10/2020

ŠKODA Mobil EN<br>Říjen 2020

• Title

• Flight through the ŠKODA world

  Flight through the ŠKODA world

  What’s happening at ŠKODA AUTO

  Auto Express ‘Estate Car of the Year’ titles have already been won by the OCTAVIA.

  OCTAVIA secures three victories

  The Auto Express magazine has given its ‘Car of the Year 2020’ award to ŠKODA’s bestseller. The fourth-generation OCTAVIA was also appraised as the ‘Estate Car of the Year’ and the ‘Compact Family Car of the Year’, thereby dominating all its categories. The modernised SUPERB also scored big, winning the title of the ‘Family Car of the Year’. This British magazine’s awards are among the most prestigious in the field. Jury members praised the Czech cars for their design, quality, comfort and value for money.

  
  

  Basic ENYAQ iV 60 is heading to the market

  Customers can already order the basic model of the electric SUV from authorised dealerships in the Czech Republic. The car, which has rear-wheel drive, an output of 132 kW and a battery with a capacity of 62 kWh, has a range of 390 km on a single charge. Its recommended retail price is CZK 1,059,900, including VAT. The basic LOFT specification offers unique standard equipment that includes driver fatigue detection, lane assist, three-zone air conditioning and 19-inch alloy wheels. The more powerful ENYAQ iV 80 variant is already being sold for CZK 1,189,900, and two more versions with all-wheel drive are being prepared for the market. 

  No. 1 for students of technology

  For the seventh time, ŠKODA AUTO has defended its dominance in employer attractiveness as voted by students of technical universities. More than 11,000 students and graduates from 63 universities participated in the Universum survey. Their priorities when selecting the best companies was future financial remuneration, a friendly working environment, company success on the market and opportunities for further development. The carmaker also scored high among students from economics departments, who put it in second place.

  SERVICES
  

  Where to park my car?

  ŠKODA drivers all over Europe looking for a place to park their car will be assisted by Parkopedia, a service with which the carmaker is cooperating. Go to the ŠKODA Connect app or your real-time car navigation to see the nearest or most suitable place to park – and how much it will cost. If the necessary data is available, the service lets you know whether there is a free space in the car park or parking garage.

  Recharged in half an hour on the D1 motorway

  A new station on the international network of ultra-fast IONITY chargers has been installed just outside Prague, at a filling station near Nupaky. Apart from other car manufacturers, the VW Group is involved in their construction as well. That is why a new fully electric ŠKODA ENYAQ iV 80 was also presented alongside the chargers. The station charged the car’s battery from 17 percent to 80 percent within 33 minutes, achieving an output of 126.3 kW. This means that the car’s range was increased by over 300 km in about half an hour. This is the second IONITY station in the country – the first one was opened last year on the D5 motorway near Beroun.

  How they see us 

  
  

  Newcarz.de (6 Oct 2020)

  FABIA COMBI 1,0 TSI 70 kW

  
  

  A new icon indicates which documents feature more pictures in the photo gallery in the online version of ŠKODA Mobil.

  low maintenance costs

  excellent equipment in terms of value for money

  Simply Clever ideas

  great LED headlights

  missing diesel and hybrid drives

  high-beam dimming assistant is slow to respond

  News from the Group 
  

  Sun instead of fuel

  The Swedish manufacturer Scania is involved in developing a semi-trailer covered with solar panels for plug-in hybrid trucks. According to the first tests, they can save between 5 and 10 percent on fuel thanks to solar energy in Northern Europe, which can be up to twice as much in the south. Photovoltaic panels cover an area of 140 m2, and they should generate up to 14,000 kWh per year in the conditions in Sweden. The developers are also looking into the possibility that a parked truck with fully charged battery could supply solar energy to the power grid. 

  Changes in Spain and India

  Wayne Griffiths (pictured) became the president of the Spanish carmaker on 1 October. Previously, he had led the Sales and Marketing department at SEAT, where he was responsible for the company’s record-breaking results in recent years. The previous head of the carmaker, Carsten Isensee, continues on as Executive Vice President of Finance and IT. The change also took place in Volkswagen Passenger Cars Division in India. Its director Steffen Knapp takes over another international task in the group, and the current Head of Sales Operations of this division, Ashish Gupta, will take the lead.

  innovations
  

  Where ideas are born

  In late September, Technical Development opened the doors of its ININ innovation incubator in Čejetice, where customer innovations are born at an early stage, also to those from different departments. Visitors acquainted themselves with the environment and day-to-day operations and could take a look at the modern multifunctional workshops and a selection of projects that had been created there in cooperation with other departments (such as environmentally friendly materials for vehicle interiors). Visitors also learned more about how they can be involved in the creation of customer innovations.

  
  

  THE INTRODUCTION OF THE NEW ELECTRIC SUV, THE ENYAQ IV, AT THE ŠKODA AUTO FACTORY STIRRED EXCEPTIONAL INTEREST A RECORD-BREAKING 11,302 VISITORS CAME TO THE ‘COME AND RECHARGE’ ROADSHOW IN SEPTEMBER.

• Coronavirus

  Coronavirus
  

  COVID info card in your phone

  ou can always have all the latest information about the coronavirus at hand if you download the new COVID info card onto your mobile phone. It is intended only for ŠKODA AUTO employees. It will enable you to have an updated overview of the carmaker’s current measures, as well as important contacts, documents and the latest news, all in one place. You can be notified about news via push notifications on the phone display, but they can also be disabled. The info card is free of charge and does not collect any information about you. Your family members can download it as well.
  

  
  

  What you need for the download:

  1 

  You must have the Wallet app (iPhone) or its alternative for Android (e.g. WalletPasses or Yourwallet) installed on your mobile phone.
  

  2 

  Just scan the QR code and confirm the download of the info card.

  3 

  Open the application and click on the info card. Use the button with three dots to get to the back, where you will find all the information in detail. 

  
  

  Together against
  COVID-19

  he ŠKODA AUTO employees who have been infected with coronavirus will share their experiences with others in a new campaign. They will describe the symptoms they had or where they contracted the disease. Their faces can also be seen on employee computers, screens on shop floors and other channels of internal communication. The campaign calls on all employees not to underestimate government and corporate public health and safety measures.
  

  Actions against COVID-19

  KODA AUTO reflects the Czech government’s regulations and continuously updates its measures to combat the spread of coronavirus. Up-to-date information can always be found on the ŠKODA Space homepage. Further details can be obtained from supervisors and foremen. Alternatively, you can read about them in the Weekly and leaflets and on noticeboards. Please send your queries regarding the actions to interni.komunikace@skoda-auto.cz.
  

  
  

  
  

  Do you know medical school students who are looking for an internship?

  ŠKODA AUTO is on the lookout for community college or university students who would help with the testing of employees and the tracing of infected people. They can sign up at simona.horakova@skoda-auto.cz

• Artificial Intelligence

  Artificial Intelligence

  Artificial intelligence at ŠKODA AUTO

  A modern, increasingly promoted technology in the carmaker’s internal processes and activities

  n the world of technology, artificial intelligence (AI) means the ability of machines to take advantage of the properties usually associated with the human mind. These technological features can adapt to the environment or learn, among others, and include systems using cognitive functions or programmes interacting with the environment, recording or evaluating experiences, solving problems and even being creative. As far as its long-term strategy is concerned, the carmaker wants to use them in all major products and services while simultaneously applying them to the digitisation, automation, acceleration and scalability of decision-making processes. 

