Skoda Garage London Blog - Skoda Garage London - London's best independent Skoda Garage London

On 3 March 1998 Škoda lifted the curtain on the first Octavia Combi of the modern generation at the Geneva International Motor Show. Serial production of the future bestseller had already started a couple of weeks earlier, in February 1998, in a modern production plant in Mladá Boleslav. Over the past 25 years, the legendary model has become one of the most successful station wagons in its category in many countries. The current fourth generation also offers electrified versions: a plug-in hybrid drivetrain in the Octavia Combi iV and an Octavia Combi e-TEC with mild-hybrid technology. Some of the traditional strengths of the practical Škoda Octavia Combi include an excellent price/performance ratio, a wide variety of assistance systems and a top level of active and passive safety. This was once again confirmed in December 2022 by the most demanding Euro NCAP tests, valid until 2028.

Tradition obliges
Already since 1959, the Octavia range has represented a milestone in the more than 127-year history of Škoda. An even more practical version, the Octavia Combi, with a spacious and variable “combination body” offering both the advantages of passenger and light commercial vehicles, was launched on 11 September 1960. With a length of just 4065 mm, a width of 1600 mm and a height of 1430 mm, the Škoda Octavia Combi could carry 690 liters of luggage in addition to five passengers, and up to 1050 liters when occupying two seats. There was also a sleeper arrangement and a number of other practical equipment features. Between 1961 and 1971, 54,100 of these cars left the Kvasiny plant. As a basis for the Octavia, Škoda used the traditional concept with a backbone chassis frame and a front-mounted four-cylinder petrol engine driving the rear wheels. The robust construction combined with a ground clearance of 175 mm has proven itself even in demanding operating conditions.

Modern career
Another and even more successful chapter began in 1992, shortly after the integration of the Czech car manufacturer into the Volkswagen Group. The newly developed Octavia was the first Škoda based on the Group’s A4 chassis platform and the design team led by Dirk van Braeckel was already working in a digital CAD environment. The production of the Škoda Octavia, initially with a liftback body, began in September 1996 in a completely new assembly hall of the Mladá Boleslav plant, one of the most modern in Europe. From September 1997 onwards, about 200 units of the new Octavia Combi were produced as part of the pre-production. The so-called zero series had not yet been delivered to customers. Production started in February shortly before the official world premiere on Tuesday 3 March 1998 at the prestigious Geneva International Motor Show. The first buyers took delivery already in May 1998. The four-and-a-half-meter wagon had a wheelbase of 2512 mm, was six millimeters longer and 26 mm taller than the liftback. The 548 to 1,512 liters of luggage space was among the largest in the class.

The timeless elegance of the bodywork scored with experts and customers alike, as evidenced by the Czech National Design Award (1999) – but mainly by sales statistics. In 1998, the Combi version accounted for 15 percent of sales of the Octavia model range. In 2001 the percentage had already gone up to 40.5 percent. During its 13-year career, 470,600 cars were built.

A video provides period footage of the first modern generation of the Octavia Combi at Škoda Storyboard.

Growing popularity
From summer 2004, the second generation of the Octavia Combi was produced alongside the first modern generation (internally called A4). The purposeful coexistence lasted for six years, as the two cars complemented each other perfectly on the market. The modern shapes of the succeeding Octavia A5 were designed by a team of designers led by Thomas Ingenlath. By 2013, 881,200 customers had opted for the estate, accounting for 33% of global Octavia sales.

The third Octavia Combi (A7), launched on 7 March 2013, was even more successful. The range has gradually expanded to include an Octavia Scout, an outdoor version with an advanced 4×4 drive, automatic transmissions and many other modern features. Between 2012 and 2020, 1,195,500 units of the third generation of the Octavia Combi left the Škoda production plants.

Fourth generation: electrification
Launched in November 2019, the fourth generation is Skoda’s first-ever series production model with mild-hybrid e-TEC technology. For the first time ever, Škoda is also offering a plug-in-hybrid Octavia Combi iV which is available in the sporty Octavia Combi RS iV too. The fourth modern generation of the brand’s bestseller surpassed the quarter of a million units delivered to customers. The Škoda Octavia Combi thus reached more than 2.8 million customers in total over the past quarter of a century.

From March 1 to May 17, the story of the Octavia will be recalled by an exhibition at the Škoda Museum in Mladá Boleslav.

