for some drivers from the 300-car test fleet of ENYAQ iV company cars to meet and discuss their existing – albeit very recent – experience with the new model. “We also want to let everybody know that there is no need to worry about the operation of electric cars; we already have adequate infrastructure with slow and fast charging on the plant premises, which is growing at a considerable rate”, Hanák added. Another charging nest, similar to the one at the V19 facility, is located at the C23 OCTAVIA restaurant, and individual DC chargers are in operation in front of the M6 ​​Engine Room and behind the C26 facility, among others. This year, we plan to deploy an additional 14 stations, which will also be grouped into nests – at the health centre, ŠKODA Academy, IT Point and the new Paint Shop. The Kvasiny and Vrchlabí plants will not be short-changed either. ED
  

  Kateřina Kramešová

  PSI-P – Production System

  The ENYAQ iV is great. I especially like the interior design and the display, and I appreciate the smaller turning radius and acceleration. I also tried predictive cruise control, which takes speed limits into account and slows down to comply with them. It works flawlessly. Charging at work runs smoothly, and I haven’t yet faced a situation when a charger wouldn’t be available. Outside the plant, I use various mobile applications. I had recharged with the MyŠKODA Powerpass card (see the Driving into the Future 2020 annex) at the E.ON station, and during a longer trip to visit my parents, I used the free-of-charge slow 22-kilowatt charging provided by ČEZ.

  Jan Míchal

  VVM/3 – Sales Systems and Processes

  In the first two weeks or so, I drove about 1,000 kilometres with my ENYAQ iV. Regarding its driving properties, workmanship, interior and design, I must say that this car is great – in my opinion, the most beautiful car we’ve produced to date. One certainly has to think differently than with a conventional car; however, with planning, there isn’t much difficulty, and even longer routes can be completed.

  Let your colleagues recharge

  The number of electric cars is increasing; however, from time to time, their users find that the spots at the charging points are blocked by drivers of cars with internal combustion engines. “I would like to ask drivers of cars with petrol and diesel engines: Please don’t park in these spots. At the start of the electromobility era, it’s important that all of us learn this right from the get-go. It’s about decency and consideration; moreover, by blocking a spot reserved for another type of car, you are also violating the regulations”, says Hanák.

• Back then and now

  Back then and now
  

  Road to the biggest market

  The Czech carmaker began exporting its cars to China as far back as the 1930s

   hinese customers purchased their first ŠKODA through the sales offices in several port cities – In Shanghai, Guangzhou, Hong Kong, Macau and Harbin. The cars headed there by sea from Hamburg and Trieste. The first documented model supplied by the carmaker to China was the POPULAR. Cars from Mladá Boleslav attracted Chinese customers thanks to a common promotional activity at the time: a long-distance trip around the world, during which the crew of the slightly bigger RAPID car made a stop in Shanghai, among other places.

  The first ŠKODA car exported to China was sold in 1935 in Shanghai, and it was the POPULAR model.
  

  The establishment of official diplomatic relations between Czechoslovakia and China in 1949 boosted the development of export to China. The local automotive industry was still in its early stages and in need of foreign technology and designers. Between 1955 and 1965, a number of Czech experts took part in a technical exchange that helped start production in China. One of them was the Mladá Boleslav carmaker’s then-chief designer, Oldřich Meduna, who was behind the development of the ŠKODA 706 truck and the ŠKODA VOS sedan. In addition to passing on his know-how, Meduna lectured at the local universities.

  The Czech brand has also left a big mark on Chinese public transport thanks to the ŠKODA 706 RO bus, which originated in Mladá Boleslav. In the rapidly growing capital of Beijing, several hundred of these operated for three decades until 1974. The carmaker’s popularity has continued to grow since it joined the VW Group. In 1993, thousands of Czech cars were heading for the Chinese market, and ŠKODA AUTO presented itself at Auto Shanghai. The FAVORIT, FORMAN, FELICIA and other models gradually headed for the Chinese roads. A major milestone was reached in April 2005, when the carmaker, in cooperation with SAIC Volkswagen, officially re-entered the Chinese market through a production license agreement. It was signed at the ŠKODA Museum on a desk used by the company’s founders, Václav Laurin and Václav Klement. Czech cars gradually began to be produced at several Chinese plants. The first locally produced car was the OCTAVIA in 2007. Within six years, ŠKODA AUTO announced its millionth car, and in last July, it celebrated its 3 millionth car made in China. ED
  

  Present

  China has been ŠKODA’s largest market for many years. In 2020, 173,000 cars were delivered to local customers. These cars are produced at four SAIC Volkswagen production plants: in Nanjing, Ningbo, Yizheng and Changsha. You can read more about the Chinese production in the November/December 2020 issue of ŠKODA Mobil. The customers in this region can purchase their SUPERB, OCTAVIA, RAPID and RAPID SPACEBACK cars along with the KODIAQ (pictured), KAROQ and KAMIQ SUV models. Sports SUV versions specially tailored to the Chinese market are also available: the compact city KAMIQ GT and the top model in China, the KODIAQ GT. Local customers can already look forward to the Chinese version of the new-generation OCTAVIA model, which will be presented very soon.

  
  

• Together4integrity

  Together4integrity
  

  Women in a world of men

  Do Czech companies have enough women in management? And how do they perceive working in such positions?

   n online meeting called ŠKODA Diversity MeetUp was devoted to this and many other interesting topics, and the carmaker invited female managers and management talents to participate.  

  Daniela Pešková, Board Member for Retail Banking at Česká spořitelna, and Thomas Schäfer, CEO of ŠKODA AUTO, discussed the diversity and involvement of women in company management. The meeting was admirably moderated by Sandra Kulková from the SE – ŠKODA Academy department, who is also a management talent. The event took place on 10 February, the same day that the carmaker announced the appointment of the first woman to its Board of Directors (Maren Gräf will take over leadership of Human Resources Management). 
  

  If you work in

  management, pay

  more attention

  to women on

  maternity leave

  and stay in

  touch with them

  so that they

  know that you

  have plans for

  them when they

  return.