  Apps using artificial intelligence are among ŠKODA AUTO’s main strategic topics. This is part of the carmaker’s digital transformation as set out in Strategy 2025, and they play an equally important role in the company’s IT Strategy. Technology permeates virtually the entire company. The AI Competence Center focuses on it, but it is also an important topic for innovation departments such as InnoTeam and ŠKODA AUTO DigiLab. (see the “Who deals with projects?” section).

  The carmaker already uses artificial intelligence, for example, in the form of the Intelligent Virtual Assistant (IVA), which facilitates company processes, such as recruiting new employees or exchanging phones in IT Points, etc. (see ŠKODA Mobil 2/2020). We present other AI projects on the following pages. ED
  

  Interesting links regarding the use of artificial intelligence in practice and everyday life can be found on ŠKODA Space
  

  Who deals with projects?

  AI Competence Centre 

  It is tended to by the ŠKODA IT team, and ŠKODA AUTO provides support to all areas in partial projects. It also focuses on developing AI solutions internally and standardising the platforms and tools used in the car industry.

  InnoTeam

  It forms part of the GGS – Business Strategy and Innovation Management department, and each ŠKODA AUTO area has a representative in it. InnoTeam supports the innovative involvement of AI in a programme’s proof of concept, through which financial support to test the solution can be obtained.

  FabLab

  The laboratory of the PSZ – Central Technical Service department is working on innovative control and diagnostic systems based on AI and supporting solutions of Industry 4.0.

  ŠKODA AUTO DigiLab

  A subsidiary that focuses on developing new solutions in the field of digitisation and mobility. In the case of AI, it seeks out and tests projects that can be implemented in ŠKODA AUTO processes. In cooperation with IT ŠKODA and other internal departments, it actively supports the implementation of AI projects.

  Klaus Blüm

  Head of FI – Information Technology
  

  How important is artificial intelligence to ŠKODA AUTO?

  It represents a key part of our company’s strategy. It helps us to move forward all our products – for example, in the areas of assistance systems or voice control. At the same time, it allows us to improve internal processes. We find many examples in the field of administration, as well as Production and Logistics.

  To what extent will this technology affect car development in the years to come?

  In my opinion, the automotive industry currently has two main technological drivers: 5G mobile networks and artificial intelligence. Thanks to them, we can expect many new services and features. For me, the basis of innovation consists of the transfer of huge amounts of data from the car to a place with great computing power, which makes it possible to run demanding artificial intelligence algorithms. Voice control, assistance systems and the like already have great potential, but there’s much more to come. ED

  See how Klaus Blüm, Head of FI, describes the importance of artificial intelligence for ŠKODA AUTO

  

  LET’S USE AI TO OUR ADVANTAGE 

  INTERVIEW WITH PETR ŠVARC FROM THE FIT – IT ENTERPRISE ARCHITECTURE & TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT

  Which artificial intelligence projects is your team currently involved in?

  We’re working on 10 projects, mainly those that improve the carmaker’s internal processes. These include OPTIKON in logistics, with which we wanted to increase container occupancy and reduce the number of shipped containers (and, thus, the production of CO2) and the time required for loading. 

  Are these complex solutions, or are you inspired by systems that are already running?

  The OPTIKON project was more complex and required not only to develop the solution together with our IT and Business colleagues but also that we choose the technology. In order to address the optimisation of container scanning, we had to deploy a platform that could handle such a requirement. We now want to use it on other shop floors – for example, in our paint shops.

  Your team, however, is also involved in developing AI systems directly in vehicles.

  Yes, we’re involved in predicting gear pre-shifting in real-time, so that we can properly adjust the engine behaviour. We also work on car personalisation; based on customer behaviour, we predict their choices of car functionalities, such as air conditioning.

  Are you trying to use AI solutions that already work elsewhere, or are you thinking up projects that are tailored to internal needs?

  We use both, we always prioritise the benefits that solutions provide to users. For example, our own development in car personalisation would not make sense, as it would take years. By contrast, we could prepare the monitoring of car parks internally. In general, we don’t need to reinvent the wheel. You need expertise for such decisions, and our team is ready to respond to any idea or question regarding the choice of the right solution. 

  In this issue of ŠKODA Mobil, we also describe the carmaker’s innovation ecosystem. Do employees themselves get involved with their ideas for AI?

  We’ve established close cooperation with the GGS – Business Strategy and Innovation Management department, which keeps good track of innovative projects in the company, because we think the innovation ecosystem is one of the most promising channels of communication with employees. I’d like to encourage them to use the ecosystem directly or through their supervisors and share their ideas with us. Don’t miss any opportunity to increase the value and prestige of ŠKODA AUTO! ED

• Artificial Intelligence – OPTIKON

  Artificial Intelligence / OPTIKON

  Smart logistics help

  The OPTIKON app calculates the ideal placement of pallets of various sizes in freight containers

  lmost everyone knows about the classic computer game Tetris, in which the aim is to fit various differently shaped elements in a given space as compactly as possible. Logisticians face the same task all the time when a freight container has to be loaded. There are innumerable ways to fit differently sized pallets into a container. Additionally, their dimensions vary day by day, complicating the process even more. OPTIKON, an app jointly developed by ŠKODA AUTO DigiLab, IT and Logistics, provides a solution to this problem with AI technologies: It calculates the optimal location of the relevant items to be shipped in order to make use of the container’s loading capacity in the best way possible. “OPTIKON demonstrates how we can apply Industry 4.0 technologies and artificial intelligence using them to further increase the carmaker efficiency. The app includes 400 types and dimensions of pallets to calculate the maximum load of containers. Additionally, the technology takes into account the proper load distribution in the container and the timeliness of the material shipment”, adds Klaus Blüm, head of FI – Information Technology.

  The app’s name comes from the OPTImisation of the use of CONtainers, and Brand Logistics has been using it since November 2019 – mainly for loading the containers that it sends to Nizhny Novgorod. Apart from car body components, parts and production materials that are not both made and assembled locally, such as air conditioning, steering wheels and lights, are also shipped to Russia from the production plant in Mladá Boleslav. During the first six months of 2020, ŠKODA AUTO saved 151 container shipments thanks to this loading process, which corresponds to saving 80 tonnes of CO2 emissions generated during transport. “OPTIKON represents a significant development step on our way to digitising logistics and workflows. The project simplifies the warehouse staff work while saving transport costs and reducing CO2 emissions. Consequently, it also has a positive impact on the environmental strategy of Green Future”, says David Strnad, head of PL – Brand Logistics. ED

  Technical aspects

  The app uses methods of mathematical combinatorial analysis to find various solutions to the so-called backpack problem. The aim is to optimally fit certain objects into a limited space. While the classic backpack problem considers only the weight and value of packaged items, OPTIKON also considers the floor area, the volume of the transported item and the timeliness of dispatch.

• Artificial Intelligence – Sound Analyser

  Artificial Intelligence / Sound Analyser

  Car Diagnosis 
  by Sound

  The cellphone app helps service technicians to quickly and easily assess what kind of car maintenance is needed

  he After Sales department and ŠKODA AUTO DigiLab are testing the new Sound Analyser app. Thanks to artificial intelligence, it helps to rapidly and precisely detect where service maintenance is needed. To this end, it compares data with already available acoustic patterns. In case of inconsistencies, the app estimates what might be the cause and suggests how to correct them. “Sound Analyser clearly shows the options that digitisation is opening up for the ŠKODA brand and in After Sales. In the future, we intend to consistently use AI technologies to provide our customers even more personalised services and give them better care”, says Stanislav Pekař, head of VA – After Sales.

