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This year marks the 18th time the magazine’s readers have chosen the “All-Wheel-Drive Cars of the Year”. Overall, 211 vehicle models across ten categories entered the competition. From 4 January to 1 February 2019, the readers of Auto Bild Allrad were invited to vote for their favourites online. Among the Czech brand’s prize-winning models, the 4×4 version of the SUPERB flagship achieved the best individual result, garnering 9.97 per cent of votes cast. 8.18 per cent of the magazine’s readership voted for the all-wheel-drive OCTAVIA SCOUT. The KODIAQ 4×4 won 7.80 per cent of the vote.

All-wheel-drive vehicles have a long history at ŠKODA. The Czech brand developed its first prototypes of vehicles featuring more than one driven axle in the late 1930s. The modern-day ŠKODA 4×4 success story began in 1999 with the OCTAVIA COMBI 4×4. Since then, ŠKODA has manufactured a total of over 700,000 all-wheel drive vehicles. Given continuously increasing demand in this vehicle category, ŠKODA has steadily expanded its 4×4 range over the past four years. Today, the KAROQ and KODIAQ SUVs as well as the OCTAVIA and SUPERB are all available with all-wheel drive.

Article source: www.skoda-storyboard.com

With its new sculptural shapes, dynamic lines and meticulously designed details, the SCALA is the first ŠKODA production model to showcase the brand’s new emotional exterior and interior design language. Its perfect proportions, clearly defined surfaces, flowing lines and advanced aerodynamics make this new compact model appear modern and sporting. Distinctive features include the upright radiator grille, a dynamic roof line and a sporting diffuser rounding off the wide rear section. In addition, the SCALA is the first production model for the European market to bear the ŠKODA wordmark in individual letters on the tailgate, superseding the traditional logo. The optional extended rear window features that wordmark on the glass surface itself.

The Red Dot Award is among the most prestigious design accolades in the world. Composed of experts from around the globe, the jury brings together independent designers, academics and industry journalists. This year, they were judging around 5,500 submitted products based on criteria such as degree of innovation, quality of design, functionality, longevity and environmental impact.
2019 marks the 64th year in which the Red Dot Award is presented as a global hallmark of outstanding product design. The award ceremony will be on 1 November.

The new SCALA is the 13th ŠKODA to receive the Red Dot Award. In 2006, the ŠKODA OCTAVIA COMBI estate was the first to be honoured with the coveted accolade.

Here is an overview of all the award-winning ŠKODA models:

2019 ŠKODA SCALA
2018 ŠKODA KAROQ
2017 ŠKODA KODIAQ and ŠKODA OCTAVIA III COMBI
2016 ŠKODA SUPERB III
2015 ŠKODA FABIA III
2014 ŠKODA RAPID SPACEBACK
2013 ŠKODA RAPID
2010 ŠKODA SUPERB II and ŠKODA YETI
2008 ŠKODA FABIA II
2007 ŠKODA ROOMSTER
2006 ŠKODA OCTAVIA II COMBI

Artice source: www.skoda-storyboard.com

With its emotive design, advanced technology as well as excellent functionality and state-of-the-art connectivity, the ŠKODA SCALA sets new standards in the compact class. In addition to three trim levels and numerous options, this car is as of now available with a feature so far unique in automotive production that will enable the ultimate in personalisation. A rapid 3D printing process developed by ŠKODA allows customers to replace the ŠKODA wordmark on the SCALA’s tailgate with a name of their choosing.

The rapid 3D printing process allows for 3 to 9 letters at the rear. Customers can choose their own name for example, or that of a spouse or child. All letters are rendered in the hallmark ŠKODA font and have a glossy chrome finish. Choice is limited to capital letters including Czech diacritics, without spaces or dashes. The new option is available exclusively with the extended rear window, which in the SCALA comes as part of the Emotion package and the Image package. The dark glass is particularly well suited to highlighting the letters, which are applied with a special glue that allows removing them without leaving a residue.

