Škoda's crash test centre in Úhelnice is a state-of-the-art facility that embodies the brand's long-standing focus on vehicle safety. The laboratory hosts a wide range of tests and advanced equipment used to evaluate and improve passenger protection.
Equipped with powerful propulsion and lighting systems and more than 20 high-speed cameras, the centre supports frontal, side and rear impacts and meets Euro NCAP and other stringent global standards.
Skoda began crash testing in the late 1960s and ran initial tests at Ruzyně airport in 1972. The program expanded with a dedicated safety laboratory in Letňany in 1975 and a purpose-built centre in Úhelnice in 1996.
Since taking full ownership in 2011, Skoda has modernized and expanded the site. The nearly 200-metre-long lab supports a wide range of collision scenarios and advanced data capture.
The lab's 600 kW propulsion system can accelerate two cars to 65 km/h or one car to 120 km/h for impact tests. A 250 kW lighting system and over 20 high-speed cameras record each event in detail for analysis.
Tucked away in Úhelnice, close to Skoda’s Mladá Boleslav automotive production hub, is a state-of-the-art facility where safety is tested to the limit. It’s the Skoda crash test centre, a testament to the Czech carmaker’s unwavering commitment to providing its customers with the safest cars possible.
FROM AIRPORT TO “SAFETY LABORATORY”
The journey of the Skoda crash test centre is a story of constant progress. In 1972, amid major changes in vehicle inspection requirements, the first crash tests were carried out at Ruzyně airport near Prague, using a Skoda 100. By 1975, a dedicated safety laboratory was established at the Avia complex in Letňany. In 1996, a crash test center was built on Skoda's premises in Úhelnice, opening a new chapter for the company's crash testing activities. In 2011, Skoda took full ownership of the facility and invested heavily in its modernization and expansion.
INSIDE THE “SAFETY LABORATORY”
Step inside Skoda's crash test center and you'll be struck by its size and modernity. The lab is nearly 200 meters long, allowing for a wide range of crash tests, from frontal, side and rear impacts to collisions between two cars. The “heart” of the lab is a 600 kW propulsion system, capable of accelerating two cars to 65 km/h or one car to 120 km/h before impact. A 250 kW lighting system with a light intensity of up to 120 kilolux ensures that every moment of impact is recorded in the most detailed way by more than 20 high-speed cameras.
Data collected from on-board sensors and test dummies is thoroughly analyzed to assess vehicle safety. The lab meets Euro NCAP testing requirements and also complies with more stringent standards used by other global safety organizations.
CONSTANT IMPROVEMENT
In 2020, Skoda's crash test center was named “Crash Test Center of the Year” by the Automotive Testing Technology International Forum, confirming its leading position in vehicle safety testing. The company has continued to invest in research and development of new safety technologies to further raise the bar for occupant protection.
THE ESSENCE OF SAFETY
Skoda’s crash test centre in the Czech Republic is more than a testing ground; it is a hub for continuous improvement that helps the company design safer cars and protect drivers and passengers on every journey.