  To reliably, unambiguously and quickly assess the condition of worn parts, the app uses various specific parameters to analyse the profile of the respective car. This simplifies the diagnostics for service technicians, as now the only thing they need for their work is a smartphone. 

  Using this highly sophisticated technology is absolutely intuitive: The smartphone records the car sound by using the app. The next step includes an algorithm comparing the recording with already available patterns providing a specific description of the sound source. The technology recognises 10 patterns with an accuracy of more than 90 percent. They relate to components such as the steering system, the air conditioning compressor and the dual-clutch gearbox (DSG). Currently, the app is “being taught” to recognise other sounds as well. 

  The project has been trialled in 14 countries since June 2019, including major car markets like Germany, Russia, Austria and France. A total of 245 ŠKODA dealers are participating in this pilot project. First of all, they provide the audio recordings, which the software learning process cannot do without. Gradually introducing technologies for detecting acoustic deviations from the normal status will open up numerous options in sensor-assisted predictive maintenance. Thanks to this and an Internet connection, the car might also automatically detect defects and schedule an appointment at the relevant service workshop if necessary. ED

  Technical aspects

  The Sound Analyser app is based on a neural network algorithm. First, it converts the audio recording into a spectrogram that visualises the acoustic signals. AI then compares it with the stored values to detect possible deviations. On this basis, the app classifies the need for maintenance or repair according to pre-defined models. 

• Artificial Intelligence – AI Hub

  Artificial Intelligence / AI Hub

  AI Hub

  The new platform connects developers, researchers, startups and AI companies with the carmaker

  he carmaker and ŠKODA AUTO DigiLab have jointly launched a platform to develop solutions based on artificial intelligence. The aim is to strengthen the ŠKODA brand’s AI competence by connecting the carmaker with developers, startups and other partners using this technology. In the medium term, projects will lead to specific apps.  

  As far as ŠKODA AUTO itself is concerned, the Technical Development, Digitisation and IT departments have already joined the project. The HR department is also monitoring the project and giving talented developers the opportunity to work for the carmaker as external partners.

  At present, the carmaker is working with its partners Blindspot Solutions and GoodAI Applied, who have released their developers to work at the AI Hub. They are to be posted to ŠKODA AUTO in the future and are now working on a project to optimise the car body production process. Thanks to processing a large number of data records, the system will adapt the process to produce more units with the same use of resources. The basic feasibility test was carried out using data from the car body shop in Kvasiny. After certain modifications, the implementation team will verify the results in Mladá Boleslav. Another project aims to develop a software tool that tests the human machine interface (HMI) on the dashboard.

  Existing AI Hub projects either serve as proof of concept and to evaluate whether they can be implemented in the future or monitor how viable they are (this is called the minimum viable product). ED

  Jarmila Plachá

  Head of ŠKODA AUTO DigiLab

  Using the AI Hub, we are building a bridge to many actors who research, develop and apply artificial intelligence technologies. Talented developers are already working on their projects at the AI Hub, and we have the opportunity to secure the best talents in the field of AI in time.

• Artificial Intelligence – FabLab

  Artificial Intelligence / FabLab
  

  Predictive Maintenance Assistant
  

  KODA AUTO is increasingly relying on AI applications to digitise all of its business areas. At the FabLab, the laboratories of the PSZ – Central Technical Service department, they work in various groups on the development and implementation of appropriate innovative technologies. As they also specialise in projects using AI and Industry 4.0 solutions, they are now testing how image comparison could help with predictive maintenance. They were inspired by the project that currently helps to identify and report free parking spaces in Mladá Boleslav plant. “Analysing free parking spaces is just one of many possible uses of AI technology. We also test how efficiently the system works prior to using the same principle for predictive maintenance on production lines. We are also working on a number of other ideas, as artificial intelligence will gain ground on all levels of ŠKODA AUTO in the future”, says Miroslav Kroupa, head of PS – Brand Management. The PSZ employees are currently analysing the conditions under which they could use the system. When comparing the actual condition of machines and systems with the requirements, the system could very soon detect that it cannot do without maintenance or repair. ED

• China

  China
  

  Back in the spotlight

  This year, the Auto China motor show in Beijing was held despite the coronavirus pandemic 

  nstead of the original April date, one of the world’s largest motor shows took place from 26 September to 5 October, and ŠKODA AUTO was also on site. The carmakers presented a total of 785 cars over more than 200,000 m2 at the Beijing Exhibition Center, where Auto China is held every two years (alternating with Shanghai). The event included 82 world premieres.

  Golden KAROQ

  ŠKODA presented its entire model series in Beijing, from the RAPID, OCTAVIA and SUPERB to the wide range of five SUVs, one of which was introduced in its modernised 2021 version: The compact KAROQ, which has had a 50 mm longer wheelbase since the start of sales on the Chinese market in 2017, has become even more attractive thanks to further improvements to its configuration. The modernised version, which visitors at the motor show saw in a unique gold colour intended only for this occasion, has already headed for pre-sale. The car builds on its advantages, which include a rich and functional configuration, as well as high-quality workmanship. Customers can now opt for an electric rear door or perforated leather seats.

  Awards from the Group

  During the car show, Volkswagen Group China handed out traditional PR awards. ŠKODA China PR & Communications and SAIC ŠKODA PR won with a newsletter, the participation of Chinese journalists in the world premiere of the OCTAVIA and the cooperation between various departments in launching the new SUPERB. Luděk Vokáč

  The success of Czech design

  Ahead of the motor show, ŠKODA AUTO had organised a special “Inheritance and Innovation” workshop for local journalists. Designers Chen Zhixiong and Miroslav Jaskmanicki presented the Czech carmaker’s design tradition and its supporting elements by drawing inspiration from Czech crystal, among others. They also indicated future trends that should further underline the youthful and dynamic appearance or emphasize emotions. Following the workshop, Chinese media published more than 1,500 articles.

  Demanding Chinese customers

  The Chinese market is recovering from the coronavirus crisis. ŠKODA AUTO is striving to meet its specific requirements to the maximum extent. What are they like?

  Chinese customers prefer AT

  Our customers in China prefer automatic transmissions. “Convenience and easy operations play a significant role when purchasing cars”, says Xiaofan Yang of ŠKODA China. The reason for this choice is the traffic congestions in big cities, where it is easier and smoother to drive with an automatic transmission.

  Gas engines ahead of diesel

  Customers traditionally prefer cars with a gas engine. “Because of history and people’s way of thinking, they often associate diesel engines with tractors or other agricultural machinery”, explains Yang. In addition, Chinese authorities do not support diesel engines as they try to reduce air pollution.

  The electric era has arrived

  Last but not least, e-mobility is strongly supported. Because combustion drives do not have as long a tradition here as elsewhere in the world, the transition to e-cars is easier. “In the second quarter of 2020, China accounted for 49 percent of the global alternative drive car market”, adds Yang.

  Newcomers at full speed

  There are currently more than 150 automotive brands in the country. Several new players are emerging and focus mainly on the modern technologies that customers require and quickly gain their attention. Traditional carmakers like ŠKODA AUTO have to be fast in responding to their pace.

  Great future ahead

  Although China has been the world’s largest car market for many years, less than 20 percent of the people in the country own a car. “China’s economic power is growing, and we can expect its car market to have great potential”, adds Yang.