Simply clever: the personalised name at the rear can be replaced with the original ŠKODA wordmark without a trip to the workshop. ŠKODA supplies the wordmark on a mount that has a chrome frame and a crystalline surface texture, creating a particularly sophisticated look. Like a picture frame, it has a fold-out stand enabling it to be displayed or hung on a wall. Later on, it can also be used to hold the personalised name. The mount is manufactured from renewable materials that can be disposed of in an environmentally friendly manner. The letters are made from recyclable material. Once the lettering is no longer required, it can be returned to any authorised ŠKODA dealer. The visual effect of the name can be instantly checked in the ŠKODA Car Configurator. This new option is available as of now.

ŠKODA has been using this special 3D printing technology for a while now to produce spare parts for vintage vehicles. To enable just-in-time integration into everyday production at the Mladá Boleslav main plant, ŠKODA has refined its rapid 3D technology and had it patented. The SCALA is the first European model from the Czech manufacturer to have the brand name spelled out in separate letters at the rear, enabling this kind of individualisation.

Article source: www.skoda-storyboard.com

ŠKODA AUTO continues its global success story: in 2018 the carmaker set a new sales record for the fifth time in a row. Deliveries to customers rose by 4.4% last year to 1,253,700 vehicles. The company recorded sales growth in Europe (+4.9%) as well as in the growth markets of China (+4.9%) and Russia (+30.7%). The KODIAQ and KAROQ SUV models continue to be important drivers of growth and the ŠKODA OCTAVIA remains the brand’s bestseller.

With 341,000 deliveries to customers, China continues to be the brand’s most important single market. In Germany, Europe’s largest and ŠKODA’s second largest single market, the brand delivered 176,600 vehicles – a year-on-year increase of 1.9%. ŠKODA delivered 93,600 vehicles in its home country of the Czech Republic. The UK (74,500 vehicles), Poland (71,100), France (32,000), Spain (27,000), Italy (26,400) and Austria (24,900) round off ŠKODA’s top ten sales markets.

ŠKODA AUTO CEO Bernhard Maier pointed out, “In 2018, we delivered more vehicles than ever before. This result demonstrates that the ŠKODA 2025 Strategy is effective; our product campaign is unleashing its power around the world. ŠKODA is growing sustainably and manageably, despite the fact that 2018 presented numerous challenges for the entire industry, including the WLTP changeover. In 2019 we will continue our product campaign with several new models such as the SCALA and the KAMIQ. At the same time, we are launching eMobility at ŠKODA this year with our first plug-in hybrid and first all-electric car – a very special moment in our company’s 124-year history.”

ŠKODA enters the era of eMobility and takes on even more responsibility within the Group
The heart of the car manufacturer’s operations beats in the Czech Republic. The 886,100 vehicles that left the production lines at the Czech production sites in 2018 represent an increase of 3.3% compared to the previous year and thus a new production record. The Group’s decision to build the Volkswagen Passat family at the ŠKODA Kvasiny plant from 2023 – alongside the ŠKODA SUPERB and KODIAQ – is proof of Volkswagen Group’s confidence in the Czech production sites and their quality standards.

In 2019, ŠKODA is entering the era of eMobility. 124 years after the company was founded, ŠKODA is launching its first electrified production model – the SUPERB PHEV. The brand’s flagship with plug-in hybrid drive will roll off the production line in Kvasiny. ŠKODA is broadening its range in the same year to include an all-electric car – the e-CITIGO. The first production models based on the MEB modular electric car platform will follow in 2020, including the production version of the ŠKODA VISION iV concept study. By 2022, ŠKODA will have introduced over 30 new models, more than ten of which will be electric.

In addition to electric cars, the Mladá Boleslav plant will also be producing electric components for the plug-in hybrid models of several Volkswagen Group brands from 2019.

ŠKODA is consistently pursuing the company’s internationalisation and digitalisation
ŠKODA is pressing ahead with accessing new markets. Since last year, the brand has also been active in Singapore, meaning the company is now represented in 103 markets. ŠKODA employs more than 36,000 people worldwide. The car manufacturer’s internationalisation is one of the cornerstones of its 2025 Strategy.

Additional strategic areas of activity include eMobility, autonomous driving, connectivity and digitalisation. ŠKODA AUTO intends to increase its global vehicle sales by effectively implementing these topics. It will also open up new lines of business involving digital mobility services to broaden the basis for further growth.

