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Transmission production was launched at the ŠKODA AUTO plant in Vrchlabí ten years ago. The DQ200 dual-clutch transmissions produced there are used in the Czech carmaker’s models as well as in vehicles built by other Volkswagen Group brands. ŠKODA AUTO makes extensive use of Industry 4.0 technologies at the site, which has been operating with net-zero CO2 emissions since the end of 2020.

“Today is a very special day for the Vrchlabí plant. Since the first transmission rolled off the production line here ten years ago, we have achieved a lot together and transformed this site into a strategic cornerstone of component production at ŠKODA AUTO: The milestones include CO₂-neutral production since the end of 2020 and the plant’s leading position in the field of Industry 4.0. I congratulate the entire team on these remarkable successes!”

Michael Oeljeklaus, ŠKODA AUTO Board Member for Production and Logistics

“Our modern DQ200 dual-clutch transmissions can be found in millions of vehicles produced by various Group brands, reliably doing their job. They are manufactured at one of the most advanced high-tech production facilities in the country. The component plant in Vrchlabí is also among the most important industrial employers in the region.”

Ivan Slimák, Head of Transmission Production at the Vrchlabí site

ŠKODA AUTO site since 1946, state-of-the-art component plant since 2012
The Vrchlabí plant was founded back in 1864 and has been a ŠKODA AUTO site since 1946. The company initially manufactured cars here before the production facility was converted into a cutting-edge component plant, with a new factory hall being built within 18 months as part of the site’s radical transformation. ŠKODA AUTO and the Volkswagen Group invested around 170 million euros in this project. ŠKODA AUTO has been producing DQ200 transmissions here since October 2012. At first, around 530 employees would produce 1,000 units a day; now 2,340 transmissions are assembled daily by 850 staff. The majority of these transmissions are used in vehicles from other Group brands, while around 38% are installed in ŠKODA cars.

Extensive use of Industry 4.0 technologies
Since the site’s conversion was successfully completed, over 200 million euros have been invested in various initiatives and the plant’s further development; processes and operations have been widely digitalised and use technologies from the field of Industry 4.0. Cooperating robots assist with inserting the transmission piston and a smart handling robot removes parts from containers and places them on the feed belt of the processing machine. It then removes the machined transmission parts and places them in a transport basket. In addition, the work steps and processes required to set up robot workstations were digitally simulated in advance so that operations could continue while the robots were being set up and integrated.

ŠKODA AUTO’s first site worldwide to be CO₂-neutral since the end of 2020
Since late 2020, the Vrchlabí plant has been ŠKODA AUTO’s first CO₂-neutral production site in the world. State-of-the-art machines ensure optimum energy efficiency at the site, with some cooling lubricants being reused several times and lithium batteries installed in transport systems.

ŠKODA AUTO is fully committed to the region where plant operates
As one of the most important employers in the Hradec Králové region, the Czech car manufacturer takes its social responsibility seriously and is actively involved across the region. Among other programmes, the company supplies bicycles to the Krkonoše National Park (KRNAP) and provides vehicles for social services. The car manufacturer also gives financial support within the framework of its endowment fund.

Article source: www.skoda-storyboard.com

Prestigious awards for ŠKODA AUTO and ‘The Way of Life’: The Czech car manufacturer has won a Bronze Drum Award at the 28th Golden Drum Festival for its short film accompanying the world premiere of the ENYAQ COUPÉ RS iV. The film also made it to the final in Group A, Film, Transport, Travel & Tourism. ‘The Way of Life’ also received Platinum Awards in four different categories at the Muse Awards 2022 held in New York.

With ‘The Way of Life’, ŠKODA opened the world premiere of the ENYAQ COUPÉ RS iV, the first all-electric model in the Czech manufacturer’s sporty RS family, on 31 January 2022. Delivering an output of 220 kW (299 hp), the locally emission-free coupé offers a unique combination of sustainable sportiness and emotive design with generous space. The ENYAQ COUPÉ iV is ŠKODA’s first model to feature a gently sloping roofline in over two decades.

The premiere film ‘The Way of Life’, the work of director, screenwriter and creative director Pavel Brucek and production company CINQ, is set in former Czechoslovakia in 1980s Prague. It tells the story of a woman who looks back on the key moments of this time and her eventful life – growing up under the communist regime and the decisive events surrounding the peaceful Velvet Revolution of 1989. Her determination for freedom and personal independence is depicted clearly in the film, as is her special relationship with the ŠKODA brand.