• Component Production

  Component Production
  

  Cooperation between robots and humans

  Following the Vrchlabí plant, Component Production in Mladá Boleslav is the next shop floor where a cooperative robot is assisting employees

  new co-worker has joined the assembly line for EA 211 engines in the main production plant. It is a cooperative robot made by KUKA to pick up cooling nozzles and place them in the mounting jigs. An employee in that section then puts them in a semi-automatic workstation where the nozzles are tightened. The robot helps out in the section that was not fully occupied by a worker before. Instead of two people, a robot and a human work together now. “Previously, a worker had to remove the nozzles from the plastic sheets and place them in the holder; now it will be handled by the robot, with the employee taking the nozzles in the holder from the robot”, is how Pavel Vocásek from PKM/2 – EA 211 Engine Assembly describes the work procedure, adding that, at their workstation, the worker primarily inserts the big end bearings into the engine block. Handling the nozzles was the second task for which the employee had to quickly switch between the two sections. Now the robot makes the whole process much easier.

  Together side by side

  Cooperation in the section runs just as if two people were working there. The cooperative robot is designed in such a way that it does not have to be placed in a protected area, such as a cage, as with many other machines. Therefore, it meets the strict safety requirements. “Cooperative robots have been around for several years, but safety has further improved. Compared with similar solutions that are a few years old, our new assistant can scan the workplace better, and its reactions are much finer and more precise”, Vocásek explains. The cooperative robot on the engine assembly line is the first of its kind in Mladá Boleslav, and the carmaker has deployed it here as part of the Automation Offensive programme. It is already the third assistant of its type in ŠKODA AUTO’s Czech plants. One works in gearbox assembly in Vrchlabí, and the other is utilised by Production in the cylinder head machining section (to save space for an otherwise mandatory cage for a standard robot).

  According to Vocásek, investments in the seemingly tiny equipment are high. “A cooperative robot costs more than a standard model. However, these investments will pay off quickly”, he adds. The innovation’s deployment was quite non-standard. “Cooperative robots have certain limitations in what they can do during one takt. We have a takt time of 25 seconds on that section, and it was quite demanding to tune up the robot so that it can manage everything in time and ensure safety at 100 percent”, he explains, adding that more modern and sensitive technology made it possible for the robot to stop safely when needed (in the event of a collision with a human, for example), even during unusually fast work. So the whole optimisation took relatively more time, though it took place mainly at the supplier. “After being delivered to the line, the machine was quickly installed, and the robot was running at full capacity within 14 days”, Vocásek says. In his opinion, everything was made easier thanks to an important attribute of cooperative robots: It is easier to programme them to do a task. Luděk Vokáč

• User testing

  User testing

  Try it for yourself

  All employees can participate in the UX testing of digital products or services and help to improve them

  ince 2018, the UX (User Experience) team from the GG – Company Development and Digitisation department has been in charge of mapping and improving the customer experience of digital products. The UX team is looking for ways to design or customise a delightful user experience that will make the use of digital ŠKODA products as comfortable and intuitive as possible. There is a wide range – from infotainment and smartphone apps to websites and the carmaker’s mobile services in ŠKODA Connect. The easiest way to find out what suits users the best is to ask them. User testing is very helpful in this regard. Mostly, selected current or potential customers take part, but the selection process often takes up a lot of time and money. That is why UX team member Martin Pavlík established the UX Pool, which brings together employees interested in the user testing of future digital products and services. Based on their feedback, the UX team is able to improve the experience for the end user. Anyone can sign up for it. “A large family of colleagues gives us the opportunity to choose different groups of people for individual testing processes according to what is being tested”, explains Pavlík. The UX team can choose from among the group of candidates who meet the criteria: For example, they drive a ŠKODA car that is less than five years old or, conversely, have experience with competing brands. Therefore, all employees registering for the UX Pool via ŠKODA SPACE have to answer a questionnaire. 

  Interviews and questionnaires 

  Testing takes place in two ways: Either the UX team members demonstrate their proposal for a new solution directly to the respondents and interview them to try to find out what may suit the users, or the testing may be done via a questionnaire on a large sample of respondents. “In this way, for example, we’ve recently tested two possible solutions for easy control of independent car heating using the ŠKODA Connect mobile app”, says Johana Horáková, UX research & evaluation specialist of the GG department. According to her, it is very important to have testing in the development of products and services as early as possible, so that modifications do not have to be solved at the last moment in advanced project phases. This is much more efficient from both a budget and a time perspective. The team is currently assisting in fine-tuning the ŠKOffice app and recently participated in testing the ENYAQ iV e-car configurator and the MyŠKODA Powerpass app, which will help with charging electric vehicles. Luděk Vokáč 

  Better car configurator ENYAQ iV

  A successful example of user testing can be found in the online car configurator. One of the turning points of the new electric SUV is the option to choose different interior design variants. Thanks to user feedback, the ENYAQ iV is the first car to display the total interior price, including additional components. 

  
  

  You can view the upgraded ENYAQ iV configurator at 

  www.skoda-auto.com

  Help us to improve 

  our products 

  You can take part in the user testing of ŠKODA apps, websites and cars through ŠKODA Space after scanning the QR code. The testing takes a maximum of one hour and is usually in Mladá Boleslav or Prague.

• Benefits Cafeteria

  Benefits Cafeteria
  

  Are you insured with ZPŠ?

  Starting from October, you can automatically earn ŠKODA Benefits Cafeteria points for your preventative medical check-ups and do so without paper forms

  f you are a client of the ŠKODA Employee Insurance Company (ZPŠ – Zaměstnanecká pojišťovna ŠKODA), all you have to do is set up your ‘Card of My Heart’ and give your consent. ZPŠ will then automatically send notifications of your completed medical check-ups to your employer, and you will earn ŠKODA Benefits Cafeteria points even without paper forms. The employer will not see any information about your health status, and you can withdraw your consent at any time. When setting up your ‘Card of My Heart’, you will receive 200 points, and another 200 points for each completed check-up, which will be upped to 300 points from 1 April 2021. The points are credited to Cafeteria when the doctor passes them onto ZPŠ – about a month after your check-up. 

  What is the Card of My Heart?

  It is your e-account of you as an insured person with ZPŠ, which you can also download as an app. It contains important information about your health status and exams, as well as your physician’s office hours, dates of preventative check-ups, including their expiration notifications and so on. You can learn more about the card’s benefits at www.zpskoda.cz. ED

  How to do IT

  1 

  Create your Card of My Heart at www.kartamehosrdce.cz or go to one of the ZPŠ branch offices in person, where they will be happy to help you. You can then download the app of the same name onto your mobile phone. 

  2 

  In the section entitled Communication – Making data available to physicians, confirm the Prevention and Dispensary Care and Laboratory Examinations field (in your app, you can find it under Settings – User Settings). The doctor will then automatically obtain the data for the purpose of occupational medical examination or the compilation of the Personal Health Plan, and you will no longer have to provide any statement.

  3 

  In the section entitled Communication – ŠKODA Benefits Cafeteria (or in your app under Settings – User Settings), give your e-consent to transfer information on the completion of your preventative check-up with your GP, dentist or gynaecologist. 

  More info on ŠKODA Space

• Cybersecurity

  Cybersecurity

  How to classify documents

  New templates in MS Office facilitate mandatory labelling for all work documents

  ccording to the newly introduced Group standard, all ŠKODA AUTO employees must follow the confidentiality classification when creating their documents. All materials are labelled as public, internal, confidential or secret. You could read about the way in which documents can be divided into individual categories in the June 2020 issue of ŠKODA Mobil. That is why we are providing further details on how to work with document labelling.
  

