07/2020

ŠKODA Mobil – newsletter, <br>July 2020

• Title

  
  

• Flight Through The Škoda World

  Flight Through The Škoda World

  ŠKODA AUTO HELPS

  
  

  CARS FOR POLICE TRAINING AND SERVICE 

  A total of 100 ŠKODA OCTAVIA Style cars worth CZK 85 million will be received by selected organisations during the summer to provide assistance to the needy in the Czech Republic. The first 10 cars were ceremoniously handed over on 2 July at the ŠKODA AUTO Customer Centre in Mladá Boleslav. Among others, the Mladá Boleslav Regional Hospital, the Červený Kostelec Regional Charity, the ParaCENTRUM Fenix and the Neratov Association are already using their new helper. 

  NON-HOMOLOGATED ŠKODA TEST VEHICLES WILL BE USED IN THE TRAINING OF POLICE ROOKIES INSTEAD OF BEING SCRAPPED. THE ROOKIES WILL USE THEM WHEN INSPECTING ROADS, IN THE EVENT OF A TRAFFIC ACCIDENT AND WHEN TAKING ACTION AGAINST CRIMINALS.

  HOW WE ARE PERCEIVED

  SCOTSMAN.COM (June 24, 2020)
  

  ŠKODA FABIA 1,0 TSI 70 kW

  great for cycling around the city but also handy on faster roads

  spatious interior, even on the rear seats

  great price/performance ratio

  a more sedate member in its category
  

  What is happening at ŠKODA AUTO
  

  THE LAST THIRD-GENERATION OCTAVIA

  The production line in Hall M13 already exclusively belongs to the latest version of the brand’s bestseller. The last third-generation OCTAVIA COMBI rolled off the line on 3 July. The model has been manufactured since 2012 and received a facelift three years ago, the most significant feature of which was the split headlights. A total of 1,793,658 units were made in Mladá Boleslav either as a liftback or a station wagon. The production line, which has undergone technical parameter modifications for the fourth generation of the car, will also serve in the production of ENYAQ iV electric cars.

  
  

  TIGHT BATTLE AT THE RALLY BOHEMIA

  After the delay caused by the coronavirus pandemic, the first race of the Czech Championship took place in Mladá Boleslav from 10 to 12 July. After a close duel full of twists and turns, the factory team of Jan Kopecký and Jan Hloušek with their FABIA Rally2 evo finished second behind Václav Pech and Petr Uhel in a Ford Focus RS WRC. ŠKODA private crews were successful as well, occupying half of the Top 10 seats. The Czech championship continues on 7–9 August with the Kowax Wallachian Rally ValMez. 

  SLAVIA GLOWS LIKE MOTHER OF PEARL

  The seventh student car will bear the name that Laurin and Klement used for their first bicycles. Thus, the pupils from the vocational school will add to the commemoration of the carmaker’s 125th anniversary and bring back one of its historical legends. The SLAVIA is based on the SCALA model but will be turned into an open sports spider body. The apprentices drew inspiration from the 1100 OHC race car from 1957, and the student car is powered by a 1.5 TSI petrol engine with an output of 110 kW (150 hp). The extraordinary shine of the study model is due to the white hi-tech varnish with a bluish pearly effect.

  IN JUNE, THE CARMAKER PRODUCED THE THREE-MILLIONTH EA211 SERIES ENGINE, WHICH IT HAS BEEN MAKING IN FOUR SPECIFICATIONS IN MLADÁ BOLESLAV FOR ITS OWN AND OTHER GROUP CARS SINCE 2012.

  ACHIEVEMENTS AND TROPHIES

  
  

  RUSSIA DOMINATES IMPORTER RANKINGS

  ŠKODA AUTO announced the results of the best brand importers in 2019. The Russian importer emerged victorious this time, claiming the main category with a convincing lead. Individual subcategories were evaluated separately. The sales award went to an importer from Switzerland, the after-sales services award to the importer from Turkey, and the Italian importer received the award for Brand & Quality category. A special award for the most significant improvement went to Latvia, and the United Kingdom importer was awarded for its achievements in innovation.

  THE BEST FOR THE TWENTY-THIRD TIME

  ŠKODA AUTO again dominated the CZECH TOP 100 economic award this year. It has been participating in the renowned company assessment since the start in 1996 and has secured the top spot virtually every year since then. Czech companies are ranked according to sales for the past year. The announcement took place in the Žofín Garden in Prague, and the award for the car company was received by Bohdan Wojnar, the Board Member for Human Resources Management. 

  STUDENT PROJECTS
  

  STUDENTS FULL OF IDEAS

  The first Simply Clever Ideas hackathon showed what future gadgets in ŠKODA cars might look like. It was attended by student teams from all over the world, who then had three months to turn their ideas into prototypes with the help of mentors from the car company. The jury was convinced by three projects that showed that young people today expect similar functions from their cars as from smartphones, such using face recognition to unlock their device. Selected works included detecting possible defects by analysing suspicious sounds and synchronising personal settings from a previous car or mobile app. The implementation of projects is now being assessed by the committee in charge.

  SLAVIA GLOWS LIKE MOTHER OF PEARL

  The seventh student car will bear the name that Laurin and Klement used for their first bicycles. Thus, the pupils from the vocational school will add to the commemoration of the carmaker’s 125th anniversary and bring back one of its historical legends. The SLAVIA is based on the SCALA model but will be turned into an open sports spider body. The apprentices drew inspiration from the 1100 OHC race car from 1957, and the student car is powered by a 1.5 TSI petrol engine with an output of 110 kW (150 hp). The extraordinary shine of the study model is due to the white hi-tech varnish with a bluish pearly effect.

• Letter to employees

  THANKS
  TO THE EMPLOYEES
  

  Dear colleagues, Dear Škodovians,

  I am writing to you today to say goodbye to you personally. We have worked on the future of this company together. Thanks to our commitment, ŠKODA is now a global player in the automotive industry, very popular with our customers worldwide and a valued brand within the Volkswagen Group.

  You have courageously accepted the challenges that the transformation process in the automotive industry undoubtedly poses and at the same time, almost naturally, achieved record results year after year. We were able to clearly increase the market shares and could sustainably improve the core brand values as well as the image. In doing so, we have made the past five years the most successful period in our company’s 125-year history.

  THE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS BERNHARD MAIER LEAVES ŠKODA AUTO ON 31 JULY. HIS SUCCESSOR WILL BE ELECTED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AT ITS AUGUST MEETING, AFTER WHICH THE NAME WILL BE PUBLISHED.

  Also now in time of coronavirus, I notice: team ŠKODA is on its feet. We were able to close the first half-year with a clearly positive result. Only an exceptional team that approaches its work with passion, ambition and the ŠKODA ‘clever together’ attitude can achieve this!

  In addition to the best operational performance, we have made ŠKODA AUTO fit for the future with our Strategy 2025. And we have laid the groundwork for major strategic decisions with extensive investments: The largest model campaign in our company’s history is in full swing. We are bringing e-mobility to the Czech Republic and manufacturing batteries for plug-in hybrids and electric vehicles. From the second half of the year, the ENYAQ iV, our first e-car based on the Modular Electrification Toolkit (MEB), will roll off the production line in Mladá Boleslav. This will secure the future viability of our Czech sites and, therefore, jobs. Our DigiLabs in Prague, Beijing, Pune and Tel Aviv are making important contributions to us becoming the ‘Simply Clever Company for the best mobility solutions’. And the Volkswagen Group has given us additional, far-reaching responsibilities – for example, for the development of the new SUPERB and Passat generations as well as for the Group-wide business in Russia and India.

  I am delighted to see that our company’s culture has also noticeably changed for the better. Problems are now addressed more openly, and we are boldly trying out new things and interacting with each other without prejudice.

  The endowment fund, to which we allocated 30 million euros almost two years ago, is particularly close to my heart. We are promoting the regional development of Mladá Boleslav and our other sites in the Czech Republic to make them even more attractive places to live. As the largest company in the Czech Republic, ŠKODA AUTO is committed to fulfilling its social responsibility beyond the factory gates. I will continue to follow the development of the locations with great interest. 

  Many former colleagues still speak of “green blood” in their veins long after their time in the Czech Republic. After four years and nine months at the top, I think I can say that this company does indeed have an exceptional character and a unique team spirit. In the end, it is the people who make the difference.  

  I have enjoyed working with you all, and I am grateful for this time. ŠKODA AUTO is now entering the next transformation phase. I wish my successor and all of you every success in this.

  All the best!

  Bernhard Maier

  
  

  Bernhard Maier

  (29 December 1959)

  1984

  Starts his career at Nixdorf Computer AG.  

