Skoda

Skoda Auto, commonly known as Skoda, is a Czech automobile manufacturer headquartered in Mladá Boleslav. The company traces its roots to 1895, when Václav Laurin and Václav Klement founded Laurin & Klement, initially producing bicycles and motorcycles before entering automobile production in the early 20th century. In 1925 the firm merged with the Škoda Works, creating what would become the modern Skoda Auto.

Since 1991, Skoda Auto has been a subsidiary of the Volkswagen Group, integrating into its global platform and component strategies while maintaining its own product identity and design language. The company offers a broad lineup of passenger cars, spanning compact, mid-size, and SUV segments. Notable models include the Fabia, Octavia, and Superb sedans, as well as the Kodiaq, Karoq, and Kamiq SUVs, and the Scala hatchback. The Enyaq iV, introduced in 2020, marks Skoda’s entry into fully electric mobility.

Skoda’s manufacturing activity is concentrated in the Czech Republic, with its main production facilities located in Mladá Boleslav and additional sites within the country. The brand exports to markets across Europe, Asia, and beyond and maintains international production and distribution partnerships through its association with the Volkswagen Group.

The name Škoda originates from the Škoda Works, a historic industrial conglomerate named after founder Emil Škoda. In Czech, the word škoda also means pity, though as a corporate name it functions as a surname. Skoda is recognized for practical engineering, value for money, and a straightforward design approach within the automotive industry.