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How the Škoda Brand Became a Powerhouse
1905–2025 As it celebrates its 130th anniversary, the Czech car manufacturer has produced more than 28 million vehicles since 1905. What factors have influenced this increase in production over the years?
Car production in Mladá Boleslav began in 1905, but the L&K brand also produced motorcycles and tricycles until 1911. The carmaker reached the milestone of 1 million vehicles produced in the 1970s. The company has been tracking its production milestones more accurately since its merger with the VW Group in 1991. Even so, we can trace its production successes and failures, influenced, for example, by the economic crisis, world wars and production set by the central economic policy of the communist regime. It is striking that the company only began to genuinely prosper after its merger with the VW Group. During this period, it has produced more than five times as many cars as in the previous 96 years. This is demonstrated by the Production Milestones graph, in which we used the figures given in the Škoda Auto Chronicle as the source for the number of cars produced up to 1991. For milestones from 1991 to 2025, we used an internal production overview, which lists the number of Škoda cars produced worldwide.
The total number of Škoda cars produced increased fivefold after the merger with the VW Group.
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Laurin & Klement started in 1895 as a workshop for repairing and assembling bicycles. It was a small business and the workshop was very modest, equipped with only a few basic machines.
1905
L&K presented its first Voiturette A car, with a total of two models produced that year. Production was predominantly handcrafted, and the number of units produced therefore ranged in the hundreds at most. During these years, the company also built several production halls, which currently house the Škoda Museum.
1,000
L&K reached the milestone of 1,000 cars produced just two years after starting car production.
1910
The company established itself as a car manufacturer as its motorcycle production gradually declined. It already offered several models of passenger and commercial vehicles, making it one of the leading manufacturers of vehicles in Austria-Hungary. The plant in Mladá Boleslav was expanded with new halls, paint shops and mechanical workshops, and L&K became one of the largest factories in Bohemia.
5,000
In 1918, the company recorded 5,000 cars manufactured since 1905.
1925–1929
The merger with Škoda Works strengthened L&K’s position. The strong new strategic partner launched a generous investment programme: the transfer of cutting-edge technologies, including the introduction of assembly line production and an expanded model lineup. As a result, the company was already approaching the threshold of 1,000 cars produced annually by 1926.
The 1930s
The modernisation of the plant was linked to the introduction of the landmark Popular, Rapid, Superb and Favorit models, thus moving away from traditional “craft” production. New assembly halls with conveyor lines, a press shop with modern presses for car body production and a body shop designed for the efficient production of steel frame structures were built.
1939–1945
Production was limited to trucks, military specials, and engines and components for military use. In 1945, the Mladá Boleslav plant was damaged by bombing.
1945–1949
After the war, the halls and electrical networks were rapidly restored and the press shop and welding shop were modernised. The Škoda 1101 Tudor model was responsible for the resumption of production. The plant was also nationalised and renamed AZNP. In addition, the plants in Kvasiny and Vrchlabí were incorporated into its structure. All this was done to start production according to a centrally controlled planned economy, which after 1948 was determined by five-year plans.
1960–1964
A section of the main production plant was built next to the older factory halls intended for the production of the Škoda 1000 MB. The new car (monocoque body, rear engine) required completely different production technologies and lines, so a modern, world‑class production section was built. Modern technologies for mass production were introduced at the plant, including aluminium die casting, modern press shops, assembly lines and automated workstations.
1,000,000
In just nine years, in 1973, the carmaker produced its 1 millionth rear-engine car.
The 1980s
Significant changes in production took place in connection with the preparation of a Western-style car, the Favorit model. To produce it, the car manufacturer had to completely overhaul its production facilities in Mladá Boleslav and Kvasiny. New pressing and welding shops were built, in which presses and robots from the West were installed. A modern body shop was built, and the assembly lines were modernised, introducing belt production with conveyors and inspection stations. A new paint shop with cataphoretic corrosion protection contributed to improving the surface of the car body.
5,000,000
The carmaker surpassed the milestone of 5 million cars produced since 1905 shortly after merging with the VW Group.
1991–1997
In 1991, Škoda Auto became part of the VW Group and gained access to modern technologies and platforms. This also increased the pressure on production quality. The modernisation of production lines and pressing equipment continued in Mladá Boleslav. In 1994, the carmaker unveiled the Felicia, which was the first model developed after the merger with the VW Group. This model was key to modernising the plants, expanding development capacities, and strengthening the brand’s competitiveness. The carmaker also began construction of a hall for production of the future first‑generation Octavia model. In fact, 1997 was an exceptionally successful year, with the carmaker producing 35.8% more cars than in the previous year.
10,000,000
Škoda cars produced between 1905 and 2006.
2000–2009
The car manufacturer introduced the principles of lean production and adapted existing production lines to new models. The body shop and press shop in Mladá Boleslav underwent complete modernisation and robotisation. In 2006, production of the MQ250 and MQ200 gearboxes began, and two years later, Škoda Auto launched production of models based on VW Group platforms.
1,000,000
In 2014, the carmaker produced 1 million cars in a single calendar year for the first time.
2010–2015
This period brought significant digitalisation and robotisation of production. These steps led the carmaker to increase its annual production to more than 1 million vehicles. New assembly and welding sections were built, and in 2013, the carmaker implemented the MQB platform in its models. In 2015, it exceeded the milestone of 1 million cars produced worldwide in a single year for the first time.
2016–2020
During this period, the carmaker prepared for electromobility, and Industry 4.0 principles were introduced into production processes. As part of the preparations, the logistics infrastructure was expanded. Production of the first pure electric car, the Škoda Enyaq iV, started in 2020. This was preceded by a transformation of the assembly lines, enabling them to produce cars on both the MQB and MEB platforms simultaneously, which was unique within the VW Group.
28,000,000
The carmaker has produced more than this number of Škoda cars in all its plants since 1905, as of 30 November 2025.
2025
Škoda Auto is currently one of the few European car manufacturers capable of producing cars with both combustion and electric engines on the same production line. Doing this allows it to respond to demand, minimise risks and increase line utilisation. The carmaker is also investing heavily in technological infrastructure and is on track to become the battery centre of the VW Group for Europe.