  Documents in the confidential or secret mode can also be shared via TeamWeb/iTeamWeb. In that case, however, the team space must set the appropriate classification level.
  

  The documents affected by the classification are defined by the ON.1.022 Information Security and ON.1.037 File Rules organisational standards. These include nearly all analogue and digital written, video, audio and other information passed on by the creator. That is anything from correspondence and accounting documents and statements to, for example, audio recordings. “You need to label them with a degree of classification at the time of the document creation or delivery”, emphasises Pavel Šimek, head of FIG – IT Governance, Security and Service Management. Apart from that, you must not forget to add the discard label and deadline. You do this by overwriting the pre-prepared SXX label in the footer of the document template in MS Office. If you cannot do so at the time you create the document, you need to do it at the latest when disposing of the document – that is, when its use comes to an end or its validity expires. You can also add information about the triggering event that starts the discard period.

  Useful aid

  Each organisational unit must keep a list of its stored and archived documents. After the discard labels and deadlines have been approved, the list is issued as Internal Documentation (ID), which is used by all of the unit’s employees to label created or delivered documents correctly. “The ID check (existence/topicality) takes place within the IMS internal audits, as well as the ISO 9000 – Quality Management System and ISO 27001 – Information Security Management System external certification audits”, Šimek adds. ED

  Please visit ŠKODA Space for an overview of classification information in terms of content confidentiality.

• Inovations

  INNOVATIONs
  

  INNOVATION ECOSYSTEM

  ŠKODA AUTO PREPARES FOR THE FUTURE BY INTRODUCING MODERN TECHNOLOGIES AND NEW PRODUCTS WHILE DIGITISING AND CHANGING CORPORATE PROCESSES

  he carmaker finds itself in a dynamic period during which it must respond quickly to its customers’ changing needs and lifestyles. That is why ŠKODA AUTO has several teams that focus on various kinds of innovations. Together, they form a comprehensive Innovation Ecosystem. Each of them handles different innovations and does so in a slightly different way. They come up with ideas or develop those of others. If you also have a tip on how to improve a process in your workplace or have any innovations related to business models and our products or services, do not hesitate to make contact with these teams. You can find a clear overview on this double page. ED
  

  Watch the presentation of six main teams of innovation ecosystem at ŠKODA AUTO

  

  You can also find a summary of the carmaker’s innovation ecosystem on ŠKODA Space.

  Internal teams

  Innovation Management (GGS)

  This department is represented by InnoTeam, which is in charge of conceptual solutions for internal innovations at ŠKODA AUTO and strengthening the innovative mindset of employees. It brings inspiration and innovations, connects departments and employees across the company and measures indicators such as the Innovation Mindset Index (IMX). It finds out how employees approach to innovations and how they feel about participating in them. The next IMX survey will take place on 16 November. Some of the tools include the IdeaSpace portal, which engages employees in their search for inspiration and creation of ideas, and the InnoPOC Programme, which allows you to draw up to EUR 50,000 for ideas and technology verification by using the Proof of Concept (POC – simply put, testing the applicability of innovation in practice) method. The InnoToolbox programme has also been added (for more details, see ‘How to work effectively with an idea’ on the next page).

  Examples of tools:

  Innovative IdeaSpace portal, IMX, InnoDay, InnoToolBox, InnoPOC programme

  Idea Management – eZEBRA 2.0 (SP/2)

  It is responsible for managing employees’ suggestions for improvement. It assesses and approves ideas for improving the working environment, work safety, ergonomics and production flow, as well as suggestions for cost savings. It also rewards the authors of the ideas, either financially or in the form of material prizes (e.g. cars) in a raffle. In cooperation with expert departments, it organises targeted motivational events and campaigns that help to solve complex topics and bring new, innovative ideas. It also organises innovative breakfasts where interesting personalities present innovation topics and news from various fields and areas.

  Examples of activities:

  over 140,000 ideas implemented in 10 years, CZK 1.6 billion in savings, approximately 90 campaigns across the company, more than 70 innovative breakfasts since 2016

  SVP – ŠKODA Verbesserungsprozess
  (GGP + experts in each area)

  The SVP Experts help to improve processes and optimise activities in the indirect area through cooperation across the company. They promote tools that reduce costs but increase efficiency and productivity. They also support and implement digitisation projects and streamline cumbersome and costly processes. And they provide support to employees who are experts in specific processes and need help to improve them. SVP has a positive effect on customers and cooperation throughout ŠKODA AUTO.

  Some innovation examples: 

  accommodation reservation system – ŠKODA Ubytovny Booking, digitisation of inventory, simplification of approval workflows, e-Shifts, digitisation of mandatory courses in Production, digitisation of analysis of competing cars, RPA

  Company departments and processes

  KVP – Kontinuierlicher Verbesserungsprozess

  The Continuous Improvement Process seeks opportunities where small improvements eliminate waste and increase productivity in the direct area. The primary means is workshops of a specially assembled team, which are moderated by a technically trained employee. The motivation is the annual announcement of the best measure within the BEST KVP survey.

  The best KVP measures: 

  automatic cleaning of the roll when edging the side doors, prevention of collisions of robots and tailgates, monitoring non-conforming parts on the PXL2 press line and the distribution and shortening of the lower mandrel on the transfer fitting

  Technical Development Innovations (EB/1)

  It supports the development of product innovations that interest customers, as well as their implementation in ŠKODA cars. It includes the ININ Innovation Incubator, in which anyone from Technical Development can work on their idea with assistance from experts from various departments. The well-equipped workshops include 3D printers, among others, and they are very close to Česana. Members of the Incubator can also access training in innovation. Ideas, new functions and technologies that the carmaker is planning to gradually deploy in its cars are presented at the IVET Technical Development Innovation Fair, which takes place every autumn. 

  Innovation examples: 

  the illuminated Crystal Face grille on the ENYAQ or the illuminated seatbelt buckles

  Digitisation and Industry 4.0 in Production (PPD)

  It supports a wide range of innovative projects affecting the digitisation of production processes, the efficient use of production data, the introduction of new systems and technological solutions, including 3D plastic printing. It monitors and analyses the latest trends, helps colleagues from Production to implement their ideas and develop and deploy new digital and technological solutions. It also organises regular meetings between innovators in Production and Logistics.

  Innovation examples: 

  deployment of FIOT and dProduction projects, deployment of the DPP Group cloud platform, paperless production documentation, Power BI, AR/VR competence centre, 3D plastic printing in Production and Logistics

  ŠKODA AUTO DigiLab

  By seeking out innovations around the world and transferring them to ŠKODA AUTO, the DigiLab plays a special role in the carmaker’s innovation ecosystem. It is also responsible for the mobility strategy. In addition, it focuses on the digitisation and development of mobility services for customers. Thanks to an international network including Israel, China and India, it can search for and test hardware and software technologies in the areas of mobility, electromobility, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, HR and more. It operates the HoppyGo, BeRider and Uniqway services.