  1988–2001

  Works for BMW AG in various managing positions in Germany and abroad and also becomes project manager for international brand strategy. 

  2001

  Takes over as director of Porsche Deutschland GmbH.

  2010

  Appointed Board Member for Sales and Marketing at Porsche AG. Holding this office, he significantly modernises the business and sales organisation. Under his leadership, the international distribution network is significantly expanded and the volume of deliveries to customers worldwide triples.  

  2015

  In November, he is appointed Chairman of the Board of Directors of ŠKODA AUTO a.s. Strategy 2025+ consists of the key thematic areas of electromobility, digitisation and connectivity, new services related to mobility and the launch of the brand’s product offensive. Under his guidance, the ŠKODA brand launches the important KODIAQ, KAROQ, KAMIQ and SCALA cars and develops the ENYAQ iV, which will be the first model planned right from the outset as a purely electric one. Furthermore, the brand increases its deliveries of cars to customers to approximately 1.3 million cars per year, achieving record sales and operating profit.

• Anniversary – 125 years

  Anniversary – 125 years
  

  A year full of anniversaries

  This year, ŠKODA AUTO commemorates a number of important milestones

  he Mladá Boleslav–based carmaker is one of the oldest continuously operating vehicle manufacturers in the world. This year, it not only celebrates its 125th anniversary but also commemorates several significant anniversaries of many of its facilities. This July issue of ŠKODA Mobil focuses on these facilities. 

  A successful tradition

  The rich and interesting story of the Czech carmaker started back in 1895 and was written by Václav Laurin and Václav Klement. It is full of great models, well-thought-out innovations, historical twists and remarkable destinies thanks to which a local bicycle repair shop has become the most important Czech industrial company. And its cars now drive all over the world. ŠKODA AUTO is proud of its tradition and is exemplary in how it takes care of it. The ŠKODA Museum, housed in premises where cars were manufactured until 1928, provides an engaging journey through history and boasts an extensive collection of more than 340 historical models. The modern exhibition at Ferdinand Porsche’s birth house in Vratislavice informs visitors about the world of technology, a rich history and the future of mobility. 

  A compelling legacy

  The legacy of the Czech brand plays an important role in its communication. Customers in new markets – especially in China and India – appreciate the carmaker’s ability to produce exceptional models, win motorsport competitions and keep up with the competition. “Our activities relating to the 125th anniversary this year are led by this motto: ‘Driving inventiveness since 1895’. Corporate culture and a great emphasis on the users of our cars lead us to put people first – both employees and customers. We develop all innovative solutions (e.g. simply clever solutions) to make people’s lives simpler and more enjoyable”, says Talmon L’Armée, head of VMC – Communication Strategy and Content. The campaign also includes a special film celebrating the anniversary, a virtual reality game called Time Machine and a series of articles placed on the ŠKODA Storyboard. The ŠKODA Museum and the exhibition From Heritage to Future demonstrate how the Czech brand has become global. Those of you who love the beauty of classic cars will also enjoy this event. Cars from museum collections will also be showcased at classic car events. For example the ŠKODA Classic Tour and the 7 Castles Trial rally. RED

  Gripping reading for the summer

  The ŠKODA brand owes its success to the ingenuity and enthusiasm of five generations of ŠKODA cars. Start reading the supplement on the 125th anniversary of ŠKODA AUTO, which follows the development of selected occupations from the early days to the present and tells interesting stories of former and current employees.

  
  

  A trip into history

  An excursion into the past is on the ŠKODA Heritage portal, which, upon scanning the QR code, will take you through a virtual historical exhibition, acquaint you with the company’s milestones or the company logo’s history and introduce models from various periods.  

  A trip into history

  An excursion into the past is on the ŠKODA Heritage portal, which, upon scanning the QR code, will take you through a virtual historical exhibition, acquaint you with the company’s milestones or the company logo’s history and introduce models from various periods.  

  Mr. Machač, tell us about your beginnings at the carmaker.

  I started my apprenticeship in Mladá Boleslav in 1943. Originally a lathe operator, I soon found that I wouldn’t enjoy standing at a lathe. I switched to car mechanics, and after three years of study, I joined what was the Starting department. At that time, 10 to 15 cars were produced per day, which I checked and drove. 

  What happened next?

  The carmaker bought the Česana area and moved its Technical Development department to this site. I worked as a fitter in the Prototyping department. Later on, I moved to the post of test driver, for example, of the ŠKODA 1200 and the SPARTAK models. As it was necessary to drive around 50,000 km with these vehicles, we tested almost non-stop in 12-hour shifts. In a shift, we had to drive 500 to 600 km.

  You also had a rich career abroad. How did it start?

  The carmaker was expanding, and the plants in Vrchlabí and Kvasiny became a part of it.  There, the models were modified by putting special bodies on a standard chassis. We drove them back to Mladá Boleslav, from where they travelled all over the world. In 1954, a foreman came to us at the Česana site to choose four of us to learn languages and go abroad. We didn’t really believe it. I chose English, and after two months I got a call from the HR department to come and have the documents processed.

  Where did you go?

  My first stop was the Sudan. It was a big education for me. I still managed to order coffee on the plane, but on site, it was worse. After a month in Khartoum, I started speaking a lot more English and travelled through Ethiopia, Kenya and Egypt, on to Cyprus and then home. I spent half a year travelling.

  What did you take care of there?

  Basically, I was instructing local dealers and workshops. I trained them to repair cars. At first, they couldn’t even handle a clogged carburettor.

  What did you do when you returned?

  They posted me again immediately. At that time, the foreign business representation of the ŠKODA brand became part of Motokov, a so-called foreign trade company. I visited Ceylon, Singapore, Hong Kong and other countries. But there, I dealt more with business matters. Gradually, I left my job at ŠKODA and took over an Exico branch in Singapore. 

  You finally returned to the then-AZNP …

  With a big detour. They sent me to Canada saying that 100 cars had been there for one year already without being paid for. I sold the cars within two years. I finally returned home in 1971 and started working as a sales manager. 

  You stayed in this function for four years …

  Then I worked in Canada and the USA. Later I managed a Czech business company in Nigeria. I retired in 1991. 

  Was this the final farewell to your career?

  Not yet. Thanks to my contacts, I helped to secure the supply of spare parts to the carmaker’s representative office in Israel.Jiří Brynda, Luděk Vokáč

  

  Key milestones

  1895

  Václav Laurin and Václav Klement establish a joint venture and start producing and repairing SLAVIA bicycles. Right from the beginning, they meet the needs of their customers, as evidenced by the instalment sales and wide selection of models on offer.

  1899
  

  Why not start making motorised bicycles? Placing the powertrain in the frame worsens the competitors’ machine-driving abilities. “We’ll build a frame around the engine”, Laurin says to himself, and another successful item is born: the motorcycle. 

  1900
  

  A group of L&K specialists – toolmakers Josef Marinský and Vojtěch Dundr – is manufacturing the first drilling templates, which make production faster and more accurate. It forms the basis for today’s Tool Shop (more on pp. 6–7).

  1905
  

  The time has come to switch from single-track to two-track vehicles, and the first VOITURETTE A car leaves the factory. The Czech lands are among the territories where the first cars are produced.

  1907
  

  The carmaker has earned the acclaim of professionals in the field of powertrain development. The L&K car, FF type, is powered by the first eight-cylinder developed in Central Europe.

  1920
  

  The company’s founders realise that selling a car does not spell an end to providing services. They establish a specialised company named ELKA, whose history continues today with ŠKODA Original Parts (more on p. 8). 

  1925
  

  The carmaker Laurin & Klement finds a strong partner to provide for its further development in the difficult post-war era. Pilsen giant Škoda is this partner.

  1927
  

  The need to acquire a skilled workforce leads the carmaker to set up its own apprenticeship school. To date, these SOUs have educated more than 23,000 pupils.

  1929
  

  The ingenuity of Mladá Boleslav technicians and the background of the West Bohemian Škoda group are the reason for the successful launch of flow production. 

  1934
  

  A revolutionary technological change arrives when the ladder frame chassis replaces the backbone structure with a central support tube and independent wheel suspension. These are some of the features of the POPULAR and the RAPID. 

  1937
  

  The brand’s product range switches to the OHV valve train. It brings customers increased performance, maximum speed, improved dynamics and a slight reduction in consumption.

  1946
  

  On 1 January, the carmaker is nationalised and renamed AZNP (Automobilové závody, Národní podnik; i.e. Automobile factory, national enterprise).