  Daniela Pešková

  Česká spořitelna

  After a brief introduction by the head of ŠKODA AUTO, Pešková took the floor to summarise her career as a successful female manager and describe her journey to the Board of Directors at one of the largest Czech banks. She spoke of the eternal dilemma of balancing family life, which is her priority, with her career, as well as the importance of mentoring. That is, it has been important for her to have someone with whom she could consult, confide in or be led by. Another of her topics was about the common fear of women to ask for a promotion or better pay. “We’re usually scared of that. Women would rather stay in their current position than risk others saying that they’re only interested in their careers. However, there is no reason for that. The same applies to salary increases – don’t be afraid to negotiate for adequate money in a decent and correct way. It’s about business and not about being grateful for something; don't be afraid to set your price”, Pešková said. She also reminisced about the beginning of her professional life at the GE Group where, in her own words, she absorbed the Anglo-American culture and environment, which was very useful to her in subsequent phases of her career. “This concerns the 1990s, when women had to adapt to a world of men. They were teaching us what kind of make-up to wear and how to dress and act. Everything has long since passed. Today, a smart male manager understands that women have different needs, and if he wants them to succeed in his team, he has to support them and actually adapt his behaviour to them”, according to Pešková.

  The two participants in the debate answered numerous questions from the nearly 150 female employees who joined the online broadcast. Their questions were about discrimination and how the carmaker intends to give more support to women in management positions. “I worked for a long time in South Africa, and I perceived discrimination against women in managerial positions there”, Schäfer observed. “By contrast, in Central Europe, we are working to change the way people think, especially men in leadership positions. From my own experience, I know that the best teams are diverse, and not only as far as the gender balance is concerned. The differences are beneficial, which is why I’ve committed myself to changing the situation here at the carmaker. I see great potential in having a number of managers who have worked abroad and seen how everything works there. So, I believe that this change will take place, and we will get there, too”, he promised. ED
  

  Through the participants’ eyes
  

  Dominika Matarazzo

  GMP/ 1 – Market and Business Intelligence

  The first Diversity MeetUp was a great start, as it opened up the current dilemmas that many of us face – balancing family and career or choosing between security and professional growth. In her humorous presentation, it was pleasant to hear how Daniela Pešková had coped with everything and how mentoring helped her. I also appreciated the very open approach of Thomas Schäfer, who was not afraid to answer specific and critical questions.

  
  

  Petra Lauerová

  PSU – Environmental and Work Protection, currently on maternity leave 

  The meeting with both participants was inspiring for me, and I believe that it can raise great expectations among women working at ŠKODA AUTO. I appreciate that the carmaker also invited colleagues on parental leave because the discussion included information concerning support for their future reintegration and how to maintain contact with them. I will keep my fingers crossed that the leadership can fulfil these and other visions that they mentioned in the near future.

  Who is Daniela Pešková?

  After graduating from the University of Economics in Prague, she began her career at GE Money Group and spent a year working in Hungary. Prior to joining Česká spořitelna, she held a management position in Slovakia’s Tatrabanka. 

  She has been working for Česká spořitelna since the end of 2007, and since 2015, she has managed its network of branches. 

  In February 2016, she became a Board member at the company, where she is responsible for retail banking – that is, all the activities relating to customers and sales. She supervises approximately 5,000 employees.

  She is the only woman on a Board of Directors of any of the large Czech banks.

  Last year, this mother of three received the 2020 Top Czech Female Manager award.

  You can watch the recording of the entire 90-minute discussion in the media library on ŠKODA Space.

• Ambassador integrity

  Together4integrity
  

  Having values and beliefs is essential

  Interview with Jan Slavík, Integrity Ambassador from G31 – Model line B

  What made you become an integrity ambassador?

  The topic of integrity is close to my heart, and I’m convinced that if we emphasise a similar programme, it will help to improve our corporate culture overall. I also want to take part in this initiative.

  How do you perceive the ambassadorship specifically in your department, where you are introducing a number of innovations and strategic plans that apply across the company?

  In the case of car project management, integrity is an everyday topic that touches on almost all of our discussions. We are currently cooperating with the Volkswagen brand to develop the successor to the SUPERB and Passat cars. I notice how important integrity is to all the team members, as it helps us when we make many of our decisions. In addition, we create regular templates for all of our projects. They also include opinions on integrity and compliance. Therefore, we not only talk about integrity but actively use it.

  What would you like to achieve as an ambassador?

  I would like to show integrity by my own example because I work in accordance with its principles, apply them in practice and wish to pass all of this on to others.

  Which benefits do you see in your employees following the principles of integrity in practice?

  In my opinion, the biggest benefit is that those who work according to their beliefs achieve better results and are happier with their work.

  How do you see integrity at ŠKODA AUTO?

  I see it as an effective tool to help our employees to express their views. Integrity is a message for them to know that their personal values and beliefs are important to the carmaker.

  Integrity is often associated with a situation in which there is no single right solution, and it is necessary to follow one’s values and conscience and sometimes display personal courage. In your work, have you ever encountered a situation when you could not rely on fixed rules, and yet, you had to solve the situation?

  Yes, it was integrity that helped me to realise what was best for the team, our products and the carmaker. ED
  

• Award

  Award
  

  Successful for the 10th time

  ŠKODA AUTO won the TOP Employers study in the Automotive and Engineering Industry category

  
  

   or the 10th time in a row, ŠKODA AUTO has won the TOP Employers survey, which is carried out among students at Czech universities. The aim of the study is to provide university students with data on their future career possibilities and to take advantage of their opinion to evaluate the attractiveness of the individual companies as employers. This year’s event involved 12,000 students who were assessing companies in various fields. The Mladá Boleslav carmaker regularly ranks as the top employer. “ŠKODA AUTO is not only one of the largest employers in the Czech Republic but also holds one of the leading positions in the field of innovative technologies and, therefore, offers a lot of opportunities to university students and graduates to start their careers”, says Bohdan Wojnar, Board Member for Human Resources Management. Among other programmes, the carmaker offers university students the opportunity to participate in the Trainee programme, the Tech Trainee programme and the talent programme for doctoral students who receive mentoring support from ŠKODA AUTO experts for their dissertation work. ED
  

• Anniversary

  Anniversary
  

  From Pioneers of Racing to a Top Team

  The brand owes its sporting success to the extraordinary technical quality of its cars and the passion of many generations of ŠKODA employees

   ast year, we commemorated the 125th anniversary of the carmaker, which was founded in 1895 by Václav Laurin and Václav Klement. These two enthusiasts who produced bicycles, then motorcycles from 1899, and then cars, laid the foundation for a company that has remained a strong traditional brand to this day and has not disappeared in the face of global competition. This year, we are celebrating another anniversary at ŠKODA Mobil: It has been 120 years since the L&K/ŠKODA brand started participating in motorsport.  

  L&K motorcycles won 32 of the 34 races in which they participated in 1903.