  Innovation examples: 

  Chakratec, a kinetic energy storage technology that enables fast charging, even in places where there is insufficient network power (pilot project with the Israeli startup Chakratec), and citymove, the first multimodal application to offer several modes of transport to users and at the same time allowing easy payment for parking in Prague’s blue zones

• Iinovations – InnoToolBox

  INNOVATIONs
  

  How to work effectively with an idea

  THE INNOTOOLBOX PROGRAMME HELPS EMPLOYEES TO PUSH ANY POTENTIAL INNOVATIONS FORWARD

  aving an interesting idea does not mean that it will result in a successful innovation. But employees can use a new programme that will provide them with the know-how to work with their idea and advise them on the methods and tools that can help them. ŠKODA AUTO was inspired by Kickbox, the programme that Adobe had developed and released for other companies. The InnoToolbox concept was adapted to the carmaker’s needs, as verified during a pilot operation at the beginning of the year that was attended by 30 employees across multiple departments. They learned to use specific techniques relevant to each innovation phase. Eleven of the participants in the pilot run went further with their idea to the phase of conducting experiments in order to verify the hypotheses on which their ideas were based. From the pilot run, for example, a manual for dealers on using WhatsApp to communicate with customers and a programme for micro-traineeships between Purchasing and Technical Development were successfully implemented. “According to feedback from the participants, we’ve updated the programme’s concept and will invite other participants from November 2020”, says Petr Holeček from InnoTeam and the GGS – Corporate Strategy and Innovation Management department. ED
  

  IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN ENGAGING IN INNOTOOLBOX OR WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT IT, PLEASE SEND YOUR QUERIES TO INOVACE@SKODA-AUTO.CZ

• Think digitally – VISPART

  Flawless assembly helper

  Screens inside the Kvasiny and Mladá Boleslav production facilities simplify work for employees

  he number of displays at ŠKODA AUTO plants has been rising for some time. The VISPART system is running on them and visualising parts, which makes it easier for employees to perform their tasks. It displays information about cars, numbers and sometimes photos of parts or even illustrated work instructions related to specific work on the car within a given cycle and operation.

  The latest VISPART system displays are being used in Mladá Boleslav in the MB I assembly, that is, on the second production line that will be completely covered. In addition to the MB I system, you will find this system in MB II and the new M18 Paint Shop, too. However, the system’s original home is Kvasiny. It is the ML2 assembly line that witnessed the VISPART system’s launch. It also helps in the K4 Paint Shop and on the ML1 hall assembly line. “The idea of visualising parts in production has become the cornerstone of the dProduction project – digitising the production line”, explains Miloslav Rutterle from PFS-P/41 – Production Management of Digitisation.  

  403

  The screens will be used at the Mladá Boleslav plant in 2021. Currently, most of them are in hall M13; others are in halls M18 and M1.

  152 

  displays will be in Kvasiny in the next year, where they are used by employees in halls ML1, ML2 and K4.

  How VISPART works

  Two monitors (left and right) are installed on each assembly line cycle to help workers to identify the parts to be assembled in a particular vehicle. Some parts may have dozens of variants and can easily be interchanged. VISPART helps to prevent such cases. The need for visualising parts is automatically calculated for each car every day. “To do the calculations, we also use the so-called technological parts list describing what the car consists of and during which cycle and operation the part is assembled”, explains Radek Najman from FIB/5 – IT Production Preparation. VISPART also uses the illustrated work instructions database of the DFView system, thanks to which it can provide these instructions if necessary. The system is currently using six types of screens, which simplifies the work of operators on the line. “We don’t show all the parts in a given cycle – only those where many variants are assembled or, conversely, those that are assembled less frequently. Always in agreement with the users”, Rutterle explains. Luděk Vokáč
  

  
  

  The future of this news

  VISPART can also be used at other workplaces. “We can show what is needed. And since we’re using an agile approach in developing the system, we can react quickly. We’re introducing something new every week”, is how Vojtěch Kozák from the FIB/5 – IT Production Preparation department outlines the development pace. Thus, VISPART will play an increasingly important role in ŠKODA AUTO plants. The system will be able to quickly react to the need to change a part in production, for example, due to a supplier failure. We also count on it in the event of a robot outage or shutdown in the Paint Shop, and for it to be more widely deployed in the old Paint Shop in Mladá Boleslav.

  How is it different from mVIS?
  

  VISPART creates comprehensible information from source data and complex calculations, which prevents errors and guides workers in a simple way (without the need to interact with the visualisation) during the assembly. mVIS is a unified visual system that converts various data and information into a modular form. It also offers user interaction or management and the distribution of multimedia content. Both visualisation systems can complement each other appropriately.

• Think digitally – contactless card payment

  For cashless food

  ŠKODA AUTO will introduce contactless card payment in all restaurants

  his novelty increases visitor comfort at Aramark catering facilities while simultaneously increasing safety as part of the measures to combat COVID-19. “Card payments will be appreciated not only by external guests, who will no longer have to think about having enough cash with them, but also by others. Contactless payment also speeds up the payments at the cash desk”, emphasises Martina Krejčová from the SPP/4 – Social Services department. Card payments are already accepted at the Česana restaurants – Construction Centre, Academy, 3rd Gate, Akuma, Kvasiny and Vrchlabí. By the end of the year, more will be added in all car facilities. Cash desks with a card terminal will be specially labelled. You will be able to pay any amount as there is no minimum limit. In order to pay, you will only need regular payment cards, including contact ones, or phones and other devices with certified apps like Apple Pay and Google Pay. By contrast, you cannot pay with meal voucher cards. As is the case with cash payments, an employee subsidy cannot be applied when paying by card. Consequently, the rule that internal employees pay for meals with their MFA card will remain unchanged.

  restaurants in Mladá Boleslav, Kvasiny and Vrchlabí will get payment terminals by the end of the year

  By the end of the year, more will be added in all car facilities. Cash desks with a card terminal will be specially labelled. You will be able to pay any amount as there is no minimum limit. In order to pay, you will only need regular payment cards, including contact ones, or phones and other devices with certified apps like Apple Pay and Google Pay. By contrast, you cannot pay with meal voucher cards. As is the case with cash payments, an employee subsidy cannot be applied when paying by card. Consequently, the rule that internal employees pay for meals with their MFA card will remain unchanged. RED
  

• Think digitally – dCocpit

  Components Production Dashboard

  The tool called dCockpit enables you to monitor the fulfilment of intermediate targets in Production, as well as staffing and productivity, in real time 

  he carmaker has deployed the innovation as one of the SVP (ŠKODA Verbesserungsprozess) projects in the PK – Component Production department. dCockpit is used to display the reporting of the widely used Power BI. It automatically, clearly and neatly summarises essential information and statistics from sections of Production. Logistics and Component Production Quality are also gradually being added. 

  The tool

  increases

  the efficiency

  of production

  meetings – for

  example, the

  time needed to

  go through the

  status of each

  line is reduced

  by up to a third.

  The tool is used by supervisors at all levels (including foremen) during meetings, among others. In addition to the general overview of whether an indicator is being met or not, it is also possible to display a more detailed look of the partial indicators of each production section. Another thing dCockpit can do is to filter time slots. “The fact that this is a standardised report is a major advantage. It looks similar in all departments, and everyone has the same source of information. Paper is saved as well, as we don’t have to print all kinds of documents and so on”, explains Pavel Vorlík from PKM – EA 211 Engines.