  1949
  

  The plant in Kvasiny officially becomes part of the carmaker. Two years earlier, it had relaunched manufacturing of the ŠKODA SUPERB and started production on the roadster version of the new ŠKODA 1101. 

  1950
  

  The special ŠKODA Sport model, a derivative of the popular “Tudor”, participates in the legendary 24-hour Le Mans endurance race with a crew consisting of Václav Bobek and Jaroslav Netušil.

  1952
  

  Even the planned economy after 1948 did not put an end to innovation and technical development. In 1952, the first car with an all-metal body rolls off the production line – the ŠKODA 1200 “Sedan”.

  1959
  

  One of the most famous models in ŠKODA’s post-war history, the ŠKODA FELICIA, is presented at the Geneva Motor Show. One of the reasons why customers like the attractive and economical car is its favourable price/performance ratio.

  1964
  

  The new ŠKODA 1000 MB model with a rear engine and rear-wheel drive is introduced. For this model, the carmaker constructs a new part of the plant with a production capacity many times that of the previous one. 

  1975
  

  The ŠKODA 130 RS achieves the first of many racing victories. Thanks to its remarkable performance, this ŠKODA motorsport legend is nicknamed the Porsche of the East.

  1987
  

  The ŠKODA FAVORIT is the most technologically advanced car in the Eastern Bloc. It is developed in record time and is proof of ŠKODA’s ingenuity. 

  1991
  

  In a free global market, the ŠKODA brand could not succeed without cooperating with a strong partner. The Czech government decides to merge it with the VW Group. 

  1995
  

  In the 1990s, production capacities at Mladá Boleslav are largely modernised. ŠKO-ENERGO is established (more on p. 10) and focuses on using environmentally friendly technologies. 

  1996
  

  One of the most modern car factories of its time opens in Mladá Boleslav. The ŠKODA OCTAVIA rolls off the line. The model becomes the brand’s bestseller, and its success with customers continues to this day. 

  1999
  

  The ŠKODA FABIA, the successor to the FELICIA model, becomes one of the most popular cars in its class, and a year later, the British magazine “What car?” bestows it with the Car of the Year award.

  2000
  

  A separate Brand Logistics department is set up at ŠKODA, and the ŠKODA Parts Centre building grows as a result. In addition, the company establishes its own university named ŠAVŠ (more on p. 10). 

  2001
  

  The brand’s flagship ŠKODA SUPERB is presented in Frankfurt, Germany. The model offer now also satisfies the wishes of the most demanding customers. 

  2003
  

  The FABIA WRC sports car has its premiere at the Brno Motor Show and will give the ŠKODA brand another chance at success in the World Rally Championship. 
  

  2009
  

  Mladá Boleslav heeds the call of drivers seeking an all-surface mobility solution. The ŠKODA YETI, the brand’s first SUV, soon becomes a sales classic.

  2011
  

  The ŠKODA brand wins its first-ever World Rally Championship title. It is won by the Red Bull ŠKODA crew of Hänninen/Markull in the FABIA Super 2000 car.

  2015
  

  The plant in Vrchlabí wins the “Factory of the Year” award for having quickly prepared for the production of the DQ 200 direct-shift automatic transmission and the company’s dynamic development. 

  2016
  

  The popularity of SUVs is steadily on the rise. The first model in this family, the KODIAQ, rolls off the production line of the Kvasiny plant, followed by the KAROQ (2017) and the KAMIQ (2019). 

  2019
  

  The brand enters the era of electromobility with the SUPERB iV and CITIGOe iV. The fourth generation of the best-selling OCTAVIA is also adapted to modern individual mobility trends.

  2020
  

  Environmentally minded customers witness the advent of the first purely electric car model on the MEB Group platform. The ŠKODA ENYAQ iV is scheduled to arrive in September.

• Anniversary – Toolmakers

  Anniversary

  ‘Toolmakers’, detail enthusiasts and precision processing

  In Mladá Boleslav, the carmaker has been creating some of its own tools for 120 years 

  he making of tools and instruments stretches back to the old days of the carmaker, and the first written documents are from 1900. The great expansion of the art of toolmaking came after passenger cars started being manufactured. It also brought us the plumbing work discipline, where body parts are made by hand-tapping sheet metal and for which the craftsmen need several special tools. “The carmaker started intensively producing its own tools in the 1920s. Actually, the toolmakers at the company did everything, from files to lathes and other machine tools”, says Jan Hoffman, head of PSW – Tool Manufacturing. According to him, at that time in Mladá Boleslav, technically oriented experts not only produced the tools but also invented them.

  The proportion of demanding and precise manual work in the Tool Shop is high, as there are some details that even the most modern machines can’t handle.

  JAN HOFFMAN

  Head of PSW – Tool Production

  Technology hatchery

  The Tool Shop’s portfolio has changed over the years. The basis of its current form took shape during the interwar period. In addition to machine tools, the carmaker bought presses that were used to modify body parts for the ŠKODA 422. Press tool manufacturing became an important undertaking for the Tool Shop. Production also started using clever solutions, for example when the ŠKODA 440 SPARTAK had to have four separate mouldings welded together. This was a new task for the Tool Shop, and another section was established – jig manufacture. The third of the current pillars relates to the engine block production of the ŠKODA 1000 MB model, when the carmaker chose the die-casting aluminium method and a metallurgical line began operation at ŠKODA AUTO. Of course, over time, the importance of individual operations has changed. The importance of welding lines increased when the VW Group arrived on the scene. At present, the Tool Shop consists of three separate operations: casting tool production, press tool manufacture and jig manufacture, all of which are located in Hall V17.

  Innovation

  People and their thoughts on how to do things better is the most valuable part of a company. A number of projects to increase efficiency include, for example the use of metal-3D printing in optimizing the cooling channels of metallurgical molds or testing robotic grinding for finishing stamping tools as a substitute for manual work. New ideas, their verification and possible introduction into production processes are essential for Tool Shop to maintain competitiveness and the importance of the ability to improve will grow in the future. 
  

  Electric future 

  The coming era of electromobility will pose a special challenge for the Tool Shop. “The Tool Shop has always been lived and breathed for the carmaker. Some industries have grown, others have been downscaled. This is a natural development that awaits us now as well”, comments Hoffman, who heads the Tool Shop. Under his leadership, the department will participate in the construction of lines to assemble batteries for electric cars. The Tool Shop is currently preparing mechanical constructions for a new line in Mladá Boleslav. “We intend to focus more on software and programming”, says Hoffman, outlining possible further developments. “Our task has always been to enable an area of expertise to grow, to open up new, complex and previously undeveloped areas and to introduce technologies that we would otherwise have to buy at great expense”, he describes. Thanks to the Tool Shop, ŠKODA AUTO has the opportunity to acquire entirely new skills and technologies. Luděk Vokáč
  

  Tool Shop product recipients

  Audi

  Germany

  Ingolstadt

  Hungary

  Győr

  VW

  Germany

  Wolfsburg

  Hannover

  USA

  Chattanooga

  Russia

  Nizhny Novgorod Kaluga

  Slovensko

  Stúpava

  China

  Changchun (FAW-VW)

  Seat

  Spain

  Barcelona

  ŠKODA

  Czech Republic

  Mladá Boleslav

  Kvasiny

  Vrchlabí

  India

  Pune

  High demand for skills is unchanged

  Interview with Vladimír Horáček from PSW-P/1 – Production of Pressing Tools

   ladimír has been working as a toolmaker in the production of ŠKODA AUTO dies since 1977. Although his work has changed a lot during the more than 40 years of his career, he believes that traditional practices, skills and experience are still extremely important.

  In which way has your work, specifically in relation to die production, changed over the decades?

  At the beginning of my career, I was still producing dummy copies, which were used to make dies – or, rather, tools. Today, all of this is being phased out, and models are being made with computer data. The sequence of some works has also changed slightly. For example, in the past, cutting tools for a die were produced last, whereas today, they are prepared in parallel with the tool itself. Plus, more machines, lathes and milling machines were used in production, but with the advent of digital data, there are much fewer.

  By contrast, what has remained unchanged?

  A significant part of our work is still the so-called shredding, that is, manually grinding the punch into a smooth shape. Although production differs a bit, we carry out this activity as in the past and use a grinder to smooth out any unevenness and traces of the tool with which the punch is machined. No machines have been able to replace this procedure. Thanks to this meticulous manual work, the body panels are indeed smooth. In this sense, the skill that is required and the physical demands have not changed.

  How big is the risk of mistakes when doing such work?