  Brave men on wonderful machines

  The history of the Mladá Boleslav carmaker’s sports success began in 1901, when an employee at the local factory, Narcis Podsedníček, participated in the Paris–Berlin race using an L&K SLAVIA type B motorcycle and famously reached the finish line. Many years followed in which Czech motorcycles placed at the top of domestic and international races. That was a great promotion for the manufacturer. Starting in 1905, the factory line also included the first L&K cars, which already participated in various races before World War I. Their drivers, Count Alexander Kolowrat-Krakowský and Otto Hieronimus, were the crowd favourites. However, the difficult economic situation after the end of the war did not support sports ambitions, and the carmaker had to wait for another big success. That moment came at the Monte Carlo Rally in 1936, where the Czech crew driving from Athens got a place on the podium in the category up to 1,500 cm3. The company used this accomplishment for promotional purposes and produced a unique series of ŠKODA POPULAR Monte Carlo cars.  

  Heroes of socialist motorsport

  The period following 1945 was not initially conducive to motorsport. Even then, however, drivers, design engineers, mechanics and fans of Mladá Boleslav motorsport had amazing experiences, like the one at Le Mans in 1950 where the ŠKODA SPORT car was doing very well before being disabled from the famous 24-hour race because of the failure of a component worth a few pence. Although ŠKODA cars returned to the famous Monte Carlo Rally in 1949, they had to wait for their greatest success until 1961, 1962 and 1963, when private crews won their classes with the ŠKODA OCTAVIA TS (Touring Sport) model. In the mid-1970s, a legend was born: the ŠKODA 130 RS (Rally Sport). These racing machines successfully raced on both the rally tracks and the racing circuits. One of the greatest successes was experienced by the so-called Porsche of the East, again at the Monte Carlo Rally. In 1977, two ŠKODA 130 RS cars with start numbers 49 and 44 finished first and second in their class. 

  World Rally titles

  After 1989, the factory team began to have a significant impact on the international scene. The Czech brand cars, this time the ŠKODA FAVORIT 136 L, returned – where else but to Monte Carlo. ŠKODA secured four consecutive wins in its class – in 1991, 1992, 1993 and 1994. The 1990s brought with it a boom in motorsport under the ŠKODA brand. The fans’ interest, as well as the good sound and ever-growing reputation of racing machines with a winged arrow on the hood, did not wane. Among many others, we can point to the successful ŠKODA FABIA S2000 special. The factory team has recently dominated in its class at the World Rally Championship. Today, the ŠKODA FABIA Rally2 evo, which entered 2021 with a number of improvements, is flying through the race tracks.

  This short list of important but by no means comprehensive successes of the ŠKODA brand in the field of motorsport demonstrates how its concept has changed. However, there is one thing the racers – from Narcis Podsedníček with his workshop background to the noblemen-adventurers and socialist-era handymen to today’s purely professional teams, as well as generations of fans – have in common: a passion for fast wheels and the thrill that races provide.  ED

  Exciting Premiere

  The Mladá Boleslav factory’s début on the sports field took place in June 1901 on the track of the three-day Paris–Berlin race. This largest motorsport race of its time was attended by 110 cars and 10 motorcycles and tricycles. The carmaker was represented by Narcis Podsedníček on a Laurin & Klement SLAVIA type B motorcycle. The race had a dramatic course that embodied the wild and crazy early days of motorsport: There were 57 accidents on the track, 28 people died, and other 29 were seriously injured – mostly undisciplined spectators on the sidelines. Only 48 vehicles out of 110 reached the finish line. Podsedníček was the only motorcyclist to finish. Unfortunately, he could not find any of the race commissioners at around 3 o’clock in the morning and, therefore, his arrival time was confirmed only by a patrolman. However, the organisers did not recognise the record and, in the end, only four French riders on De Dion-Bouton tricycles were classified in this category. Podsedníček became a mere moral champion but had achieved a huge victory. And yet, the public could not fail to notice the technical qualities and exceptional reliability of the motorcycle from Central Europe. Other sports and related commercial successes of the Czech brand did not take long to follow.

  
  

  Famous ŠKODA AUTO Motorsport Moments

  
  

  
  

  Narcis Podsedníček crosses the finish line of the Paris–Berlin race on the SLAVIA type B motorcycle.

  
  

  
  

  Václav Vondřich wins the Coupe internationale des motocyclettes in Dourdan, France, the unofficial motorcycle world championship.

  
  

  
  

  Mladá Boleslav wins the travelling cup for winners of the Alpine Ride, the most prestigious Austrian-Hungarian race. In total, they would win the race five times in a row.

  
  

  
  

  The Zdeněk Pohl / Jaroslav Hausman crew with the ŠKODA POPULAR Sport wins a silver medal in the class up to 1,500 cm3 in the Monte Carlo Rally. 

  
  

  
  

  Three ŠKODA 1101 “TUDOR” cars win in their class in the famous 24-hour race in Spa, Belgium. 

  
  

  
  

  During the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the Václav Bobek and Jaroslav Netušil crew fights for first place in their class but has to withdraw due to a defect in their ŠKODA SPORT special.

  
  

  
  

  The private Esko Keinänen / Rainer Eklund crew with a OCTAVIA TS wins their class at the Monte Carlo Rally. ŠKODA cars defend their victory the next two years.

  
  

  
  

  The Václav Blahna / Lubislav Hlávka and Miloslav Zapadlo/Jiří Motal crews win a double in their class at the Monte Carlo Rally. The third ŠKODA 130 RS won't finish.

  
  

  
  

  The ŠKODA 130 RS cars win the European Touring Car Championship ahead of brands like BMW, Ford and Audi. The ŠKODA 120 LS triumphs at the British RAC Rally.

  
  

  
  

  The Pavel Sibera / Petr Gross crew wins in the ŠKODA FAVORIT the Monte Carlo Rally in the class up to 1,300 cm3 for the fourth time in a row.

  
  

  
  

  Armin Schwarz and Manfred Hiemer in the OCTAVIA WRC place third overall in the Kenyan Rally.

  
  

  
  

  Finns Juho Hänninen and Mikko Markkula of the Red Bull ŠKODA team win the historically first world title in the SWRC category with a FABIA S2000.

  
  

  
  

  The factory team wins the fifth world title in a row in the manufacturers’ rankings of the WRC2/WRC2 Pro category.
  

• Motorsport / Zell am See

  motorsport
  

  120 YEARS OF MOTORSPORT HISTORY IN ZELL AM SEE
  

  In the third week of February, several dozen journalists from all over Europe got better acquainted with some exceptional moments from ŠKODA Motorsport history. They admired the famous racing cars and motorcycles, and there were also enjoyable rides with the ŠKODA 130 RS race car on ice.