  The key indicators that dCockpit displays include the number of pieces produced per shift, the number of employees, their productivity, the overall efficiency of the equipment and the number of accidents recorded. “Of course, you can access dCockpit from a desktop, but you can also display it on mobile devices like any other Power BI reports. It can be easily published in MS Teams and shared freely there with your co-workers. We are currently working on connecting the source data from the primary systems for the Power BI report to automate the work as much as possible”, says Vorlík.  Štěpán Vorlíček
  

• Together4Integrity – Diversity

  Together4integrity

  Diversity pays off

  An interactive training that will teach you how to deal with unconscious biases

  o you think introverts hate people or assume that all people with glasses are smart? Then you are most likely subject to unconscious biases, which, unfortunately, are a natural part of life. No one can avoid them. Among others, they include preferences based on appearance, similarity and character traits, as well as attitudes towards authorities. As work with biases is important in team communication, the new training, which has been taking place at ŠKODA AUTO since August, helps all direct superiors. The company’s Board of Directors previously completed it, and now it is the turn of executives from administrative areas. Foremen will jump on this train by the end of this year. Because of the epidemiological situation, the carmaker has converted the training concept into an online one.

  What awaits you?

  In addition to learning which forms of bias you may encounter, you will do some interactive exercises and find suitable solutions to eliminate prejudices. You will also become acquainted with nudge management, which is a system of encouragement that helps you to work with biases and focuses on individual members, as well as the team as a whole. It helps to resolve unconscious biases and erroneous first impressions. However, the training also offers hints and aids for deepening diversity. In the course of the training, you can try to respond to problematic situations at work. You will also get several tips on how to deal with them. On top of that, the training deepens internal company relationships as it brings together employees from various departments.  Eva Jarošová
  

  This issue of ŠKODA Mobil also includes the Diversity Report, which can be found online at www.skodamobil.cz

  Parents, welcome back on board

  They understand the corporate environment, have many skills, are able to perform several activities simultaneously and act as a stabilising element within a team. The carmaker has already invested in their development. Employees returning from parental leave are an important part of ŠKODA AUTO, and their return is facilitated by several activities that contribute to promoting diversity and inclusion. “For us, diversity in HR means striving for employees to make the most out of their potential. In practice, we’re talking about balancing out the starting position”, explains Jan Kotík, a specialist from the SB/5 – Transformation and HR 4.0 department. In September, the first pilot online broadcast for parents on maternity and parental leave was organised by Human Resources Management and was also attended by Chairman of the Board Thomas Schäfer. He expressed his support for returning parents and called diversity one of the key topics for the further development of society. The aim of the webinar was to inform parents about current events in the car company, describe the re-onboarding process, present the current and latest benefits and answer parents’ most frequently asked questions. Thanks to the positive feedback, a second webinar will be held before the end of the year. 

  The webinar is available in the Media Library on ŠKODA Space

  Diversity Day

  In October, the online Diversity Day conference took place, where ŠKODA AUTO representatives Jana Šrámová, head of SB – Operational HR Care, Digitisation and HR 4.0, and Bohdan Wojnar, Board Member for Human Resources Management, also had a presentation. Several experts and representatives from various companies spoke at the conference about how they manage to apply the principles of diversity in practice. The participants also learned how to implement and support diversity strategies in the Czech environment. ŠKODA AUTO is a Golden Signatory to the Diversity Charter and publicly declares its adherence to its principles. ED

  Záznam konference najdete na www.skodamobil.cz

  Fifth Open Talk

  On 8 October, the ŠKODA Academy organised a live broadcast of the fifth OPEN TALK round. Among others, Klaus-Dieter Schürmann, Board Member for Finance and IT, and Karsten Schnake, Board Member for Purchasing, along with Adriana Pavlíková, head of GGP – Process and Organisational Management, and Klaus Blüm, head of FI – Information Technology, took part in the talk. Registered participants also had the opportunity to have an online discussion about topics related to the Volkswagen Group’s Sixth Principle, “We keep our word”. ED

  The video from the event is available on ŠKODA Space

• Together4Integrity - Interview

  Together4integrity

  Restart of the T4I programme

  Interview with Helena Machková, head of GO – Governance, Risk & Compliance

  The first time ŠKODA AUTO employees got in touch with the Together4Integrity (T4I) group programme was in February 2019. Is this topic still a current one?

  Since July 2019, the programme’s activities have been partially dampened by the ongoing monitor certification testing. At this point, however, they are running again.

  Have you noticed any specific changes after almost two years since this programme’s launch?

  The carmaker has introduced a number of new processes, systems, concepts and measures. I believe that employees are much more sensitive to issues related to compliance, integrity and corporate culture. They are also more aware of how important these issues are for their daily work.

  How are subsidiaries involved in the T4I programme?

  They continued to implement the relevant measures within the programme even during our testing, and our GO department, together with the other relevant departments, actively provided support. There are currently three companies, namely ŠKODA AUTO Slovensko, ŠKODA AUTO Deutschland and ŠKODA AUTO Volkswagen India Private Limited. In 2021, the number will rise significantly as we are planning to introduce the programme in other subsidiaries and entrusted companies as well.

  What are the next steps awaiting us?

  In the coming months, we intend to continue implementing and verifying the remaining measures, activities and initiatives that were not concluded during testing for the monitor certification. When the current coronavirus situation relaxes, we expect to repeat the perception workshop, which took place for the first time when the T4I programme was introduced. We will find out how employees perceive the environment and culture in the car company. It will be intended not only for colleagues who took part in it last year but also for others. They will have the opportunity to comment on the situation at ŠKODA AUTO and share their views and experiences with other participants. ED

  The T4I programme

  It includes the implementation of more than 100 activities, initiatives and measures in ŠKODA AUTO areas, such as integrity, compliance, risk management, legal affairs, HR, environmental protection, product compliance, purchasing, sales etc. This programme develops corporate culture to strengthen confidence in the VW Group and its brands. It is currently taking place in more than 200 Group companies.

  The programme is composed of five principles, which represent the colours of the logo in the footer of the page and are based on the Ethical and Compliance initiative. It is about strategy, integrity culture, risk management and an environment supporting open communication and acceptance of responsibility.

• The Stories of Integrity

  The Stories of Integrity

  Responsibly and wisely

  The fight for her son’s life brought Alena Seoud to work at the Hospital Clowns charity

  KODA AUTO was there at the start of the Hospital Clowns’ activities in the Czech Republic and has been supporting it regularly since then. This charity helps children and pensioners go through the treatment process with a smile. Alena Seoud, the fundraising and marketing director, joined in 2016, and working in the non-profit sector has relaxed her. Prior to that, she had to think about how she would react if someone insisted on her behaving unethically. “I’m not afraid to go against the flow, even though I know it can be painful. I fight like a lion that, despite its injuries, remains strong enough and always pulls through”, she says. And how does she perceive integrity? “I’m fond of the philosophy – don’t make others do what you don’t like”, she adds. However, she acknowledges that because of this, you sometimes have to leave your comfort zone. She also considers this to be part of her responsibility. “Sometimes we just don’t accept a gift or run an activity, even though it would mean interesting funding. As soon as something is not in line with our fundraising code, nothing happens”, she explains. For Alena, it is important that people perform their tasks responsibly, not blindly, and do so with reason and without emotions, fear, reproach or frustration. “Every day, tired parents are writing to us that finally, after many weeks, their child has started smiling after they were visited by a Hospital Clown or that they were not worried about the surgery”, she adds. Considering what families have to go through before and after a difficult surgery, the Hospital Clowns organisation’s activities make a lot of sense. “I’m glad that we’re doing work that turns pain and crying into tears of laughter and joy”, says Alena. Helena Fričová

  Taking a sick and frightened child, along with their parents, to a completely different galaxy of laughter can create pure joy.
  