  It always requires experienced people and hands, but it is impossible to have an absolutely impeccable result. When we grind a part too much, we fix this by boiling, or we simply copy the given part of the tool again on a copy machine. In other words, we sometimes also replace parts when renovating or repairing tools. Luděk Vokáč

• Anniversary – Customer Service

  Anniversary
  

  100 years of customer service

  The foundations of today’s network comprising more than 220 authorised ŠKODA workshops

  he carmaker’s founding fathers, Laurin and Klement, were well aware that the relationship with the customer starts the moment a car is sold. They further developed this idea in 1920, when they founded the ELKA specialised company, whose current successor is the ŠKODA Original Parts facility.

  An unusual place for services

  The registered trademark ELKA (phonetic transcription of the L&K brand) has been on site since 1909. ELKA Car Equipment and Repairs was established 11 years later. The company opened its first car repair workshop in Prague in the Waldstein Riding School. In addition to service works, it also provides tyres, spare parts and new cars. “It is fascinating to see both founding fathers’ foresight as they were already attuned to the importance and potential of after-sales services at the time”, says Karel Starý, head of VTS – Aftersales Services CZ.

  Under the baton of AZNP

  In 1929, ELKA became part of the Škoda plants, which then sold it to ASAP (Joint Stock Companies for the Automotive Industry). In 1945, ELKA became part of PAL České Budějovice, and around 1950, it ceased to exist. In the post-war economy, the development of after-sales services happened under the banner of AZNP (Automobile Plant, National Enterprise). At the end of the 1940s, there was a Spare Parts Register, which was replaced by the Autorenova company and, in turn, soon became Mototechna. In 1958, AZNP took over nine branches of what had been the Czechoslovak Car Repair Workshops, thus renewing the tradition of branded services.

  Free market

  Present
  

  Trends in digitisation and electromobility are also increasingly penetrating after-sales services. For example, customers can use ŠKODA Connect services to establish contact with the workshop or make an appointment for regular inspection. Electric cars and plug-in hybrids owners use public charging stations located on the ŠKODA partners’ premises. Experts also help customers to select a suitable car charging method for their home or company, install a wallbox or retrofit a car with a suitable cable.

  At the turn of the 1960s and 1970s, the network expanded with three more branches, and 1973 saw another major modernisation: In Mariánské Lázně, a computer oversaw the repair process. After 1989, workshops became private companies, and the free market began to operate. The service network grew rapidly, service quality was refined, and the merger with the VW Group in 1991 meant major improvements, as the area of services and after-sales started to use the latest know-how. Today, the Czech ŠKODA AUTO service network comprises more than 220 authorised partners. Luděk Vokáč
  

• Anniversary – ŠKODA Parts Center

  Anniversary – škoda parts center
  

  20 years of the ŠKODA Parts Centre

  The central genuine parts warehouse volume has tripled in size during its existence

  epov, a village near Mladá Boleslav, saw the start of construction of a storage and logistics centre for distributing original parts and accessories in 1998. It opened its gates two years later. From the then 36,000 m2 storage area, the building gradually grew to 105,000 m2 today.

  In Europe, the ŠKODA Parts Centre is one of three central warehouses for genuine parts and accessories that also provide logistics services for other VW Group brands.

  
  

  A series of records

  It has taken several stages for the ŠKODA Parts Centre to expand to its current size. In 2004, another 14,000 m2 were added to the original hall, and 10 years ago, yet another 18,600 m2 of warehouse space. Three years later, the high-rise warehouse with an area of almost 6,000 m2 became the complex’s dominant feature. The shelving system reaches a height of 42 metres, up to 40,000 pallets fit in the warehouse, and this building is the tallest industrial building in the Czech Republic. On the outer shell of the building, you will find the largest ŠKODA logo in the world: 12 metres long. 

  In 2018, the addition of a hall extended the ŠKODA Parts Centre by another almost 31,000 m2, making the complex the largest genuine parts warehouse in the country. Every day, it handles over 28,000 orders to more than 100 countries around the world, and the warehouses can hold over 13 million pieces of goods of various sizes. Almost 200 trucks a day are bringing in new items, and about 140 trucks loaded with shipped parts are leaving.

  Genuine parts for all models

  There are a number of reasons why the centre has gradually grown to its current dimensions. The main reason is the carmaker’s further development, as well as the increase in the number of models. ŠKODA AUTO complies with its obligation to supply genuine parts for the given model for a minimum period of 15 years from the end of its serial production. However, many parts remain available even longer; the record holder is an ignition switch that has been in use since 1 August 1976 and fits the ŠKODA 105/120/130/135/136, GARDE, FAVORIT, FORMAN and FELICIA models. Luděk Vokáč

  
  

  Visit the Green Logistics website

• Anniversary – Logistics

  Anniversary
  

  A well-lubricated machine

  How two decades of Brand Logistics have influenced the future and direction of ŠKODA AUTO

  ŠKODA AUTO's logistics is taken care of by 200 wagons a day, ie over 30,000 a year.

  n a well-functioning car company, many things work almost automatically and unnoticed, but a huge amount of work from several departments and employees is behind them.  

  The lifeblood of the entire car manufacturing company

  A great deal of this is provided by the ŠKODA Logistics department, and it has a whole range of means to ensure the smooth distribution of production. This department is responsible for planning all logistics processes and proposed concepts and for internal transport within the plants. It also provides for handling packaging materials and, last but not least, is tasked with transporting parts and finished vehicles – all this as new cars roll off the production lines in almost one-minute intervals, and any error or delay incurs considerable costs for the carmaker.

  Logistics pursues goals such as saving time, energy, materials, labour and storage space, which also has  a so-called  green effect.

  They simply cannot do without innovation

  However, the high demands put on making the most of employees’ knowledge in connection with logistics processes yield significant innovations for the ŠKODA AUTO environment. Recently, their common denominator has become not only an increased efficiency and, therefore, cost savings but also an environmentally friendly approach. Frequently, both directions go hand in hand. For example, a more efficiently used truck can save both money and CO2. This approach is another reason why the ŠKODA Logistics department promotes the so-called Green Logistics principles, not only within the VW Group and the Czech Republic but also globally. Logistics concepts tested in our country then fall on fertile ground, especially in India and China. In the future, projects using environmentally friendly fuels or significantly increasing container extraction efficiency can serve the entire world. Luděk Vokáč

  Present
  

  Efficiency and ecology

  The brand’s Logistics department and its partners have developed a solution that allows loading up to four cars in one overseas container. The 4-in-1 concept reduces the number of containers transported by a quarter and enables the carmaker to save over 800 tonnes of CO2 emissions per year.

  Digital loading

  The OPTIKON project for increasing container loading efficiency is further proof of how even minor changes can produce positive results. Although the increase in utilisation to 72 m3 in digital planning from the original 71 m3 is not significant, the annual figures for shipments to Russia reveal that the project will save around 240 containers and reduce CO2 transport emissions by 127 tonnes. 

  Automatic drudgery

  Last year, a fully autonomous OMRON transport robot was already deployed in the Vrchlabí plant. It can carry up to 130 kilogrammes of cargo and moves entirely independently around the plant. It selects an efficient route and, thanks to an army of sensors, recognises people, other vehicles or various obstacles and can dodge them to prevent collisions. 

  Industry 4.0 in practice

  The automated smaller parts warehouses (AKL) in Kvasiny and Mladá Boleslav exemplify the use of Industry 4.0. Individual items are stored by robots, which also transport them directly from the warehouse to the assembly line. This automation method increases work precision, speeds up logistics processes and contributes to minimising error rates. 

  We have to keep improving

  After 20 years, Jiří Cee handed over the post of head of Brand Logistics

  How has Logistics changed during your time? 

  Logistics from 20 years ago and today simply aren’t comparable. It has become a modern, global, complicated and structured discipline.  

  You were the face of Green Logistics in the entire the VW Group. What was your basic philosophy?

  Green Logistics means you have to constantly rethink your work: at every workplace, when you switch off or switch on a radiator, when you load a truck or when it’s on the road. It’s about planning your ride so that you don’t drive 20 kilometres more, because you don’t want to burden nature unnecessarily. It is essential that employees in all positions be motivated to constantly improve. Changes are born out of everyday work.

  Does Logistics apply the same approach to the environment in Europe and India?

  We are trying. In India, for example, there is a beautiful project where every Logistics worker plants a tree, and we are building a park together there. 

  Would you like to say something to the Škodovians?