• Motorsport / Races

  Motorsport / Races

  A bet on private teams

  This season, ŠKODA Motorsport continues its successful 2020 strategy

   KODA Motorsport has been placing greater emphasis on supporting customer teams, to which it has delivered almost 400 rally specials based on the FABIA model since 2015. In the last year, teams with these cars won 14 continental and national titles, and the Toksport WRT won the team rankings in the WRC2 category of the World Rally Championship series. “The development of the 2020 season proves that it was a good move. We want to continue the strategy this year”, confirms the head of ŠKODA Motorsport, Michal Hrabánek. 

  For this year, the FABIA Rally2 evo special received an improvement package that increases its performance, reliability, safety and comfort and improves its overall driving characteristics. For example, a number of innovations have improved the car’s behaviour on surfaces with low adhesion. An innovative arrangement of the steering wheel buttons – and there can be up to eight of them – will help to control the car.

  Successful start

  The Monte Carlo Rally kicked off the new season at the end of January. In the Toksport WRT team colours, the Norwegian Andreas Mikkelsen / Ola Fløen crew supported by ŠKODA Motorsport with the improved FABIA Rally2 evo returned to the WRC2 series. And they did very well. They dominated their category with a big lead, and thanks to the victory in the final Power Stage, they scored the maximum 30 points in the championship rating. Interestingly, only the 50 best crews traditionally entered the last leg of the Monte Carlo Rally on Sunday, and most of them (11) drove ŠKODA cars. ED
  

  Golden Premiere in Dakar A modified ŠKODA 130 LR 

  won one leg of the famous desert rally

   his year, the ŠKODA 130 LR set out on a desert adventure for the first time. The rally special from the 1980s piloted by the experienced crew of Ondřej Klymčiw and Petr Vlček competed among classic cars and did extremely well despite the demanding conditions. Although the Dakar Classic route did not follow exactly in the footsteps of the main race, it did not lag behind in terms of difficulty. The ŠKODA 130 LR withstood an incredible load, and its crew managed to overcome all the problems. “The car was pretty busy as we drove over 900 kilometres a day. Although the components based on the original are made from modern materials, they still experience material fatigue, of course. Few people avoid issues in such a difficult race. We didn’t drive with the goal of finishing, but we raced and didn’t spare the car. After all, it’s impossible to slow down anyway because we would keep getting stuck in the sand”, describes Klymčiw, who was the driver. He and co-driver Vlček have already raced in the Dakar on motorcycle four times. 

  They had to adapt the classic car to extreme conditions before the race. Among other things, it got a modified transmission with a self-locking differential and gears suitable to the Dakar race, the air filtration was also modified, and mechanics increased the car’s ground clearance as much as possible. The geometry of the front axle and cooling were also redesigned. 

  Best for last

  The victory on the sixth leg was a big and valuable “notch” on the belt of the classic Mladá Boleslav car. In addition, the crew brought back imaginary bronze medals from the next three legs. However, Klymčiw loves to reminisce the most about the final leg. “We enjoyed the beautiful terrain, and in addition, we finished second in both the final special stages”, recalls the driver, adding that, if possible, he would like to return to the Dakar rally next year in an extended team configuration. ED

  You can find out more about the crew’s interesting experiences from the race

• Green Future

  With love for the Czech landscape

  By the end of the year, thanks to the help of volunteers recruited from among its employees, car dealers and customers, the carmaker will have planted a total of 1,093,000 trees since the project began 

   KODA AUTO contributes to the environmental policy through a number of measures arising from the Green Future strategy, including a grant programme with its “One tree for each car sold” motto. This year, the carmaker will enrich the Czech Republic with new greenery for the 15th year in a row. Through the ŠKODA Trees project, it intends to plant the 1,093,000th seedling by the end of 2021, which corresponds to more than 227 hectares of new forest. Such an area would cover 347 football fields.

  Seedlings help to diversify species of vegetation, reclaim forests, restore traditional alley and make improvements to the landscape in cities and their surroundings.

  
  

  In recent years, the project has involved not only ŠKODA AUTO and its employees but also family members, trainees and vocational school students. In 2017, the carmaker’s customers joined the tree planting initiative for the first time, in Mariánské Lázně. The first ŠKODA Alley was also created in the Bradlec municipality in the Mladá Boleslav region. To date, almost 70 places have been designated in this way across the country. Thanks to this project, planted greenery can be enjoyed in Vrchlabí, Kvasiny, Solnice, Rychnov nad Kněžnou, in the vicinity of Mladá Boleslav in Plazy, Boseň, Březno and in many other places. In addition to the regions surrounding the plants, this project also involves South Moravia (Rohatec near Hodonín) and the Šumava National Park, among others.

  Dealer community activities

  Last year, ŠKODA car dealers took part in a project conceived as a community activity. The ADIV dealership in Opava supported the “Animals in a shelter have more shade” event when, in cooperation with the local town council, it planted cherry, maple, birch and linden trees in the city park. This dealer plans to continue organising similar events in the future so that additional places are created in the region where it will be pleasant to meet, spend free time and hold cultural events. The AR SERVIS dealership in Jindřichův Hradec supported the project in the Dolní Pěna municipality, where in November 2020, because the measures against COVID-19 prohibited public participation, they planted the so-called Green Trail made of fruit trees: apple, pear and cherry. ED
  

  Grant programme

  Municipalities, educational institutions, non-profit organisations, hunting associations and civic and interest associations can participate in the ŠKODA Trees project through a grant. Its call for this year will be published through the link below. The grant amounts will range from CZK 10,000 to CZK 70,000, and project applications can only be submitted electronically via the Grantys system.

  You can learn more about the ŠKODA Trees project grant announcement, planting and volunteering here.

  
  

  Emission-free future of production

  he carmaker is placing increasing emphasis on getting energy from CO2-neutral sources, which is why its CEO, Thomas Schäfer, and his counterpart at ČEZ, Daniel Beneš, have agreed to expand the companies’ existing cooperation. Having commissioned solar panels on the roof of the Service Centre in Kosmonosy in 2019, they will partner on another joint project: construction of the largest rooftop photovoltaic power plant in the Czech Republic, which will be built on the roof of the ŠKODA Parts Centre and logistics buildings near the main production plant in Mladá Boleslav. The project will entail the installation of almost 6,000 solar modules with a rated output of 2,300 kilowatts (kW) and electricity production exceeding 2,200 megawatt-hours (MWh) per year. The latest-generation modules were chosen as they have more than twice the capacity of conventional ones. ČEZ ESCO will be responsible for installing and operating the equipment, and ŠKO-ENERGO will take over project coordination. Construction of the solar power plant will begin this summer so that it can be connected to the transmission system this autumn. ED

• Production

  Production
  

  Meeting with foremen

  For the first time ever, this year’s series of discussions between Board members and forepersons was an exclusively online event

   he live broadcasts took place on three days in January and February and were watched by a total of 850 colleagues, primarily forewomen and -men. These meetings take place every year, support mutual dialogue and prove that ŠKODA AUTO’s management values ​​the work of its forepersons because they are the ones who lead and inform their production teams.