The transformation of mobility and digital change are of greatest strategic importance. ŠKODA is working hard to digitalise its products and processes. This covers all areas of the company, from procurement to training, finance, staff recruitment and sales. The focus will also be on the Technical Development, Production and Logistics departments as well as, of course, the finished products for the end customer.

In Logistics and Production, the company is increasingly incorporating Industry 4.0 technologies, carrying out large field tests on fully autonomous drones that are monitoring load carriers at ŠKODA’s Czech plants. Robots are also working side by side with their human counterparts and intelligently facilitating their work. Using predictive maintenance, machines recognise their own needs for service or repair, thus reducing the risk of any damage or downtime. And when packaging Complete Knock Down (CKD) kits, augmented reality projections can show where and how to stack the parts on the load carrier.

Within the Group, ŠKODA is a pioneer in introducing the new MIB 3 modular infotainment matrix. For the brand’s customers, this means having access to the best connectivity solutions in their vehicles and benefitting from convenient over-the-air updates in all new ŠKODA models.

In cooperation with cities such as Prague, ŠKODA is committed to sustainable urban mobility concepts. The aim is to optimise the flow of traffic and intelligently link intermodal transport. This increases people’s safety and comfort whilst reducing the environmental impact.

ŠKODA AUTO DigiLab strengthens innovation and expertise in digital development
Alongside these initiatives, ŠKODA is developing a variety of mobility and vehicle-on-demand solutions. The private peer-to-peer car-sharing app HoppyGo, the student car-sharing platform Uniqway and the mobility solution for people requiring special assistance CareDriver were created at ŠKODA AUTO DigiLab. ŠKODA is currently testing a pioneering delivery solution for the ‘last mile’, where parcels are delivered directly to the boot of customers’ cars – digitally secured and with maximum convenience for the drivers.

ŠKODA AUTO DigiLab serves as an essential instrument and driver of many digital innovation processes. This creative workshop enhances the brand’s development expertise in the field of digitalisation. Working in tandem with the founding branch in Prague, ŠKODA AUTO DigiLab Israel Ltd was launched at the beginning of 2018 in the IT hotspot of Tel Aviv. Both labs are part of the start-up scene; they are agile and think outside the box to develop new business models, solutions and products for the mobility of the future.

The think tank in Tel Aviv has built up a strong network in the local start-up scene and is currently working with 13 of the most promising start-ups in the fields of artificial intelligence, big data, cybersecurity and vehicle sensors. In this way, ŠKODA is securing access to new technologies such as big data and artificial intelligence.

Three examples illustrate this strategic focus: Anagog specialises in developing and applying artificial intelligence in the context of mobility. The Israeli start-up uses software to analyse customer behaviour in certain situations, understand it and, for example, navigate motorists to the next available parking space. Chakratec is working on electric car charging stations with energy storage devices based on a flywheel concept that offers an almost unlimited number of deep charge and discharge cycles. This will enable charging stations to be installed in remote locations in the future. The founders of UVeye are working on technology in the form of a camera that scans the underbody of a vehicle to detect any damage – which is very useful, for example, in the Production and Quality Control departments.

ŠKODA is responsible for Volkswagen Group’s model campaign in India
In June 2018, ŠKODA took over management of the INDIA 2.0 project. In this role, ŠKODA is responsible for Volkswagen Group’s model campaign on the Indian market. Volkswagen Group is investing one billion euros in implementing the project, primarily between 2019 and 2021. The funds will mainly be invested in developing ŠKODA AUTO and Volkswagen vehicles tailored to the needs of customers on the subcontinent. The first of these models will be an SUV in the A0 segment that will be unveiled in 2020. The opening of the Technology Centre in Pune in January 2019 was the first major step in the implementation of the project. To ensure maximum market proximity, ŠKODA AUTO will localise 95% of its production, meaning that almost all vehicle components will be made in India.

Christian Strube, ŠKODA AUTO Board Member for Technical Development, said, “By opening the Technology Centre, we are underlining our determination to make the INDIA 2.0 project a success. India has excellent universities and highly qualified staff; this state-of-the-art facility will help us to unlock that huge potential – especially with regard to design and development. Local development is the key to success.”

Article source: www.skoda-storyboard.com