  Yes, I would like to make a personal comment. For me, ŠKODA has been more than a factory. I’ve been working here for 40 years. It was a matter of the heart that I devoted my whole life to it, but I still feel that it has given me more than I did. I feel proud that I remained loyal to the ŠKODA brand and followed in the footsteps of my parents, who also worked at the carmaker for many years. I experienced all modern roll-outs and always monitored them very closely. This is why I wish all employees a lot of success, many beautiful new cars and, above all, good health.  RED

• Anniversary – Motorsport

  Anniversary – motorsport
  

  Successful Alpine Ride

  In 1910, the first year of the toughest rally proved the quality of Laurin & Klement vehicles

  Count Alexander Kolowrat with a L&K car of 1913, a small propeller on top of the radiator recalls another of Sascha's hobbies – aviation.

  his year, ŠKODA AUTO is celebrating not only 125 years since its beginnings in 1895 but also several other anniversaries, including 110 years since it participated in the first-ever Alpine Ride. The Mladá Boleslav brand would go on to become the star of the first five years. 

  Challenging alpine terrain

  At the beginning of the 20th century, racing in alpine conditions was one of the most difficult sports events. One of the forerunners of rallies was the Austrian Alpine Ride (in short, Alpine Ride). The first one started on 26 June 1910 in Vienna; three days later, 14 of the 23 starting cars crossed the finish line. Along the way on their 867-kilometre journey, they passed through Lower Austria, Styria, Carinthia and Salzburg. The organising Austrian auto club routed the way through challenging alpine terrain, steep climbs and the dreaded Katschberg Pass.

  
  

  The exceptional role the Mladá Boleslav brand has is that it had five times in a row (1910–1914) a minimum of one crew  at the finish line of the Alpine Ride without penalty points. No other factory team managed to do that.

  
  

  Mladá Boleslav team 

  It comprised “three Laurin & Klement market touring cars à 20 pcs 95 × 130”, that is, vehicles close to series production containing an engine with an output of 20 hp (14.7 kW). The Czech Count Saša Kolowrat-Krakowský, who completed the race without any penalty, won the race. The other cars were driven by Croatian noblemen Paul Drašković and Otto Hieronimus, the chief designer at L&K. The best Czech cars finished the 5-kilometre speed trial near Vienna with a magnificent average of 104.985 km/h. The organisers verified that the cars had not been equipped with a lighter permanent transmission in comparison with the standard version to gain an unfair advantage in the climbs.     

  Strict rules

  The following year, the L&K brand simply could not pass up the races, and this time, it was a track 1,421 kilometres long and “spiced up” with an ascent of up to 30 percent to the Loibl Pass. Strict regulations required the engines to run without interruption throughout the entire daily stage. Drivers were also penalised for any repairs during the race, for driving too slowly or for taking a wrong turn. In each car, everything was checked during the competition by the Austrian car club commissioner, who put a seal on important components and powertrains. After the end of a stage, the cars were parked in a locked-up area. All five L&K cars crossed the finish line without penalties, and Hieronimus won a silver plate. RED

  Big Itinerant trophy

  In the third year, when the track was extended to 2,667 km, the factory team did not score a single penalty point, and Hieronimus won the silver plaque again. The last major automobile race in the era prior to World War I was the Alpine Ride, held from 14 to 23 June 1914. Almost one-third of the 75 starting cars dropped out on the nearly 3,000-kilometre track. Kolowrat-Krakowský was one of only five competitors who completed the races in 1912, 1913 and 1914 with a clean slate and were entitled to receive the Grand Alpine Itinerant Traveling Prize. The organisers did not count on this, so they subsequently had five identical trophies made (the original is now part of the collections in the ŠKODA Museum – ed.). The assassination in Sarajevo – and with it, the start of World War I – followed two days after the competition, which meant that the race was temporarily interrupted.

  Stars behind the wheel

  Imagine, for example, Prince Albert II of Monaco or the FAVORIT’s chief designer, Petr Hrdlička, racing for the ŠKODA Motorsport team.
  … Similar personalities were actually L&K factory team members in the first years of the Alpine Ride.

  Count Alexander “Saša” Joseph Kolowrat-Krakowský

  (1886–1927)

  Car racer, aviator and founder of the Austrian film industry. He started racing as a student and befriended Václav Klement and Ferdinand Porsche. He was awarded the Grand Alpine Itinerant Prize for his achievements the first five years of the Alpine Ride.

  
  

  Otto Hieronimus

  (1879–1922)

  Car and engine designer, pilot and racer of German origin. He mainly participated in hill-climbing races. He started working as a designer at the Laurin & Klement factory in 1907.

  Paul Drašković

  (1884–1959)

  Croatian count, whose ancestors in the 17th century were among the most powerful families in the country.

• FORCE Program

  FORCE Program
  

  Preparing for the new digital era

  Roll-out Management team can rapidly develop systems and software

  Our goal: 
  

  Through efficiency and flexibility towards globalisation

  Our path: 

  Simply Clever solutions

  Our motivation: 

  Changing mindset to secure the future

  s part of the sixth action field, the PA – Roll-out Management team has evenly distributed car production among production plants and gained valuable experience integrating digital elements into new models. 

  Icebreaker in digitisation

  The latest OCTAVIA model has been an enormous challenge for the roll-out team. Production started when the previous generation was still running at full speed, and the ENYAQ iV model was being prepared at the same time. “We relied on our prior experience with the SCALA software. Although updates were held up, we successfully rolled out the OCTAVIA model, including the number of cars required for market launch”, says Petr Kuba, head of PA – Roll-out Management. His team had to precisely synchronise the release of new software versions not only with suppliers but also with the Brand Logistics, Technical Development and Quality departments.

  Thanks to new technologies integrated into our cars, we focus more on processes that occur dozens of months prior to the actual start of production.

  New electric SUV

  Currently, the PA team is preparing to start the ENYAQ iV model’s series production. It will be the brand’s first car to use the group-wide MEB platform for electric cars. “Apart from entirely different sheet metal body parts that are adapted to place the battery under the floor, this is a totally new electrical architecture based on control units centralisation. Basically, the whole car is operated by two computers, the brains of our new electric SUV”, adds Kuba. Currently, Roll-out Management is preparing a large number of verification series cars for the start of series production in the second half of the year. For these purposes, it is using E-Meisterbock testing for the very first time. “Hand in hand with upcoming eMobility, the project of a new Central Pilot Hall has also been approved, which is currently under construction and has a deadline for completion and handover in November this year”, he adds. (We will present both projects in the August 2020 issue of ŠKODA Mobil – red.)

  Indian challenges

  The PA team is now preparing the roll-out of four different models (two SUVs and two sedans) as part of the INDIA 2.0 project. They will all be based on the MQB-A0-IN platform, which is specially adapted to the Indian market. “The high proportion of parts from local suppliers represents a big challenge to us. We are also intensively working on making pre-production cars of the first locally produced SUV, which was unfortunately affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. With a number of measures that were introduced in cooperation with colleagues from Pune, we managed to reduce the impact of the crisis to a minimum, and the project is carrying on successfully”, explains Kuba. The first verification car rolls off the assembly line in July this year, and at the end of the year, the start-up team will begin constructing a pre-production SUV for the Volkswagen brand.

  Healthy costs at all times

  The fifth action field of the FORCE program – Competitive Cost Structure – has gained even more importance this year. Production was discontinued due to the coronavirus pandemic. Every day, the carmaker lost major revenue from the sale of cars and parts, while at the same time it was left to deal with high financial costs (e.g. leasing payments, energy, staff). Therefore, it had to take significant reduction measures regarding all company expenses. The FCP – Controlling of Production and Logistics department met its 2020 targets in the cost and investment savings context, primarily by optimising production costs and inventory management. Improvements to technical changes also continued, and like last year, annual savings of EUR 1.9 million are expected. All the efforts are aimed at providing for the liquidity of ŠKODA AUTO and, thus, its ability to cover all short-term and long-term liabilities to partners. In order to support these efforts, the FC team developed a methodology to divide costs into four categories (see Cost reduction types).

  Motivational examples

  Production costs started to be reduced at the Vrchlabí plant by using 3D printing technology. Instead of three machining tools, the plant needs only one. It has been able to reduce machine production times by 10.7 seconds per piece (22% reduction), has already recorded potential annual savings of EUR 10,650 in the machining process and also reduced the proportion of compressed air required for the given production process by 34 percent. Thanks to 3D printing, the PKD/16 – Tool Management department has quickly introduced special tools into the series. The prototype is made in one afternoon, whereas making a metal version the conventional way took 12 weeks. Additionally, it tests the prototype directly on a specific machine, thus revealing collisions and qualitative risks. RED
  

• Green Future

  Rules in harmony with nature

  Company’s ecological behaviour monitored by the ECMS system

    hen we first reported about the Together4Integrity (T4I) program, which is a VW Group initiative, we pointed out that this program would be implemented by all Group companies, including ŠKODA AUTO, in their internal regulations. T4I covers areas such as compliance, integrity, risk management, culture and human resources, legal affairs, corporate strategy, and environmental protection. It is unlikely that anybody could have imagined how, for example, the principles of compliance would affect environmental protection. But it is quite simple.