• Motorsport

  motorsport
  

  How a rally star is born

  ŠKODA Motorsport not only provides support to customer teams but is also dedicated to developing talent, with 19-year-old Oliver Solberg taking the lead

  orking with talented young drivers has always been important for the MB racing team. This year, however, when sporting ambitions in the overall rankings of the World Cham-pionship have given way to other priorities, it is more important than ever. The proof is the cooperation with Sweden’s Oliver Solberg, who has already shown great talent and gained quite a lot of experience despite his young age. It is in his DNA: His father, Petter, was the World Rally champion in 2003, and his mother, Pernilla Walfridsson, used to be a successful racer, too. At the age of 18, Oliver became the youngest winner of a Europe-an Championship event, Rally Liepaja in Latvia. 

  “This cooperation is mainly based on the private team’s technical support. So, Oliver isn’t a factory driver like Kalle Rovanperä was. He participates in selected competitions of the WRC3 in a FABIA Rally2 evo that is serviced by ŠKODA Motorsport mechanics and tech-nicians. As part of this cooperation, he took part in two events this year: Rally Sweden and Rally Italia Sardegna. In both, he competed for points in the category intended for private drivers”, describes David Jareš, ŠKODA Motorsport’s commercial programme coor-dinator.

  Not everything takes place on a race track, however, as cooperation plays an important role backstage, too. Solberg participates in factory team tests. Their goals tend to be dif-ferent: testing individual components and their service life or simulating the technical knowledge of customer teams, which is of great importance to the team. “Oliver has a lot of experience for his age and can already put enough strain on the car during testing so we can get all the data we need”, says Pavel Hortek, Team ŠKODA Motorsport manager, in praise of Solberg. Each kilometre clocked is also extremely useful for the young driver in terms of his competitive career. Štěpán Vorlíček
  

  It’s primarily about the experience that you constantly gain, whether you write the schedule or participate in new rallies or when you’re doing the testing.

  Oliver Solberg 

  WRC3 driver

  Achievements of ŠKODA cars

  Rally Turkey

  18–19 September

  On a challenging track full of sharp stones and facing hot weather, the ŠKODA cars, which have a reputation of being fit for extreme conditions, coped perfectly. The WRC2 category was dominated by Sweden’s Pontus Tidemand, while Kajetan Kajetanowicz reigned supreme in the WRC3. A total of six crews set off with the Czech specials, mak-ing ŠKODA the most represented brand in the Rally2 group.

  
  

  Invelt Rally Pačejov

  27–28 September

  The race in southwestern Bohemia had its premiere in the domestic championship this year. Besides the factory team, it also attracted two dealer teams and a number of cus-tomer teams not only from the Czech Republic but also from Germany, Austria and Slo-vakia. Challenging tracks in rainy weather offered another exciting struggle for the podi-um, where the ŠKODA Motorsport crew of Jan Kopecký and Jan Hloušek celebrated vic-tory. They are only seven points behind the first crew, Václav Pech / Petr Uhel. The over-all winner was to be decided by the Rally Klatovy at the beginning of November, but the organizers did not obtain an exemption from anti-epidemiological measures and canceled the event at the last minute. The decision to award the championship title will thus be made at the green table.

  
  

  Rally Italia Sardegna

  9–11 October

  Because of the pandemic, the rally took place at a later date in October. Even then, it served up sunny weather on its difficult gravel tracks. Tidemand took advantage of this in the WRC2, where he and his FABIA Rally2 evo managed to win. Oliver Solberg then fought for first place in the WRC3 category; however, after the unfortunate end of the second day, he finished sixth. Yet, Kajetanowicz with the Czech car took second place in the class, missing a win by mere seconds. Also in Sardinia, ŠKODA was the most fre-quently represented brand in the Rally2 group, with 15 crews setting off to start with the brand’s cars.

• Škodováci – fotogalerie

  Dušan Šťástek alias Erik Forrkuss věnuje svůj volný čas vymýšlení a tréninku nových kouzel a iluzí.

  Začínal jako samouk.

  Při kouzlení je důležitá šikovnost rukou.

  Levitaci obvykle provádějí kouzelníci s asistentkou, Dušan ji zvládne i s výběrem dítěte z publika.

  Dušan dělá často představení pro školy, školky a dětské tábory.

• Technologie – fotogalerie

  Tým z oddělení EDI – Design interiéru, Colour and Trim, který stojí za novým volantem. Zleva Peter Olah, Norbert Weber a Marwan Khiat.

  Premiéru zažila novinka loni na podzim v modelu OCTAVIA čtvrté generace.

  U sportovních variant vozů, jako je například OCTAVIA RS, má volant i třetí rameno. Při dynamičtější jízdě tak může mít řidič po hmatu ještě lepší přehled o úhlu jeho natočení.

• Srdcovka – fotogalerie

  Jedna z podzimních akcí neziskovky Černí koně pro hendijkepované děti a jejich rodiny.

  Jedna z podzimních akcí neziskovky Černí koně pro hendijkepované děti a jejich rodiny.

  Jedna z podzimních akcí neziskovky Černí koně pro hendijkepované děti a jejich rodiny.

  Jedna z podzimních akcí neziskovky Černí koně pro hendijkepované děti a jejich rodiny.

  Jedna z podzimních akcí neziskovky Černí koně pro hendijkepované děti a jejich rodiny.

• Nadační fond ŠKODA AUTO – fotogalerie

  Nadační fond ŠKODA AUTO podpořil přeměnu historického areálu Pluhárna v kulturní centrum.

  Prostor tak přivítal lokální verzi světového festivalu kutilů a vynálezců Maker Fair.

  Poprvé se akce konala loni, letos se ji podařilo zopakovat.

  Lokalita si získala přezdívku „Malý Berlín”, v německém hlavním městě jsou takto oživené industriální prostory velmi oblíbené.

  Místo slouží také koncertům, zahrála si tam například tribute kapela Czech Floyd.

  Nadační fond podporuje i další komunální aktivity – například Kamion zdraví.

• Umělá inteligence – OPTIKON – fotogalerie

  Brand Logistics have been using OPTIKON since November 2019.

  OPTIKON uses technologies based on artificial intelligence.

  The program uses methods of mathematical combinatorial analysis to find various solutions.

• Čína – fotogalerie

  Visitors of Auto China could see the modernized KAROQ model in a unique gold color just for this occasion.

  
  

  Other ŠKODA cars were also on display. 

  In China, the brand offers five SUVs and SUPERB, OCTAVIA and RAPID cars.

  The stand of the Czech carmaker attracted visitors' attention.

  Before the car show, the carmaker organized a design workshop for journalists
  called Inheritance and Innovation.

  
  

  The workshop participants learned details about the principles and inspirations
  of ŠKODA design and saw where it can develop further.

• Okem zrcadlovky – fotogalerie

  Lofoty, Norsko

  Zima na Radouči, Česká republika

  Lillehammer, Norsko

  Hrad Tarasp, Švýcarsko

  Rondane, Norsko

  Sysel na Radouči, Česká republika

• 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

• Umělá inteligence – Sound Analyser – fotogalerie

  Sound Analyzer relies on artificial intelligence.

  Using a technically very complex program is completely intuitive.

  Sound Analyzer facilitates precise diagnostics for service technicians.

  
  

  The technical basis of the Sound Analyzer application is a neural network algorithm.

  
  

• Výroba komponentů – fotogalerie

  Picking the cooling nozzles into the mounting jig.

  Clamping mechanism for cooling nozzle

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