  All the livestreams were hosted by Marek Jancák, head of PF – Car Production, who was answering the questions with Thomas Schäfer, the CEO of ŠKODA AUTO; Michael Oeljeklaus, Board Member for Production and Logistics; and Bohdan Wojnar, Board Member for Human Resources Management. The carmaker’s forepersons had the opportunity to ask the Board of Directors any questions they wanted. Also, there were no defined topics to be followed. At the beginning of the broadcast, they also voted on the importance and relevance of certain issues for them, and at the end, the Board members answered questions regarding those issues. “I would like to thank everyone for participating, especially those who actively asked questions and thereby enabled mutual interaction despite the digital format that we were forced to use to protect your health. We were not able to answer all the questions and, therefore, we prepared the Newsletter for Foremen, in which you will find this information”, Jancák said. ED
  

  Production

  Do we coordinate the supply of important parts during the pandemic in such a way that production doesn’t have to stop? Can we compensate for outages at other suppliers as well?

  Michael Oeljeklaus: Yes, we’re coordinating the supplies and, despite the current difficult situation, ŠKODA AUTO is intensively trying to secure a sufficient number of parts in the supply chain for car production. In the event of a shortage of any of the parts due to restrictions on the supplier’s part, we temporarily optimise the model range, which is discussed with the supplier. A possible extreme solution is the additional assembly of parts where it is technologically possible.

  COVID-19

  If I get vaccinated when it is possible, will it mean that some of the set measures will be eased for me (e.g. the wearing of a face mask)?

  Bohdan Wojnar: If the government allows it, then yes. The government itself is not yet clear about this. We will certainly push for vaccinations to be compulsory for foreign business trips or any trips abroad. However, that will be required only when the vaccine is freely available at any time and to anyone. Other non-financial benefits of vaccination are being discussed.

  Benefits

  Will the carmaker allow its employees to test-drive its electric cars?

  Bohdan Wojnar: Yes, the ENYAQ iV loan programme is being prepared with favourable terms. Our forepersons will take part in the training, which will include test drives.

  Will affordable electric cars be part of the MAL offer?

  Bohdan Wojnar: Yes, electric cars will be offered for MAL; however, given the lack of batteries, the only option at present involves buying a new or pre-owned iV car. The monthly operating lease payments are based on the car’s price and always amount to approximately 1 percent; this should also apply to iV cars.

  Strategy

  Will we continue to produce the FABIA COMBI in the future? When?

  Thomas Schäfer: Yes, the new FABIA COMBI will come in 2023, as was already confirmed by Herbert Diess, the head of the VW Group. Production of the current model will continue even after the launch of the new FABIA model generation.

  Is a new cheaper model (affordable for young families) being planned for the near future? There is a significantly bigger selection of more expensive cars on the market.

  Thomas Schäfer: Part of the current NEXT LEVEL ŠKODA programme involves looking for ways to offer more affordable ŠKODA car models or variants. We are currently looking at all the options. One of the family models available at present is the FABIA COMBI. We plan to continue its production.

• A new address

  A new address
  

  Václav Vojtěch

  Project Manager G32 – MEB Model Series

  61,000

  covered in a company car during his deployment in Wolfsburg

  Nothing better than a personal meeting

  I ’ve been with the carmaker since 2007. First, I worked in the company’s Communications department and later on in Product Management on the OCTAVIA and KODIAQ models. I started travelling regularly to Wolfsburg in 2017, when I joined the G32 – MEB Model Series department. Every week, we would prepare projects, which eventually led to the ŠKODA ENYAQ iV and VW ID.4 electric cars being built on the same platform. With the approaching start of production, negotiations intensified, and that was why I became a foreign service employee in October 2019 and would stay in Wolfsburg every week until the end of 2020. My VW colleagues welcomed me very warmly. The most important thing for me was that I was able to meet people “on the other end of the line” in person. I stopped being “some Czech phone number”, and they saw me as a familiar colleague. And it was the same from my side. But besides work-related impressions, I would like to tell you a little bit more about my personal experiences.

  I improved my German and made new friends in Germany, but I experienced the pandemic as well, unfortunately.

  Quarantine

  The start of the coronavirus pandemic last March meant that I packed up my work and personal belongings and travelled home. I didn’t return to Wolfsburg until mid-April, straight to my two weeks of quarantine. When I got back, it was also challenging because I had to find out about the latest regulations and duties or look for tests, of which there were few at the time, and they were expensive. It started again in September with quarantine, tests and stays in the Czech Republic for a maximum of 48 hours so that I wouldn’t lose my commuter status…

  In this context, I’m grateful to my dear colleagues from STM/2 – Expatriate Management, who, despite their big load of other work, took and take a great care of us foreign service employees.

  Back home to see my daughter

  I lived quite well in Wolfsburg. This city offers more activities and services than Mladá Boleslav. The much larger Braunschweig is also located nearby. However, I missed my beloved daughter there. Therefore, with a few exceptions, I went home every weekend and for holiday so that we could spend time together. I spent at least 400 hours behind the wheel commuting, but it was worth it many times over because of the time that I got to spend with my family and friends. I always had the most beautiful feeling when crossing the border on my way home. When travelling through the countryside along the Elbe River and then through Úštěk and Doksy to Mladá Boleslav, I always realised how beautiful this region is.

  Reminder of the native region

  I come from the beautiful Deštné in the Orlické Mountains, so when I had a free weekend in Germany, I headed to the Harz Mountains, where I remembered my home a bit. In December, before the end of my stay, I also went to harden myself in the Baltic Sea.

  
  

  Lake around the corner

  I didn’t have much free time, but when I could, I tried to go swimming, to the sauna or to run. In addition, just a few hundred metres from the plant gate, there is Lake Allersee, which is part of the large Allerpark leisure area.

• Thing digitally

  IT Services Always at Hand

  The new catalogue makes it easier and faster to place orders for services from the IT department

   ou know how it goes: You browse the offers to find the right hotel that looks out onto the beach. It is actually the same thing here – if you need an IT department service, you can search for it in the catalogue. It takes the form of a signpost indicating all the services, described in detail, and providing information on how to order them. “Previously, users were lost in the process because its structure was complicated and confusing, and the environment was not user-friendly. At the IT department, we noticed that a comprehensive overview of the services we provide to employees and professional departments was lacking”, is how Petr Blažek from the FIG/1 – IT Services Management department describes the situation in the past.