  
  

  From a compliance point of view, environmental protection is mainly raising the following questions: How do we prevent violations of the rules in this area? How do we detect them? And how do we respond to them appropriately?

  Environmental management methods 

  The environmental management system (EMS), which is already running and monitors environmental impact, compliance with specifically set requirements and objectives in the field of environmental protection, meets the goals of the Group’s efforts in the area of compliance. Compliance is gradually becoming an integral part of our company’s strategy and culture across all areas, including environmental protection. As a result, this aspect was added to the original EMS, which was subsequently renamed the environmental management compliance system (ECMS). It is based on already existing EMS activities and systems. The program has been extended by further topics, procedures and mechanisms that put greater emphasis on speak-up communication, prevention and detection of breaches, grouping and managing environmentally relevant risks, systematic education and informing about the state of fulfilment of binding requirements in the field of environmental protection. 

  Any and all requirements, tasks and responsibilities for implementing the ECMS are described in Group Directive KRL.0.17, which is based on the requirements of the ISO 14001 standard and the standard for compliance management systems.  

  All Group brands’ parent companies are implementing the ECMS program in all phases of their business activities and in the lifecycle of their products and services. As one of the major brands representing the Group, ŠKODA has taken over the requirements for environmental compliance and incorporated them into its internal standards and it already applies. The ECMS will be included in the forthcoming, newly updated IMS manual to become part of the integrated management system and will replace the former EMS. All information will be integrated into environmental training, which is intended for all ŠKODA AUTO employees. RED
  

  Principles of compliance and the environment

  Training effectiveness 

  (number of trained employees)

  Four-eye principle for data entry –prevention of accidental or intentional confusion of data

  Verifying the effectiveness of corrective actions by audits

  Reporting reasonable suspicion of serious misconduct (fraud detection)

  Search for environmental risks and their grouping in order to determine preventive measures

  Find more at ŠKODA Space

  Software-enabled savings
  

  Reducing energy consumption in tool production

   he employees and management from the PKA – Axle Production department are monitoring energy efficiency management and thereby reducing energy consumption per production unit every year. To have a systematic tool for this purpose, they have started using an automatic evaluation software to assess the operating costs in energy management visualised in Power BI. “This software support was prepared for us by colleagues from the PSU – Ecology and Occupational Protection and PKT – Technical Service departments, in cooperation with the supplier. The system is continuously comparing energy consumption from the past with the monitored comparable period, depending on production and outdoor temperatures. Based on these analyses, we then look at differences in detail to eliminate energy wasting processes”, says Tomáš Dušek, who heads the department. One of the specific “corrective” measures involved replacing 122 skylights. In addition to improving the lighting at production premises, this also reduced heat leakage by about 60 percent, which ultimately reduced the heating costs in our plan by 1,484 MWh per year.

  This year, Axle Production will focus on saving compressed air. Backed by the PSU department, it has already carried out a separate compressed air consumption measurement in Hall M1 – Axle Assembly. Thanks to local measurements, they were able to detect up to 124 leakage sites. They calculated that the annual decrease amounted to CZK 150,000 and immediately started to eliminate loss sources. “We would like to continue this way in the upcoming period, when we will focus on the electricity consumption, heat or water”, adds Dušek. RED

• Components Porduction

  Component Production

  Ecological and without transport requirements

  The Forge has just introduced a unique method to wax semi-finished gearbox wheels 

  mong the top products that are first in line to get a clear shape in the Forge is the fourth-gear wheel in the DQ 200 gearbox. The part’s clamping surfaces require high accuracy, which is why production also involves special technological procedures. “Unlike other forgings, this part is specifically processed for synchronisation purposes”, explains Miroslav Kasík from the PKG/3 – Foundry and Forge Technology department. Thus, the entire forging process is completed by cold forming – calibration. “It requires a surface treatment, that is, the application of a sliding layer to ensure that the forming process runs smoothly with regard to the part’s geometry and the tool’s lifespan”, Kasík emphasises. 

  25,000

  kilometres is the annual mileage between Mladá Boleslav and Kyjov that this novelty has now eliminated

  396

  tonnes of material consumed annually for semi-finished fourth-gear wheels for the DQ 200 gearbox

  3,000

  parts waxed per shift in the Forge

  Previously, the sliding layer had been applied by phosphating and soaping the part at the supplier’s premises in Kyjov in South Moravia. In addition to demanding logistics, this also required a lot of water, energy and chemicals and produced waste that had to be disposed of. When the current supplier of die lubricants came up with a novelty to eliminate these problems, the choice was clear. It is a water-soluble wax that saves the environment much more than phosphating does. The part is soaked in wax and then dried; the whole process takes only four minutes. The wax bath is heated to only 60°C, and the part is then dried with warm air. The bath does not exceed a volume of 500 litres and has a low concentration and a long life of several months. The only waste remaining is polluted water, which is easy to dispose of as it contains no hazardous waste.

  Integrating this device into the current manufacturing process was simple. A workplace consisting of three sections – a control roller, a waxing machine and a calibration press – was set up. “Thanks to this, we have reduced the manufacturing cost for one forging and contributed to a significantly positive benefit for the environment: a low consumption of energy, water and fuel and a reduction in emissions during transport by trucks”, concludes Kasík. Eva jarošová
  

• Baureihe

  Baureihe
  

  The future development of the ŠKODA brand

  The carmaker’s product series is now divided into three departments, along with another that focuses on special projects

  he product series, or Baureihen, has a new structure. There has been a change in the departments, and their management has changed, too. The re-organisation involves the G1 (SMALL), G2 (COMPACT) and G3 (MIDSIZE/MEB) product lines, as well as the newly created GL unit (Special projects – see the text “Strategic content”). Here is an overview of how the Baureihn are now divided and what they are working on.

  G1: The challenge is the new FABIA

  Jiří Dytrych took over G1 management on 1 June (previously, he had co-managed it with Lubomír Antoš). This department is in charge of the FABIA, SCALA and KAMIQ cars, as well as the electric CITIGOe IV. “Cars in this segment are closely tied to the traditional ŠKODA brand values and give the customer high utility value at a reasonable price. Staying competitive in this class is one of our key challenges. That is why we are also working hard on the new generation of the FABIA model. I am convinced that we will once again meet customer expectations with it”, Dytrych says regarding company targets.

  The task of the Baureihe departments is to work across the carmaker with a maximum emphasis on ŠKODA products.

  
  

  G2: How to upgrade an SUV

  This department, led by its current manager, František Drábek, is in charge of managing and coordinating projects from the compact model line, such as the OCTAVIA and the KODIAQ. “We’re continuing to successfully introduce the fourth-generation OCTAVIA to markets around the world. Currently, we’re working intensively on the successor to our largest SUV, the KODIAQ. The project is at an early stage, and discussions are currently underway on exterior and interior design and further development. From a technical and financial point of view, we are carefully examining the options of alternative drives and new kinds of special equipment. In the autumn, we will start the new generation of the smaller KAROQ SUV”, says Drábek.

  G3: SUPERB and electric cars

  The biggest changes took place in two departments. The G4 product line was incorporated into the G3 unit (MIDSIZE/MEB) and, thus, ceased to exist as an independent entity. Axel Andorff has been the new manager since the beginning of July. He previously worked 20 years at Mercedes Benz and at SEAT as the Board Member for Technical Development. The new department is responsible for the SUPERB both in the standard and hybrid versions, as well as all models on the MEB electrical platform. „With the ambivalent portfolio within the department, the whole team is fully committed and engaged to further push our common PASSAT/SUPERB project and to step into the electric future with the great ENYAQ iV”, says Andorff. 

  Strategic content
  

  The newly established GL – PL ŠKODA AUTO Special Projects unit is beyond the product line structure, as its main content are strategic topics. We are mainly talking about ensuring the further development of the ŠKODA and Volkswagen brands in India, increasing their market share and strengthening the export of cars produced in India to surrounding Asian countries. “The new GL department was created to preserve know-how from the current course of the INDIA 2.0 project and to ensure the continuity of its management. It includes preparing four completely new models – two ŠKODA brand and two Volkswagen cars – to be produced at the Pune plant. In addition, we have already started preparing the INDIA 3.0 project and will use our experience at new plants in China and Russia”, according to Lubomír Antoš. Štěpán Vorlíček
  

  Jiří Dytrych

  Head of G1 – Product Line SMALL

  A crisis can make smaller cars very important. ŠKODA has traditionally offered something extra: interior space, a simply clever solution and a favourable price-performance ratio. During the 2008–2010 economic crisis, I was working in Sales and understood how crucial the FABIA and RAPID were to our key markets. That’s why we are now working together with Marketing and Sales to get out of this difficult time with our heads up.

