Breakfast discussions with managers in Prague
The traditional Early Bird Breakfast at the end of 2025 was held at a new venue, AFI City in Prague. At the informal meeting, Klaus Zellmer, Škoda Auto CEO; Thomas Schäfer, Chairman of the Board of Volkswagen Passenger Cars and VW Group Board Member for Brand Group Core; and Jaroslav Povšík, Chairman of the KOVO Trade Union, discussed a range of current topics with managers.
5
The Octavia is the number one car in five European markets..
News
Octavia Number One Million has a Czech Owner
Just before Christmas, the ceremonial handover of the one millionth Škoda Octavia fourth generation took place. Martin Čepelík collected it from the showroom of Prague authorised dealer Auto Jarov, choosing the Octavia RS specification in Velvet Red metallic with RS Lounge interior. The car was handed over to the customer by dealer Jakub Krejčí together with Jiří Maláček, Head of Sales and Marketing for the Czech Republic. “The Octavia has been one of Škoda’s symbols for decades and its success is inseparably linked with Czech customers. The fact that the milestone one millionth fourth‑generation Octavia was handed over right here in the Czech Republic clearly confirms how popular this model is in the home market and the trust our customers have shown us over the years,” said J. Maláček. Škoda Auto launched the modern Octavia model in 1996 and since then has produced 7.6 million units across four generations. Over 640,000 of them have gone to the Czech market.
The World of Škoda Auto
Digital waybills introduced
Thanks to the TransFollow platform, you no longer have to track down colleagues to get them to sign a paper waybill. This new feature allows you to create a document online, approve and sign it electronically, share it immediately and archive it securely. This saves time and reduces the number of errors. The key is to involve all parties, from the internal team to the carrier to the customer, and to harmonise the necessary processes. The rollout of digital consignment notes is supported by the Product Owner of the TransFollow application, Jitka Mazalová Dvorská from the PLT/3 – FBU and xKD Transport Planning team.
L&K Award for Quality Control Design
Škoda Auto recognised the best student projects and selected nine finalists from 40 entries. The Laurin & Klement Award, which aims to support technical education and career development for young people, was won by Adam Kleprlík from the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering at the Czech Technical University in Prague. He wrote his thesis on “Design of a System for Tempering Parts as Part of Dimensional Quality Control” in the GQ – Quality Management department and received a prize of CZK 80,000.
Partnership for parts production
Manufacturers of pressed and welded components Promet Group Czech Republic and SKH, based in India, have established a joint venture. The goal is to start production in the Czech Republic of specific parts for the automotive industry, with the VW Group as a key partner. Components from Tawesco, which forms part of the Promet Group, are already being installed in Škoda cars in Europe, and components from SKH are installed in Pune, India. Miroslav Heršálek, Head of BM – Metal Purchasing, was behind the idea of the joint venture. Karsten Schnake, Škoda Auto Board Member for Procurement, also attended the ceremonial signing of the founding documents.
Display suppliers present their operations
Digital displays have become an essential part of cars. To refine and improve the way these components are priced, colleagues from the BZW – Value Engineering and BC – Purchasing Connectivity/Electrics departments headed to China in late October and early November. In six cities, they visited suppliers of display modules and their subcontractors who provide metal frames, displays and cover glass. They inspected the production facilities and mapped the processes in detail. They also exchanged their knowledge of the Chinese market with colleagues from VW China.
The new publication Škoda – Propagace v zahraničí (Škoda – Promotion Abroad) traces how the Mladá Boleslav brand has evolved over the past eight decades through period leaflets, posters and other materials. It was launched by Martin Jahn, Board Member for Sales and Marketing, together with its author, Martin Kupec.
ŠAVŠ employees spread holiday cheer
Before Christmas, employees of Škoda Auto University College, for whom this is already a traditional event, brought joy to residents of the Mladá Boleslav Retirement Home and children with disabilities from the Mladá Boleslav Elementary School with gifts. The gifts were presented by the university administrator Martina Zimmermann together with Renata Holubová from the Marketing Communications department and Martin Svoboda, owner of the university hockey team. The university has been cooperating with both institutions for a long time and also supported them last year during the Giving Tuesday event.
Breakfast discussion with managers in Prague
The traditional Early Bird Breakfast event was held at a new venue this time, and instead of the Škoda Museum in Mladá Boleslav, it took place at AFI City in Prague on 5 December. At the informal meeting, Klaus Zellmer, Škoda Auto CEO; Thomas Schäfer, CEO of Volkswagen Passenger Cars and Member of the VW Group Board responsible for Brand Group Core; and Jaroslav Povšík, Chairman of the KOVO Trade Union, discussed key topics with managers. Topics included the possible impacts of lifting the ban on combustion engines after 2035, as well as other opportunities arising from cooperation within the Brand Group Core.
Free parking in Prague for electric cars has ended. From 1 January, parking in zones will be charged for all vehicles.
Discount is available for short‑term and long‑term parking of zero‑emission vehicles. Vehicles must be registered.
You can find the registration procedure and parking billing for business trips at Škoda Space.
New ProDigi HUB corner will boost digital and AI skills
A new space for discovering digital technologies called ProDigi HUB is opening in hall M18 in January. Any interested employee will be able to try out tools that are already changing production and the way we work today – from artificial intelligence and 3D printing to vision systems. At the same time, it will be a space for collaboration, creating new ideas and innovations that will be put into practice. A wide range of software will be available for AI, automation, data analysis and CAD/3D tools for faster prototyping and testing. The corner is located in the M18 paint shop and employees can visit it even without any previous experience with the technologies. Trained staff will be on hand to explain everything. Advanced enthusiasts will also find a place here to develop their skills and innovative ideas.
New look for Škoda Mobil stands
You can now find your employee newspaper in newly branded stands. Last year, we reduced the number of copies of Škoda Mobil in order to save paper and other costs. We have therefore adjusted the number of stands and their locations so that the newspaper can effectively reach everyone who wants to read it in paper form. You can find an overview of distribution points on Škoda Space. The complete content of Škoda Mobil and other interesting information is also available in electronic form.