  The catalogue has a number of benefits. “Users have all the services in one place where they can easily find their way around. The catalogue is continuously updated, so the information on the inside is completely fresh. User stories, which make it even easier to orient oneself (see the What to do if I want to… column), are a pleasant addition”, adds Anna Hojková from the same department.

  1,000

  is the approximate number of apps and services currently provided by the IT department

  25 000

  employees who have access to ŠKODA Space may use the IT Service Catalogue at any time

  The offer is constantly expanding

  The carmaker currently uses approximately 1,000 applications and services. The catalogue now includes those that are most useful to the employees, and new ones are constantly being added to it. It is available to all the carmaker’s employees who have access to ŠKODA Space. They can browse the “For Employees” section; however, the “IT Technical Services” section, which contains current descriptions of IT services for IT, is only visible to FI – Information Technology department employees. “We believe that the catalogue, among other things, will significantly accelerate IT service orders, which has been confirmed in practice: The test showed a roughly 50 percent reduction in the time required to order IT services for end users. It is also about streamlining the availability of our services to the employees in the coronavirus situation”, said Anna Hojková of the new system.

  Currently, the two aforementioned catalogue blocks are available: services for employees and technical services for IT staff. “In the coming months, we will add more to it. We also want to continue to automate the services provided and focus even more on the quality of the data on offer”, concludes Petr Blažek, noting that the entire project is part of the IT strategy – specifically, one of the four pillars called the Smart and Efficient Workplace. ED

  What should I do If I want to...

  If you’re an end user, the IT service catalogue offers help with solving your inquiries in the form of certain “stories”. For example, you want to share or back up files? Use cloud services? Digitally sign a PDF? The catalogue will guide you through these situations in an easy-to-understand way.

  ​You can find the IT Service Catalogue on ŠKODA Space from the link "IT Service available to all" on the homepage.

  Do you need IT support? Here are a few tips

  When working with a computer, you may find yourself in a situation where it is not working as it should, and you have to contact the ServiceDesk. Here are some tips on how to manage the situation.

  Did you know that 30 percent of issues with a computer can be resolved by restarting it?

   Check whether the colour information bar on ŠKODA Space indicates the problem. If you see it, it means that a solution is already being worked on, and you don’t have to report anything. 

   If this is an as yet unknown problem, first try restarting the application, Web browser or computer.

  
  

   If even that doesn’t help, contact the ServiceDesk, preferably by using the contact form in the ŠKODA Space footer. An IT specialist will begin dealing with your request within 30 minutes.

  
  

  If your issue can’t wait, call 326-8-17777 and open the SD Info application on your desktop. It will show you all the information that the operator will ask you to provide. If the line is busy, select the option to leave a voice message or request a call-back. Please, do not call repeatedly; as soon as an operator is available, they will start solving your request or call you back.
  

  Livestreams big and small

  Challenging times have taught people to communicate online in a much bigger way

   he innovation mindset index (IMX) was measured for the third time in November and December last year. The IMX rose to 57 percent, a slight increase since the beginning of 2020. “The IMX is more than a number. It helps us to better see the aspects of what we have or lack when we’re engaged in innovation”, says Christian Schrader from GGS – Corporate Strategy and Innovation Management. We can see from the results and the comments that innovation is slowed down by a fear of implementing new things, overcoming an administrative burden or tackling difficult cross-area cooperation. “The results show that we have sped up the use of digital tools and that our people are passionate about innovation, but our capacity to bring new ideas and push them towards implementation has to improve. From the results and from ongoing discussions in all the business areas, we see the need to sharpen our innovations for business growth and to support our internal innovators. Positive role modelling and having visible implementation results will be our greatest drivers”, says Andre Wehner, head of GG – Corporate Development and Digitalisation. ED

  You can contact AVS by e-mail

• IMX

  Innovation
  

  Innovation makes us stronger 

  THIRD MEASURING OF INNOVATION MINDSET UNDERLINES THE IMPORTANCE OF COURAGE TO PUSH FORWARD NEW THINGS

   he innovation mindset index (IMX) was measured for the third time in November and December last year. The IMX rose to 57 percent, a slight increase since the beginning of 2020. “The IMX is more than a number. It helps us to better see the aspects of what we have or lack when we’re engaged in innovation”, says Christian Schrader from GGS – Corporate Strategy and Innovation Management. We can see from the results and the comments that innovation is slowed down by a fear of implementing new things, overcoming an administrative burden or tackling difficult cross-area cooperation. “The results show that we have sped up the use of digital tools and that our people are passionate about innovation, but our capacity to bring new ideas and push them towards implementation has to improve. From the results and from ongoing discussions in all the business areas, we see the need to sharpen our innovations for business growth and to support our internal innovators. Positive role modelling and having visible implementation results will be our greatest drivers”, says Andre Wehner, head of GG – Corporate Development and Digitalisation. RED

  Four indicators of IMX

  Open-mindedness
  

  Speed
  

  X-cooperation
  

  Courage
  

  The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on innovations and innovative thinking as perceived by the employees

   No effect 

  54.6 %

   Became quicker

  30.1 %

   Became slower

  15.3 %

  You can find more about the IMX on IdeaSpace. 

• The World of ŠKODA Auto

  The World of ŠKODA Auto
  

  Norway
  

  Population: 

  5.4 million

  Area: 

  385,207 km2

  Sales of new passenger cars (2020): 

  141,412

  Best-selling model on the market: 

  Audi e-tron

  Market specifics: 

  Norway is the European leader in electrification, and pure battery propulsion is the main choice for customers in the country. In 2020, this segment accounted for 54.3 percent of the market. The demand for SUVs with 4 × 4 electric drive is also growing. As one of the few brands covering this segment on the market, ŠKODA now offers the ENYAQ iV model. Norwegian customers place high demands on all the car types. These include four-wheel drive, towing equipment and extensive features.
  

  ŠKODA AUTO in Norway

  The Czech brand enjoys a very solid reputation and has the youngest group of customers. ŠKODA cars are bought by customers in Norway mainly for long-distance driving; they appreciate the cars’ spaciousness, excellent price/performance ratio and 4 × 4 drives, and when they buy a new car, they keep returning to the brand. ŠKODA AUTO has an 18.5 percent share on the market with passenger cars with conventional drives, and the ENYAQ iV fully electric SUV has great potential: Norwegian customers have already ordered 5,600 units since the beginning of the year.