  František Drábek

  Head of G2 – Product Line COMPACT

  In addition to working on the new generation of the KODIAQ model, our focus is on the latest OCTAVIA. It became the brand’s first model equipped with a new infotainment generation and, at the same time, the second PHEV-powered car. Preparation of future projects didn’t stop during the production shutdown, and our employees worked from home. Thus, we’ve unexpectedly shown ourselves to be ready for the current digital communication trend.

  Axel Andorff

  Head of G3 – Product Line MIDSIZE/MEB

  Clean electric cars are crucial for the brand’s future. ENYAQ iV confirms that we can also handle this type of drive. We have to find the necessary balance on which to build further ŠKODA brand growth. I also expect new requirements from customers, which will certainly result in innovative simply clever features and improvements, in both hardware and digital, as well as completely new business opportunities.

  
  

  Lubomír Antoš

  Head of GL – PL ŠKODA AUTO Special Projects

  Unfortunately, the INDIA 2.0 project was significantly affected by the coronavirus pandemic. The closure of the Pune plant originally looked like it would become a shutdown for more than three months. Thanks to the huge initiative of the Purchasing, Brand Logistics, Planning and Quality departments, we’ve reduced the delay to seven weeks. New communication technologies have also helped us a lot.

• Think digitally

  All data in one place and available to everyone

  Where to store and how to process and efficiently use large amounts of production or sales data?

  he amount of data the carmaker has is growing fast. Data centres, application systems, data platforms or portals for customers, suppliers, distributors and employees are being built. This can also include smart mobility, car sharing and other modern technologies. All of this requires a new business concept: a data-driven company. Developing products and services, including customer service, will increasingly depend on the good management, visualisation and analysis of data.

  For ŠKODA AUTO, data are like water. The biggest challenge is to put together enough people willing to build a water pipe instead of using buckets to carry the water.

  Bohuslav Čech 

  FI/1 – Technology Portfolio and Projects

  Information in one place

  Modern approach to handle data from various sources is now presented by the so-called data analysis platform (DAP). “It was established in 2018, and last year we integrated it into our IT ecosystem. We are gradually expanding it with other functions. The advantages include large capacity, data processing speed, variety of formats used and a rich set of tools for reports, analytics and artificial intelligence”, says Jiří Boček from FI/1 – Technology Portfolio and Projects. The platform runs on servers at the Data Centre. It is gradually being connected to various technologies (SAP HANA, Oracle, Kafka), as well as cloud services (Microsoft Azure, Amazon Web Services etc.). “This is a broad-range database where data for a variety of analyses, predictions and optimisations are and will be available. Based on information acquired this way, we can then plan the entire production. The platform makes it easy to consolidate data from different sources, combine them and examine them from different perspectives”, says Jan Botorek, who is one of the members of the analytical team.

  Common data source

  One year after trial operation, the platform is already being used in the Production and Logistics (for example, the first production app for analysing and evaluating delivery fidelity is already in use), Quality Control, Marketing, Technical Development areas and in the Warranty department, where a smart scoring of requirements has been prototyped. As far as artificial intelligence is concerned, this includes, for example, the Smart Body Dimensions project for welding shops, optimisation tasks, image and speech recognition, semantic analysis, neural networks and predictive tasks. For example, they are able to predict with some degree of accuracy that an event will occur, such as a machine failure. Furthermore, it is possible to evaluate customer loyalty, predict their behaviour and estimate their needs and accordingly offr a suitable product (vehicle, accessories and services).

  “DAP aims to provide space and capacity not only to test hypotheses but mainly to pproduce the apps that rely on data from multiple sources. It can be used to analyse data from various departments together or to link internal and external information, such as data from cars and maps”, adds Boček. 
  

  More information on data services and DAP can be found on ŠKODA Space by going to Information > Employee Services > Data Services. Štěpán Vorlíček

  404

  Platform users, of which 322 are analysts and 82 data scientists

  16

  servers use DAP

  149

  terabytes (TB) is the storage capacity, which corresponds to the discs of about 300 regular laptops

  1.8

  TB is the average data increment per mont

  Digital and data transformation

  “Data are a valuable asset whose value is constantly growing. They are used for procedural improvement, employee decisions or the development of new products. ŠKODA AUTO has already started the transformation towards data-oriented management, but we still have a lot of innovative work to do. It is a challenge and has difficulties. It is not simple, but overall, it makes sense to move us and the carmaker forward. The strategy promoted by the Finance and IT area, which the data analysis team is part of, is actively contributing to the digital and data transformation at ŠKODA AUTO”, explains Jiří Boček, adding that there is great potential in combining data from different departments and in searching for links between individual indicators.

  The backbone of a modern company

  “As is the case when constructing a cathedral that will last for centuries, every long-term project needs to have stable foundations. In the world of information technology, these foundations are made of data. Processing, storing, interpreting and making them available in an appropriate way form the backbone of a modern company. We are confident that the DAP can become a suitable building block for your project as well”, says Jan Botorek, a data engineer from the same department, when describing the advantages of the platform.

  @SMART Application

  Do you work from home, or are you often doing field work, and the paper version of internal documents for signing no longer suits you?

  
  

  DigiSIGN

  The app for signing internal electronic documents is constantly expanding with new functionalities. The aim is to gradually adapt all internal communication and documentation so that, in the future, only electronic signatures will be used. “Recently, for example, we changed the signature size to fit into most forms used”, says Jiří Kazda from SB/4 – Digitisation and HR System Support. 

  In this app, you create your own signature requests or initial those from other people. As applicants, you will receive an e-mail notification that the request has been processed, and you can download the approved documents onto your PC, as applications can currently be signed only this way. It is now also possible to download the document, even without all the signatures. However, the files are always deleted from the server 25 days after being approved by the last person (or 25 days after creating the request, if not signed by everyone). If you have access to ŠKODA Space, you can add DigiSign to your Favourites and My Applications card. RED
  

  more than this amount of signed documents have been collected by the app during the first weeks of operation

  
  

  What you need for electronic signing

  Internet Explorer browser

  Download the DigiSign app from the software centre

  MFA card with active PKI chip

  Know your PIN for the certificate 

  on the MFA card 

  Have a valid e-mail address ending 

  in “@skoda-auto.cz”

  
  

  KOMPAS will show you the way

  The new HR system will serve all employees

  oon, you can take a look at your team’s organisational structure, visit the internal job market, check the accuracy of your personal data or make changes to them via the new HR system SAP SuccessFactors, labelled internally as KOMPAS. The launch was preceded by an information campaign and training for the Process and Organisational Management department, HR professionals and immediate superiors in previous months. In August, the foremen will become another group introduced to the functionalities of the system and its use in practice. You can find out the exact date of launching the KOMPAS application from ŠKODA Space.

  How to do it

  KOMPAS will be made available to all employees, direct superiors and the HR team. In many cases, you do not have to visit the HR department; you will no longer have to go there, for example, when changing your permanent residence, private contact details, information about children etc. You can access the HR system via My Applications on the Employee Portal. You can add the KOMPAS icon to your Favourites. Logging in this way will always be automatic, so there is no need to enter another password, as is the case with the electronic payroll. It is recommended to use Mozilla Firefox or Google Chrome for better display. Using ŠKODA Space, you can also work in the HR system on your mobile devices. The KOMPAS  – SAP SuccessFactors mobile app will then be used for quick access to information or approval workflows. Instructions on how to handle it can be found in the KOMPAS Employee Self-Service training at eDoceo or on ŠKODA Space.

  Where to get advice

  Even after starting the system, the information pages will remain accessible at www.skoda-kompas.cz/en and introduce you to the functions of the system in a playful way. Information on training and training materials for individual groups will be available as well. The KOMPAS Help telephone assistance is also available. On weekdays from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., you will be given answers to all your questions or redirected to the support team in the case of more difficult issues when you dial +420 (0) 326 819 700. RED

  Find more at ŠKODA Space

• New models

  New models
  

  Chock-full of high tech

  Take a look at all the goodies in the new OCTAVIA models

  t the beginning of July, the carmaker presented a whole family of OCTAVIA cars, including the SCOUT, RS and G-TEC models, among others, via a video-streamed workshop for journalists. A version with alternative drive systems, which further increase the car’s economy, was also introduced. We already presented it to you, including the details of individual models, in previous issues of ŠKODA Mobil. We now focus on the innovations that the ŠKODA brand is coming up with for the first time. RED
  

  Virtual premiere

  Further details are available by scanning the QR code on ŠKODA Storyboard, where you can also watch a video introducing the new models and four workshops that, in addition to cars, look at drive strategy and connectivity.

