One reason for Skoda’s success is the myriad of innovations the company has undergone at various levels over its 128-year history. Let’s take a look at some of those truly core changes.
1895 From repairing bicycles to making them
Locksmith Václav Laurin and bookseller Václav Klement, three years younger, were united by their passion for cycling and the desire to produce their own bicycle, made from the best available materials, high quality, durable but affordable. They started before Christmas 1895 in a small repair shop in Mladá Boleslav with five employees. Just a year later, they were offering five Slavia bicycle models, produced by 21 employees. But that was just the beginning of countless new models and services for customers to come.
1899 From bicycles to motorcycles
The two founders soon had a desire to have a wider range of bicycle models for different customers, from children's and women's models to tandems, bicycles with chain or shaft drives, and even tricycles for transporting goods. In 1899, they replaced the electric pedals with a compact gasoline engine. After careful testing, the talented engineer Laurin became the first in the world to find the ideal location of the power unit at the bottom of the frame. From the beginning, customers could choose between two designs that offered an output of 0.9 kW or 1.3 kW.
1905 From two wheels to four wheels
During the heyday of the Laurin & Klement motoring era, the builders initiated another revolutionary change, their own automobile. The new lightweight but fast car, called the L&K Voiturette A, was equipped with a two-cylinder, one-liter engine that could reach a top speed of 40 km/h. Like its motorcycle siblings, it sold well at home and abroad. Soon the company’s builders were designing luxurious four- and eight-cylinder engines, and the L&K cars enjoyed one success after another, both in sales and racing victories. The brand became the largest engine manufacturer in the Austro-Hungarian Empire.
1925 Under the new name Skoda
After two decades of expansion the company was shaken by World War I and the collapse of traditional markets. Production was also disrupted by fire. These factors led to a strategic partnership with the large Škoda works in Pilsen. A mutually beneficial relationship was formed, and the winged arrow in the logo came to symbolise speed and continuous innovation.
1929 Chuyển sang dây chuyền sản xuất hàng loạt
From 1927 to 1929 the foundations of efficient assembly lines were set, benefiting from standardisation and specialization. The most modern production line in Czechoslovakia, inspired by the United States, began operation just before the Wall Street crash and helped the company avoid the collapse that affected many competitors.
1934 Sử dụng khung xe hoàn toàn mới
Comprehensive modernisation of production technology led to a new generation of cars built on a central backbone chassis, reducing weight, lowering fuel consumption and improving handling. Models such as Popula, Rapid, Favorit and Superb used this design and introduced independent suspension as standard even on cheaper models.
1945 Từ sở hữu tư nhân đến công ty nhà nước
After the war the works became nationalised and from 1 January 1946 the company was officially named AZNP (Automobilové závody národní podnik). Major investment, production, pricing and strategic decisions were made by the state.
1952 Từ những vật liệu gỗ đến cấu trúc hoàn toàn bằng kim loại
In 1952 Skoda replaced load-bearing wooden structures with all-metal welded bodies made from stamped panels, first used on the Skoda 1200. The body design also changed to an outer monocoque with integrated wings and a roomier interior, enabling further vehicle developments.
1964: Chuyển động cơ từ phía trước ra phía sau
A new part of the Mladá Boleslav plant opened in March 1964 with modern technology that increased annual output from about 40,000 cars to 100,000 and more. Product design changed to rear-mounted engines driving the rear wheels, freeing frontal luggage space and improving drive on snow; the Skoda 1000 MB was an example. Rear-engine layouts remained in production until 1990.
1987 Một concept thiết kế hoàn toàn mới
The 1987 Favorit was a revolutionary new design with a modern layout, front-mounted engine and front-wheel drive, enabling a wider range of body styles and engines. It was developed with input from partners including Porsche and Bertone.
1991 : Hợp tác với Volkswagen
The fall of the Iron Curtain led to privatization. The best bid and strategic partner came from Volkswagen, signed on 16 April 1991. Over the following nine years Volkswagen acquired 100% of the company and Skoda's production grew more than 2.5 times compared to the pre-privatisation era.
2009 Kỷ nguyên SUVs
Skoda responded to rising demand for SUVs with the successful Yeti in spring 2009, followed by Kodiaq (2016), Karoq (2017) and Kamiq (2018), drawing on experience dating back to projects such as the Trekka in 1966.
2016 Từ công nghệ Analog đến chuyển đổi số
Skoda accelerated digital transformation across the business with initiatives under Skoda AUTO DigiLabs in Prague, Beijing, Tel Aviv and Pune, partnering with startups and developing services and sharing platforms such as Citymove, HoppyGo and BeRider, moving beyond manufacturing toward mobility services.
2019 Từ động cơ đốt trong đến xe hybrid cắm điện và xe điện
Skoda entered the eMobility era in 2019 with the SUPERB iV and CITIGOe iV and continued with the plug-in hybrid Octavia (world premiere November 2019). The fully electric ENYAQ on the Volkswagen Group MEB platform arrived in 2020. More than ten electric Skoda models were introduced between 2019 and the end of 2022. Under the iV sub-brand Skoda developed an ecosystem for customers, including tools to find chargers, a home wall box and the Skoda eCharge Card for public charging.