Article source: www.skoda-storyboard.com

The Škoda Academy’s traditional Student Car project is back: This year marks the ninth time Škoda vocational students in Mladá Boleslav are designing and building their dream car. Since 2014, these spectacular one-off vehicles have demonstrated the high level of training at the Škoda Vocational School.

29 vocational students at the Škoda Academy have already started working on their Student Car. Since the 2013/14 academic year, apprentices have created their very own dream car with the expert guidance of their instructors – from a blank page to the finished one-of-a-kind vehicle. Throughout the project, they receive support from many Škoda Auto departments, including Škoda Design and Technical Development. Details on the ninth Student Car, such as the vehicle it is based on, the name and the type of conversion will be revealed within the next few months.

Maren Gräf, Škoda Auto Board Member for People & Culture, says: “The Student Car project has been an integral part of the training at the Škoda Academy for nine years now. The tremendous team spirit, the enthusiasm of our talented young apprentices and their attention to detail never fail to impress me. During the project, they acquire practical experience at every stage of development. They also gain expertise and insights into many different departments at the company. I am very much looking forward to seeing Student Car number nine and wish everyone involved lots of fun and success working on this great project.”

Maren Kabowski-Ciecior, Head of the Škoda Academy, says: “With great anticipation, I am closely following our students and the development of the ninth Student Car. This project gives our talented apprentices the opportunity to apply everything they have learned in previous years. At the same time, it lays the groundwork for a promising career at Škoda Auto and introduces students to the wide range of possible positions at our company. Our students can discover new areas of interest and make an initial decision on where they would like to work and contribute their talents.”

Early Student Car forerunners in 1975
So far, students from the Škoda Vocational School have designed and built eight Škoda Student Cars under the supervision of their instructors. More information on the previous Škoda Student Cars can be found here. The eighth Student Car, the Škoda Afriq, was supported by Škoda Motorsport for the first time. Early forerunners of the innovative project – the only one of its kind in the Czech Republic – were four units of the Škoda Buggy Type 736, hand-built in 1975 by Škoda vocational students for the emerging autocross scene in former Czechoslovakia.

Article source: www.skoda-storyboard.com

Among other milestones in 2023, Škoda Auto will be celebrating the 100th anniversary of its logo with the winged arrow, a symbol of dynamism and progress. In addition, this year marks the 80th anniversary of Škoda models with all-wheel drive. Anniversaries of sporting triumphs, long-distance journeys across continents, models paving the way for the Superb, as well as robust Škoda utility vehicles, are also woven into the story of the successful Czech car manufacturer. A complete overview can be found in the attached brochure.

The tradition of the Mladá Boleslav-based company dates back to 1895 when the passionate cyclists and Czech compatriots Václav Laurin and Václav Klement laid the foundations of the Slavia bicycle workshop. From 1899, they also produced modern motorcycles of their own design and in the autumn of 1905, the first Laurin & Klement automobile, the Voiturette A, attracted the attention of the general public.

Owing to its international success, the L&K (Laurin & Klement) brand quickly grew to become the largest car manufacturer in what was then Austria-Hungary and later Czechoslovakia. The Mladá Boleslav carmaker has used the Škoda logo with a winged arrow since the autumn of 1925 when it merged with a strong strategic partner – the Pilsen-based engineering group Škoda. The trademark was registered 100 years ago this year, on 15 December 1923.

There are many other important Škoda Auto anniversaries coming up in 2023, for example, the 110th anniversary of the Laurin & Klement M models, which paved the way for the Škoda Superb. In addition, the carmaker will be celebrating 80 years of Škoda all-wheel drive cars.

A complete overview can be found in the attached brochure. Škoda Auto will be highlighting selected anniversaries in separate press releases.

Article source: www.skoda-storyboard.com

Škoda Auto is using AI-based image recognition to ensure timely identification of maintenance needs on the assembly line. At the main plant in Mladá Boleslav, the Škoda FabLab has installed a system that continuously monitors the assembly line equipment. It is connected to a computer that uses Artificial Intelligence (AI) to detect irregularities in the processes and identify any required maintenance work. Škoda Auto is thus one of the first companies in the Czech Republic to use the possibilities of AI-supported predictive maintenance.