  Tune your driving mode

  In conjunction with the 2.0 TSI and 2.0 TDI engines, the OCTAVIA RS cars have a 15 mm lower chassis than the standard version. Customers can also opt for an adaptive DCC chassis. For the first time, this allows the driver to select individual parameters, such as the damping, steering or shifting characteristics of the DSG automatic transmission, when selecting drive modes with the scroll bar on the central display. All according to the driver’s preferences.

  
  

  Improved 4×4 drive

  The core of the SCOUT model is its high-powered four-wheel-drive powertrains. Their efficiency is increased by the sixth-generation electrically controlled clutch, which has undergone substantial modification. It is almost 0.8 kg lighter, and its high efficiency is due to the use of low viscosity oil, reduced bearing preload and an improved internal lubrication system. It now also hosts an integrated control unit. For example, its software can detect whether 4×4 drive is needed at any given moment in the Eco driving mode.

  
  

  Mild-hybrid premiere

  The OCTAVIA will be the first ŠKODA car to have e-TEC petrol engines, along with a 48V lithium-ion battery with a capacity of 0.6 kWh. It is located under the front passenger seat and is recharged exclusively through brake energy recuperation. Electricity is used to boost the internal combustion engine with a starter-generator, which can add up to 50 Nm of torque. Consequently, the engine starts quietly and with less vibration. At the same time, it provides for the sailing mode completely without burning fuel. This saves up to 0.4 litres of petrol per 100 km and reduces CO2 emissions.

  
  

  Information in front of your eyes

  Customers can order another novelty in ŠKODA cars – the so-called head-up display – upon request. It consists of a projection unit that creates an image based on speed information, navigation data, detected traffic signs and activated assistance systems transmitting all of this to the windscreen in the driver’s field of vision. Thus, the driver does not have to look away from the road.

• How it WORKS

  How it WORKS

  So that the cars don’t have a leak

  What the watertightness tests for ŠKODA cars entail

   KODA AUTO cars undergo watertightness tests not only when new models are being developed but also when they are inspected in series production. The goal is to find out whether a car has leaks that penetrate the interior, for example, when it rains or the car goes through the carwash. The watertightness test room has been used in the car factory since 1982 and has recently undergone a major update. Read and see what such state-of-the-art testing looks like today in the photo gallery. Luděk Vokáč

  My Machine series, we often show how we test our cars’ quality. These episodes are available on YouTube

• Anniversary – ŠKODA Parts Center – FOTO

  ŠKODA Parts Center

  Aerial view of the whole hall

  
  

  Aerial view of the whole hall

  
  

  The dispatch department handles 140 trucks a day around the world

  
  

• Výročí – ŠKO-ENERGO – fotogalerie

  Nejmodernější a ekologicky nejšetrnější teplárna ŠKO-ENERGO v Česku.

  V roce 2016 startuje možnost ukládání elektrické energie pomocí elektrokotle Power to Healt.

  O výstavbu dobíjecích stanic v okolí závodů se stará rovněž ŠKO-ENERGO.

• New Models - FOTO

  ŠKODA OCTAVIA SCOUT

  Interior of the ŠKODA OCTAVIA RS model

  
  

  ŠKODA OCTAVIA G-TECH

  The new head-up display of the OCTAVIA model is offered on request in the Style and higher trim level.

  
  

• Srdcovka – fotogalerie

  Program v mateřských školách – děti hledaly vzory správného a bezpečného chování.

  Povinná výbava na kole – program na základních školách.

  Povinná výbava na kole s praktickou ukázkou –  program na základních školách.

  Nácvik správného naszení cyklistické přilby v rámci programu na ZŠ.

  Dopravní výchova na školách děti opravdu baví.

  Součástí programu na základních školách je také tzv. „škola poutání“.

• Anniversary – Toolshoop – FOTO

  Scale models of car surface parts.

  
  

  Scale model of the roof of the ŠKODA 1200

  
  

  Body press

  
  

• How it WORKS - FOTO

   “Thanks to this modernisation, the watertightness testing laboratory has expanded its range of options to test leaks in cars. At the same time, it has doubled its capacity”, says Jaroslav Kasl, head of GQM-3 – Brand Quality Management – Analysis Centre.

  
  

   The basic tests include rain simulations. “Usually, the test takes a few dozen minutes, but we also perform long-term tests lasting several hours”, adds team member Jakub Vochvest. The basic “rain” has a water flow of 25 litres/m2/min. However, the test room can also double the downpour to simulate a monsoon.

  
  

   After the modernisation, the test room can now also test tilted cars. “This test is one of the latest corporate regulations. We would not be able to do it without the new technology”, continues Petr Kořínek, group coordinator. Tilting the car simulates a situation where, for example, it is parked on a steep incline.

  
  

   A pressure washing test is also part of the water test. Pressure washing is carried out by a pressure frame on a carriage, which resembles the equipment from an automatic car wash. This is no coincidence, as the car undergoes these tests during car washes or when it is washed by hand. The pressure in the nozzles ranges between 60 and 90 bar, depending on the test type.

  
  

   The local test lab is also developing a new RFID technology (radio frequency identification) to be used by the entire VW Group. It is a non-contact method that uses a digital system to detect the presence of water inside the car. Small RFID sensors responsive to moisture can be integrated into the car’s interior. During the test, a reading frame passes over the car to read the data from the sensors and determine whether it has been exposed to water. 

  
  

   If any water is detected, a detailed analysis follows to find out where exactly the water reached (e.g. under the carpets) and why. “In the case of pre-production cars, we are cooperating with the Technical Development department to solve the problem; we fix any defects from serial production mainly with our production colleagues”, Kořínek continues.

  
  

   All water used in the watertightness tests is recycled. Ten cubic metres of water drawn from a sump tank circulate in the test room’s closed circuit. “We recycle up to 375 litres per minute and, when running at high speed, up to 1,000 m3 per month”, explains Pavel Novotný, another member of the team. During cleaning, the water passes through coarse and fine filters and is disinfected with UV radiation every night. The water in the circuit is changed once a month and then flows into the sewer.

• Ted – fotogalerie

  Letos na jaře poodhalila automobilka chystaný elektromobil ENYAQ iV.

  Zamířil na běžné silnice v Irsku, proto kamufláž nesmí omezovat například funkci světel.

  V maskování převládá zelená barva typická pro Irsko, jehož jazykem je inspirován název vozu.

• Anniversary - Aftersales - FOTO

  In the relatively short period of the First Czechoslovak Republic, the number of sales and service points in Czechoslovakia increased several times.

  
  

  The time of the planned economy brought a number of big challenges for the service providers, such as the lack of spare parts.

  
  

  At present, the services have adapted to digitization and electrification.

  
  

• Výroba – fotogalerie

  Pavel Šimek (uprostřed), jehož útvar PKM se stal absolutním vítězem i Skokanem roku, přebírá ocenění z rukou člena představenstva za oblast Výroby a logistiky Dr. Michaela Oeljeklause a zástupce Odborů KOVO MB Miloše Kováře.

  Společné foto vítězů – koordinátoři jednotlivých oddělení a vedoucí PKM.

• 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 – 125 let – interview – FOTO

  His first foreign assignment took him to Africa.

  
  

  This was followed by a working stay in Asia.

  
  

  A snapshot of Asian travels.

  
  

  In Ceylon, Singapore and Hong Kong, he dealt primarily with business matters.

  
  

• Skodovaci Malat – fotogalerie

  Lorem popisek

  Lorem popisek

  Lorem popisek

• Anniversary – 125 let – FOTO

  The winner of the Dourdan race, "traveling blacksmith" Vondřich, proudly poses with a leather bag for spare parts and tools. Behind him stands team manager Klement (1905).

  
  

  Eva and František Elstner on a journey around South America in a semi-convertible POPULAR 1100 OHV (1938).

  
  

  Elegant roadster based on model Š 440 (1959)

  
  

  The ŠKODA 120 model, internally called type 742, had a well-accessible front luggage compartment (1976).

  
  

• Component Production – photogalery

  The gear-wheel forgings undergo calibration, i.e. cold forming.

  For such processing to be possible, a sliding layer must first be applied.

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