Skoda produced the 11 millionth vehicle on March 19 at its main factory in Mladá Boleslav, Czech Republic, where six models are currently being assembled: the Octavia, Octavia Combi, Fabia, Fabia Combi, Rapid and Rapid Spaceback.
“The eleven million vehicles produced demonstrates the strength and importance of both the plant and the company. More than 50 percent of all Skoda cars built to date have left the production lines in Mladá Boleslav, of which one million were produced in the last two years alone,” said Michael Oeljeklaus, Skoda Board member for Production.
Almost 10,000 employees work in the plant that has been modernized and expanded in recent years. The production capacity of line 1 was increased from 800 to 1,200 vehicles a day, with other upgrades including a new body shop and a fully-automated paint shop for body interiors. In addition, a new press line was built.
Besides the main plant, Skoda has two other production sites in the Czech Republic, Kvasiny and Vrchlabí. The Yeti, Superb and Roomster are built in Kvasiny, with the Vrchlabí plant currently producing the DQ200 double-clutch gearbox for the Volkswagen Group.
Skoda has three more manufacturing sites in China (Anting, Yizheng and Ningbo), where it plans to start production of the new Octavia by mid-2014. Skoda vehicles are also produced in Russia in Nizhny Novgorod and Kaluga. The assembly of the Skoda Rapid for the Russian market began in Kaluga a few weeks ago.
By Dan Mihalascu
Milestones in Skoda Auto’s production:
– 19 March 2014: 11 millionth Skoda vehicle at the Mladá Boleslav plant
– 26 August 2013: 4 millionth Skoda Octavia
– 9 July 2013: 1 millionth Skoda vehicle in China since 2007
– 5 February 2013: 15 millionth Skoda vehicle since 1905
– 30 January 2012: 14 millionth Skoda vehicle since 1905
– 12 October 2011: 10 millionth Skoda vehicle at the Mladá Boleslav plant
– 8 April 2009: 12 millionth Skoda vehicle since 1905
– 13 July 2006: 10 millionth Skoda vehicle since 1905
– 1991: 5 millionth Skoda vehicle since 1905
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