“At Škoda Auto we are committed to predictive maintenance as a means to ensure that our production equipment is always in perfect shape. An AI system constantly checks the current process status against the optimal baseline conditions. It’s taught to identify certain patterns, constantly adding to its knowledge base and recognising changes immediately. This enables us to react promptly, optimises the efficiency of our processes and ensures the best possible utilisation of our production capacities.”

Miroslav Stejskal, Predictive Maintenance Coordinator, Škoda Auto Central Technical Service

Cameras on the assembly line’s overhead conveyor
The images of equipment and parts subject to wear, such as girders, bolts or cabling, are captured by cameras on the overhead conveyor of the assembly line. As soon as the AI-based computer connected to the camera detects irregularities in the process, or a need for maintenance actions, it flags them in real time.

Continuous checks enable early detection of required maintenance measures
“Magic Eye” instantly compares its high-precision photographs against thousands of stored images. This enables it to detect departures from the optimal baseline conditions and to identify sources of error. The use of blue light ensures that the AI tool reliably differentiates between cracks and scratches and makes the correct diagnoses. In addition, the system continuously expands its knowledge base. If it finds a worn bolt, for example, it marks the spot as error-free as soon as the part has been replaced and checked again. To evaluate detected deviations, the system uses information on irregularities it has identified in the past.

Current use on the assembly line for the Enyaq iV and Octavia models
Škoda is using “Magic Eye” at its main plant in Mladá Boleslav, on the assembly line for the Enyaq iV and Octavia models. This makes Škoda Auto one of the first companies in the Czech Republic to use the possibilities of AI‑supported predictive maintenance.

To enable further optimisation of the system and accelerate wider integration at the Mladá Boleslav and Kvasiny sites, the FabLab has simulated a section of the assembly line. This “implementation arena” can be used to experiment with different camera settings, configure system parameters and simulate damage to the assembly line.

Article source: www.skoda-storyboard.com

Škoda is celebrating two victories in the renowned ‘Best Cars’ readers’ poll: Readers of the German trade magazine ‘auto motor und sport’ voted the Škoda Fabia into first place in the ‘small cars’ import ranking, while the Octavia came out on top in the ‘compact class’ import ranking. This is the eleventh time the Czech carmaker’s bestseller has won the ‘Best Cars’ title and the second time the Fabia has won a readers’ choice award. More than 100,000 readers voted for their favourites among 422 models across 13 vehicle categories in the 47^th ‘Best Cars’ competition.

“My heartfelt thanks to all the readers who voted for us directly. And of course to all the Škodians involved in creating these great vehicles! The prestigious awards inspire us to continuously incorporate customer feedback into the development of our models. Because that’s what makes our vehicles more attractive – and thus even more successful!”

Klaus Zellmer, Škoda Auto CEO

Klaus Zellmer accepted the trophies at the awards ceremony alongside Jan-Hendrik Hülsmann, Managing Director and Spokesperson for the Board of Škoda Auto Deutschland.

Eleventh victory for the Škoda Octavia in the ‘Best Cars’ category, tenth win in a row
The Škoda Octavia outperformed 29 competitors in its category to take the top spot in the ‘compact class’ import rankings. In total, 13.6% of over 100,000 readers voted for the brand’s bestseller, marking its tenth ‘Best Cars’ victory in a row. The Octavia has now won the title for the eleventh time since the readers’ poll was launched; once it competed in the ‘mid-size’ category in which it also secured the import title. Today, the fourth-generation Octavia stands out with an emotional design, spacious interior, high level of active and passive safety, innovative assistance systems, state-of-the-art connectivity and a diverse powertrain portfolio.

Škoda Fabia celebrates second victory in ‘Best Cars’ readers’ poll
In the ‘small car’ import category, the Fabia won over ‘auto motor und sport’ readers with its attractive overall package, combining dynamic design, outstanding spaciousness and efficient powertrains. Receiving 16.9% of the votes, it outshone 19 competitors in its category to scoop the award for the second time since 2008. The fourth generation of Škoda’s entry-level model is based on the Volkswagen Group’s Modular Transverse Toolkit (MQB-A0).

This year’s ‘Best Cars’ readers’ poll saw a total of twelve titles go to vehicles from various Volkswagen Group brands.

Article source: www.skoda-storyboard.com

More Articles...

Skoda Blog