At the 28^th Golden Drum Festival in Rovinj, Croatia, ‘The Way of Life’ received a Bronze Drum Award in the section Craft Drum / Group B, Motion Craft, Production. In Group A, Film, Transport, Travel & Tourism, the film made it to the list of finalists from 24 different countries. In total, 55 jurors had evaluated around 1,000 entries. ŠKODA and CINQ each received a Platinum Award in the video categories Short Film, Cinematography, Automotive Film and Diversity & Inclusion at the Muse Awards in New York for ‘The Way of Life’.

Article source: www.skoda-storyboard.com

ŠKODA AUTO is forging ahead with decarbonising the company, supported by a holistic action plan under the NEXT LEVEL – ŠKODA STRATEGY 2030. In addition to accelerating the ramp-up of electromobility, the focus is on sustainably producing and operating battery-electric vehicles, including supply chains. To achieve this, ŠKODA is committed to using, for example, recyclable materials in its cars and consistently recycling the high-voltage batteries from e-vehicles.

The car manufacturer has defined sustainability as a key area of its NEXT LEVEL – ŠKODA STRATEGY 2030 and has set itself ambitious targets to effectively reduce the CO2 footprint of its business activities along the entire value chain. Over the past year, ŠKODA AUTO’s investments in this area – along with comprehensive, transparent communication on the topics of environment, social affairs, governance and finance – have helped the Volkswagen Group to become the first automotive company in the world to meet the reporting requirements of the European Union’s Sustainable Finance Action Plan and the EU Taxonomy.

ŠKODA AUTO will be launching three new all-electric models by 2026. Further models are in the pipeline. ŠKODA aims to increase the all-electric share of its European vehicle sales to over 70% by 2030.

Article source: www.skoda.co.uk

ŠKODA AUTO continues to advance the company’s internationalisation and is on the cusp of entering the Vietnamese market. In cooperation with its local partner, the Thanh Cong Motor Vietnam (TC Motor) the Czech carmaker will be offering the first European models in the country as early as 2023. The assembly of CKD (Completely Knocked Down) kits of the KUSHAQ and SLAVIA models will start in 2024. The production line is currently under construction. With its dynamically growing economy and significant potential on the automotive market, the country presents the ideal conditions to further strengthen ŠKODA AUTO’s position in the region. The company anticipates an initial sales volume of 30,000 vehicles per year.

“For ŠKODA AUTO, entering the Vietnamese market is the next logical step in our internationalisation strategy. Our attractive model portfolio offers exactly the right products for our customers, and we will be able to play to our strengths in this highly dynamic market. In addition, the geographical proximity to India provides great synergy effects; as early as 2024, we will be exporting vehicle kits from our Indian plant in Pune to Vietnam, marking a major advancement of our INDIA 2.0 project. Ultimately, this will significantly strengthen our presence in Southeast Asia.”

Klaus Zellmer, ŠKODA AUTO CEO

“Internationalising our business is an integral part of our NEXT LEVEL – ŠKODA STRATEGY 2030. We see considerable growth potential in Vietnam, and the Czech presidency of the EU Council and the EVFTA free trade agreement create very favourable economic policy conditions. We have also found a strong and reliable partner in the TC Motor to quickly gain a foothold in Vietnam. We are convinced that our model portfolio perfectly reflects the wishes of the Vietnamese people, and we are looking forward to launching early next year.”

Martin Jahn, ŠKODA AUTO Board Member for Sales and Marketing

Thanh Cong Motor Vietnam (TC Motor) is the partner responsible for local production and sales
Initially, the KODIAQ, KAROQ, SUPERB and OCTAVIA model series will successively be imported from Europe, starting in 2023. As ŠKODA AUTO’s local partner in the Vietnamese market, the TC Motor will take over the local production and distribution of the vehicles. With over 20 years of experience in vehicle manufacturing and sales on a contract basis, the Hanoi-based group is also investing in the acquisition and development of industrial sites, such as the Viet Hung Industrial Park. In the future, ŠKODA models will be rolling off the production line at the site in Quang Ninh province.