  Sales of new ŠKODA cars (2020): 7,187

  Market share: 5.1%

  Brand entry: 1935 (when the first three ŠKODA POPULAR cars were delivered)

  Sales representation: Harald A. Møller AS

  Numbers of sales points: 44

  BEST-SELLING ŠKODA MODELS

  OCTAVIA COMBI

  CITIGOe iV

  SUPERB COMBI

• Pravidla soutěže

  Pravidla soutěže ve ŠKODA Mobilu

  1. Pořadatel Soutěže

  Společnost ŠKODA AUTO a.s., se sídlem tř. Václava Klementa 869, Mladá Boleslav II, 293 01 Mladá Boleslav, IČO: 00177041, zapsaná v obchodním rejstříku vedeném Městským soudem v Praze pod sp. zn. B 332 (dále jen „Pořadatel“), pořádá tuto čtenářskou soutěž (dále jen „Soutěž“), jejíž postup a podmínky upravují tato pravidla (dále jen „Pravidla“).

  2. Doba trvání soutěže

  Soutěž probíhá v době od 26.02.2021 do 19.03.2021 (dále jen „Doba soutěže“).

  3. Soutěžící

  Soutěže se může účastnit každý čtenář zaměstnaneckých novin ŠKODA Mobil, který v Době soutěže vyplní kvíz a své odpovědi zašle na e-mailovou adresu skoda.mobil@skoda-auto.cz (dále jen „Soutěžící“). Soutěžící se zavazuje uvádět v soutěžní registraci pouze pravdivé údaje.

  Soutěžící mladší 18 let se mohou Soutěže zúčastnit pouze se souhlasem svého zákonného zástupce, který je povinen se na žádost Pořadateli prokázat.

  Ze Soutěže jsou vyloučeni zaměstnanci útvaru GK/2 jako organizátora soutěže a osoby těmto osobám blízké podle § 22 zákona č. 89/2012 Sb., občanský zákoník, ve znění pozdějších předpisů.

  4. Princip Soutěže

  Úkolem soutěžícího je zodpovědět otázky v kvízu, který Pořadatel zveřejní v tištěné verzi zaměstnaneckých novin ŠKODA Mobil (vydání Březen 2021), nebo v online verzi novin téhož vydání na webové adrese www.skodamobil.cz. Zodpovězením otázek se rozumí odeslání odpovědí na kvízové otázky na e-mailovou adresu skoda.mobil@skoda-auto.cz. Každý soutěžící může odeslat své odpovědi za Dobu soutěže jen jednou. Ze správných odpovědí budou vylosováni 3 výherci (dále jen „Výherce“).

  5. Výhra v Soutěži

  Výhrou jsou následující ceny:

  3x Kalendář ŠKODA Motorsport 2021 s vlastnoručním podpisem továrního jezdce Jana Kopeckého

  6. Kontaktování Výherce a podmínky čerpání výhry

  Pořadatel bude Výherce informovat o výhře zejména telefonicky/písemně na kontaktní telefonní číslo / e-mailovou adresu, které Soutěžící uvedl v e-mailu se svými odpověďmi, a to nejpozději do 14 dnů od ukončení Soutěže. S Výhercem se Pořadatel následně dohodne na způsobu předání Výhry. Standardní způsob předání výhry je osobní předání. Podmínkou předání výhry je podpis předávacího protokolu nebo potvrzení o převzetí ze strany Výherce.

  Výhru není možné alternativně vyplatit v hotovosti ani v jiném plnění. Výhra není soudně vymahatelná. Poskytovatelem výhry je Pořadatel. Pořadatel nenese žádnou odpovědnost za jakákoliv rizika a závazky související s užíváním výhry. Pořadatel si rovněž vyhrazuje právo výměny výhry za výhru, která je odpovídající náhradou.

  V případě, že Výherce výhru nepřevezme osobně ve sjednaném termínu, ztrácí na výhru nárok a výhra propadne, aniž by Výherci vznikl nárok na jakoukoliv kompenzaci ze strany Pořadatele.

  7. Pravidla ochrany osobních údajů (v souladu s GDPR 2016/679)

  Vyplněním kvízu a zasláním odpovědí na výše uvedenou e-mailovou adresu Soutěžící vědomě a dobrovolně souhlasí s Pravidly soutěže (viz tento dokument), což znamená:

  – zařazení do soutěže a příslušné evidence Soutěžících;

  – zasílání informačních e-mailů týkajících se této Soutěže;

  – případné zveřejnění jeho osobních údajů v rozsahu jméno a útvar na výherní listině.

  Osobní údaje budou uchovávány pouze pro potřebu Soutěže a nebudou využívány k marketingovým účelům.

  Osobní údaje se zpracovávají po dobu od jejich poskytnutí v rámci Soutěže až do vyhlášení výsledků Soutěže, maximálně však na 1 rok od jejich poskytnutí. Osobní údaje jsou od Soutěžícího získávány na základě pravdivě vyplněného registračního e-mailu (e-mail se správnými odpověďmi zaslaný na skoda.mobil@skoda-auto.cz). Osobní údaje Soutěžícího budou zpracovány ve výše uvedeném rozsahu v elektronické databázi správce osobních údajů, popř. zpracovatelem, se kterým správce osobních údajů (Pořadatel) uzavře příslušnou smlouvu.

  Požádá-li Soutěžící o informaci o zpracování svých osobních údajů, je mu správce a případně i zpracovatel povinen tuto informaci bez zbytečného odkladu předat. Každý Soutěžící, který zjistí nebo se domnívá, že správce provádí zpracování jeho osobních údajů, které je v rozporu s ochranou soukromého a osobního života Soutěžícího nebo v rozporu se zákonem, může požádat správce o vysvětlení nebo požadovat, aby správce odstranil takto vzniklý stav. Soutěžící má právo (omezení zpracování, oprava osobních údajů, doplnění nebo likvidace osobních údajů, podání stížnosti) se obracet na správce na: DPoffice@skoda-auto.cz.

  Kontakty:

  Pověřenec pro ochranu osobních údajů ve ŠKODA AUTO: DPO@skoda-auto.cz

  Úřad pro ochranu osobních údajů: www.uoou.cz.

  8. Ostatní ustanovení

  Pořadatel neodpovídá za přímé či nepřímé škody v souvislosti s účastí v Soutěži. Nebezpečí škody na výhře přechází na Výherce okamžikem předání výhry Výherci. Pořadatel není odpovědný za jakékoli technické problémy vzniklé při přenosu dat elektronickými prostředky.

  Pořadatel si vyhrazuje právo bez udání důvodu vyloučit Soutěžícího, jehož chování či jednání vykazuje známky nekalého či podvodného jednání. Osoby nesplňující podmínky účasti v Soutěži nebo jednající v rozporu s Pravidly Soutěže nebudou do Soutěže zařazeny. I pokud taková osoba splní některé podmínky pro získání výhry, např. v důsledku nepravdivých informací, které poskytla, nestává se Výhercem a nemá nárok na výhru. Výhra bude v takovém případě předána dalšímu Soutěžícímu v pořadí. Soutěžící bude vyloučen v případě, že Pořadatel zjistí nebo bude mít oprávněné podezření na spáchání podvodného nebo nekalého jednání ze strany některého ze Soutěžících či jiné osoby, která dopomohla danému Soutěžícímu k získání Výhry.

  Pořadatel si vyhrazuje právo i bez uvedení důvodů Dobu soutěže zkrátit, Soutěž přerušit nebo zrušit či změnit její Pravidla, a to i bez udělení výhry a bez poskytnutí náhrad. Pořadatel si rovněž vyhrazuje právo nahradit ohlášenou výhru předmětem podobného typu a odpovídající hodnoty a upravit podmínky předání výhry v případě, že výhra nebude poskytnuta způsobem umožňujícím předání výhry vítězům v souladu s těmito Pravidly.

  Pořadatel má právo konečného rozhodnutí ve všech záležitostech Soutěže včetně rozhodnutí o neudělení výhry v Soutěži a také si vyhrazuje právo konečného posouzení splnění či nesplnění podmínek stanovených pro získání výhry v Soutěži. Výhru nezískají ti Soutěžící, kteří nesplní byť jen okrajově či částečně stanovené podmínky pro získání výhry. Pořadatel tímto nepřebírá vůči Soutěžícím žádné jiné závazky, a tito nemají nárok na jakákoliv jiná plnění ze strany Pořadatele než uvedená v těchto Pravidlech.

  V případě, že dojde ke změnám podmínek a Pravidel Soutěže, bude toto učiněno písemně ve formě aktualizace těchto Pravidel. Aktuální verze těchto Pravidel je v plném znění dostupná na www.skodamobil.cz. Soutěžící nemá právo na náhradu nákladů spojených s účastí v Soutěži, a to ani v případě změny těchto Pravidel.

  Tato Pravidla jsou platná a účinná ode dne 26. 02. 2021.

• Motorsport Dakar – FOTO

  The modified ŠKODA 130 LR started in Arabian desert rally in the Dakar Classic category.

  For example, it was equipped with special wheels that allow the pressure in the tires to be reduced to make it easier to get out of the sand.

  Ondřej Klymčiw, who had previously completed the famous race on a motorcycle several times, got behind the wheel.

• Škodováci – fotogalerie

  Jaroslav Beneš se věnuje historii finanční stráže.

  Píše o ní knihy, kterých vydal již 14.

  O její historii také často přednáší.

• VZOR

  Sysel při západu slunce na Radouči

  Bedřichov po cestě na přehradu 

  Zima v Arberu

  Přehrada Souš

  Kozí hřbety nad Špindlerovým Mlýnem

  Mléčná dráha nad osadou Jizerka

• Anniversary - FOTO

  he first factory driver, Narcis Podsedníček, who worked his way up from toolmaker and sales representative to lead foreman at Laurin & Klement.

  
  

  The legendary ŠKODA 130 RS coupé placed 12th and 15th in the absolute ranking of the 1977 Monte Carlo Rally, despite competing with much stronger specials.

  The success of the ŠKODA Motorsport factory team was followed by customer teams, which in the 2019 season won five titles under the FIA banner and 24 national championship titles.
  

• Motorsport Monte-Carlo– FOTO

  The Monte Carlo Rally started the 2021 racing season.

  The WRC2 category was dominated by the Norwegian crew of the Toksport WRT team Andreas Mikkelsen / Ola Fløen driving a ŠKODA FABIA Rally2 evo.

  Their South American teammates Marco Bulacia / Marcelo Der Ohannesian finished fourth in their premiere.

• ENYAQ SPORTLINE iV – fotogalerie

  Sportovní varianta plně elektrického SUV ENYAQ iV nabízí snížený podovozek.

  Dynamický vzhled upraveného modelu podtrhují sportovní nárazníky či boční ochranné lišty v barvě vozu.

  Designéři připravili pro ENYAQ SPORTLINE iV i speciální interiér s převážně černými prvky a lištami v dekoru Carbon.

  Přídi vozu dominuje maska chladiče s černým rámečkem a Matrix-LED hlavní světlomety.

  Lesklou černou bravu dostal i nápis ŠKODA a plakety na zadních dveřích.

  Plakety SPORTLINE se nacházejí také nad přednmi koly.

  Oproti běžné verzi disponuje sportovní varianta tříramenným volantem.

• Tehdy a Teď – fotogalerie

  In the 1990s, the carmaker promoted and sold its ground-breaking FAVORIT and other models in China.

  
  

  At the end of 1958, Oldřich Meduna, the Czechoslovak carmaker’s former chief designer, arrived in China to help with the development of several factories. 

  
  

  The long-distance rides of the RAPID (pictured) and POPULAR cars promoted the ŠKODA brand in China in the 1930s.

• Motorsport Zell am See – FOTO

  As co-drivers, the journalists tried riding the ŠKODA 130 RS piloted by racing driver Matthias Kahl. 

  
  

  The L&K SLAVIA B motorcycle from 1901 was the Mladá Boleslav company’s first representative in the motorsport field. The specimen for the exhibition was lent by a private owner. The Laurin & Klement FC from 1908, also from a private owner, is the oldest serviceable car of this type in the world. 

  The ŠKODA FAVORIT 136 L/A won many a race in the early 1990s. The exhibited car from 1994 forms part of the ŠKODA Museum collection.

• eMobility / Stress test - FOTO

  The stress test took place under strict hygiene rules at the beginning of February.

  Twelve combined Siemens chargers were included in the charging at the same time.

  The cars were charged with either 22 kW AC or 50 kW DC.

  Twelve test drivers of ENYAQ iV cars arrived at the site.

  The test took place in the Mladá Boleslav plant in front of the V19 building, nicknamed Prior.

  The organizers of the test call on the drivers of conventional cars with not to block the places at the charging stations.

• Srdcovka – fotogalerie

  Putování s hendikepem na Základní škole v Solnici.

  Akce na dožínkách v Hradci Králové – ukázka výcviku vodicích psů.

  Projekt Kavárna ve tmě v Táboře.

  Takto probíhalo Putování s hendikepem na církevní škole v Hradci Králové.

  Renata Moravcová provádí školáky Putováním s hendikepem.

• Pravidla soutěže PDF

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