CKD production of KUSHAQ and SLAVIA as early as 2024, ENYAQ iV family available after 2025
The construction of a TC Motor-owned production line is already underway and should be completed in the first half of 2024. Assembly of the made-in-India KUSHAQ and SLAVIA model series from CKD format will then begin in 2024. The KUSHAQ will be available to order in the first half of 2024, and orders for the SLAVIA can be placed from the fourth quarter of 2024. A 16,000-square-metre plant is being built in Pune to manufacture the respective subassemblies. The all-electric ENYAQ iV family models will round off the local portfolio in Vietnam after 2025.

Exporting vehicles from India is the next step in the INDIA 2.0 project
By exporting vehicles from India, ŠKODA AUTO is pressing ahead with the implementation of the INDIA 2.0 project and emphasising India’s strategic importance in the automaker’s development. Exports of the first left-hand drive ŠKODA KUSHAQ to the Gulf States began recently. ŠKODA AUTO has led the Volkswagen Group’s activities on the Indian market since 2019. The Group’s investments to date amount to one billion euros, of which 250 million euros have been allocated to research and development. In the long term, ŠKODA aims to achieve a market share of five percent alongside the Volkswagen brand, depending on market and segment developments.

Rapid expansion of the dealer network in Vietnam, high sales potential
The vehicles will be distributed through a regional dealer network of local partners. The first dealerships are planned in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City – taken together, these two cities record the vast majority of new car sales in Vietnam. Subsequently, ŠKODA AUTO expects to quickly expand the dealer network to include more than 50 partners. ŠKODA AUTO projects an annual sales potential of 30,000 units initially and over 40,000 units annually from 2030, thanks in part to interest in volume models based on the MQB-A0-Global platform and rising demand for electric vehicles in the country’s major cities.

Strongly growing economy, highly dynamic automotive market and free trade agreements incentivise engagement
Entering Vietnam is also worthwhile due to the particularly dynamic growth of the region’s car market; despite having a population of around 100 million people and currently only around 34 vehicles per 1,000 inhabitants, the country is already the fourth strongest automotive market in Southeast Asia. At the same time, European brands are likely to become increasingly prominent in Vietnam due to the gradual elimination of customs duties on goods from the EU by 2030. For this reason, ŠKODA AUTO expects the total annual market volume to increase to around one million vehicles beyond 2030.

Article source: www.skoda-storyboard.com

ŠKODA Design has reinterpreted the concept of the ŠKODA 1100 OHC from 1957 and is presenting the computer-animated design model VISION GT, a study of an all-electric racing car made in Mladá Boleslav. Alongside its forebear, the design concept is currently on show in the ‘Design and Transformation’ exhibition. Hosted in Brussels, the display is part of the supporting programme of the Czech Republic’s EU Presidency.

The computer-animated design model ŠKODA VISION GT is among the highlights of the ‘Design and Transformation’ exhibition in Brussels. To mark the Czech Republic’s EU presidency, a number of Czech companies are presenting products and designs from 1990 to 2020 at this event. In creating the VISION GT model, the ŠKODA Design team found inspiration in the ŠKODA 1100 OHC from 1957. The automaker is using the concept to send a clear signal for sustainable sportiness and emotion in the digital age. The digital VISION GT ties in with the tradition of the ‘Icons Get a Makeover’ series, which includes iconic models from the company’s history, such as the 130 RS, FELICIA and RAPID MONTE CARLO.

Just like the 1100 OHC, the VISION GT is a red, open-top racing car. However, it is designed as a single-seater, with the driver sitting in the centre of the vehicle. Above the futuristic carbon steering wheel, which is flattened at the top and bottom, there is a flat on-screen bar that doubles as a windshield. Important information is projected directly onto the driver’s helmet visor, similar to a head-up display. An active cockpit with a flexibly suspended seat is designed to optimally compensate for g-forces.

The exterior of the flat VISION GT is characterised by clear lines and sharp edges. The design echoes current Formula E racing cars, which is particularly evident in the spectacular two-piece rear wing. Active aerodynamics also ensure optimum driving performance at all times. Shining in bright red between the two upper wing profiles is the new ŠKODA wordmark in the form of a hologram. It also appears on the very flat front of the VISION GT and references the curved ŠKODA line.

The ‘Design and Transformation’ exhibition at the Design Museum in Brussels is open until 8 January 2023, with some exhibits also on display at Prague House in Brussels until 2 October 2022.

Article source: www.skoda-storyboard.com

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