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ŠKODA History Simply Clever since 1895

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A MOVING STORY

We have been building advanced cars since 1895; models that were always ahead of their time. This pioneering spirit first found expression in bicycles, followed by motorcycles and finally cars. Our commitment to the intersection of design, function and innovation has fueled inventive spirit for the past 127 years. In 2022 we will set our sights on the future, take a moment in the present and celebrate our past.

Visit the ŠKODA Storyboard

AN INCOMPARABLE STORY

Embark with us on an exciting journey into ŠKODA's past, where you can experience the founding of the company in 1895 to the present day.

Discover the ŠKODA heritage

AT THE WHEEL

Take a ride in a vintage ŠKODA! Travel back in time with us and get behind the wheel of an L&K ŠKODA 110. A pleasant ride through historic Prague awaits you, during which you will learn a lot of interesting things, and not only about the car you are sitting in.

Go On A Drive Now

THE FOUNDING FATHERS

The spirited partnership between Václav Laurin and Václav Klement and the founding of their joint venture formed the cornerstone of our company's success story.

MEET LAURIN AND KLEMENT

The history of ŠKODA began in 1895 with our founders Václav Laurin and Václav Klement. In addition to their first names and their love of cycling, they had one thing in common: a strong inventive spirit.

HOW IT ALL BEGAN

DEFINING MILESTONES

There have been several breakthroughs since ŠKODA's inception that have propelled us forward and given us the path to follow. Check them out with us and discover all the models we've ever built.

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1895 - Slavia, our first bicycle

The history of ŠKODA did not begin on four wheels, but on two: enthusiastic "velocipedists" and patriots Václav Laurin and Václav Klement decided to turn their passion into a profession and produce bicycles under the "Slavia" brand name. The new brand quickly became synonymous with quality and innovation. At that time, L&K soon became the second largest bicycle manufacturer in the Czech Republic.

1899 - The first motorcycles

Four years later they built bicycles with an auxiliary motor, the so-called 'motocyclette'. These bikes soon became very popular and won some prizes in racing competitions, and became the second pillar of the fledgling company. Mladá Boleslav motorcycles were in great demand not only in their Bohemian homeland, but also abroad.

1905 - The Voiturette A

Encouraged by this success, Laurin and Klement got on four wheels and presented their first automobile, the "Voiturette A". The vehicle convinced customers with its low price, as well as with its practicability and robustness. This small 7 hp car was the first spark for a year of successful company development under the name L&K, accompanied by the introduction of other successful models.

1925 - Merger of L&K and ŠKODA

In 1924, the L&K factory was partially destroyed by a major fire, which led to the company merging with the engineering giant from Pilsen (ŠKODA) and spelling the end of the Laurin & Klement company. Throughout the 20th century, which included two world wars and a socialist planned economy, ŠKODA's commitment to building high-quality cars did not waver.

1991 - Merger with Volkswagen

In March 1991, the company enters into a partnership with Volkswagen. The company name is also new: ŠKODA, Aktiengesellschaft der Automobilindustrie. Three years after the merger with Volkswagen, the new ŠKODA FELICIA model was born. The cooperation with Volkswagen, the largest European automobile manufacturer, proved to be very successful and took production to a new level.

1996 - ŠKODA OCTAVIA

The ŠKODA OCTAVIA was the first model to be completely redesigned after the fall of the Iron Curtain and the merger with Volkswagen. It gave the decisive impetus for the rapid transformation of ŠKODA into one of the recognized global players. Since its launch, more than five million ŠKODA OCTAVIAs have been produced and counting.

2016 - Start of the SUV offensive

2016 marked the beginning of ŠKODA's foray into the rapidly expanding SUV segment, in which the brand had previously been represented by the successful YETI. The first model of this new strategy was the ŠKODA KODIAQ, soon followed by the ŠKODA KAROQ.

2017 - VISION E, the first all-electric ŠKODA

With the Vision E study, the company provided an outlook on the future of individual mobility for the first time. The five-door SUV coupe can travel up to 500 kilometers purely electrically, and meets the requirements for level 3 autonomous driving. ŠKODA is working intensively on the electrification of its model range and will be offering five all-electric models by 2025.

2019 - Launch of the ŠKODA sub-brand "𝗶V"

With the launch of our "iV" sub-brand, we are entering the era of e-mobility. Not only will this include all of our electrified models, but it will also create a connected ecosystem. The SUPERB iV and the CITIGOe iV are just the beginning. The first all-electric ŠKODA based on the Volkswagen Group's MEB platform will follow in 2020.

More than 100 years of racing

Since the start of production in Mladá Boleslav in 1895, the company has given the world many racing legends, unforgettable victories and unforgettable machines. Take a look at important milestones in ŠKODA's racing history.

More on ŠKODA's racing history

A SYMBOL OF OUR INVENTION

Every car with the winged arrow on the bonnet proudly combines a long tradition of constant innovation. The ŠKODA logo itself has also changed over time. Visit the ŠKODA Museum and check out the logo's development.

ŠKODA Logo Evolution

Slavia Logo

In the workshop in Mladá Boleslav, bicycles and motorcycles were manufactured under the Slavia brand name. A wheel with lime leaves adorned the logo as a symbol of the Slavic nations. The names of the two company founders (Laurin and Klement) were added and later became the main element of a new logo.

L&K Logo

The design of the L&K logo was influenced by early 20th century Art Nouveau. Perhaps the similarity of the name Václav Laurin with the Latin word for laurel, Laurus, provided the inspiration for the laurel wreath - the traditional symbol of victory - which henceforth surrounded the initials of the company's founders.

ŠKODA Logo

From 1926, the plant in Mladá Boleslav produced automobiles under the ŠKODA brand name. Despite the completely different brand name, the logo showed clear similarities with its predecessor. The ŠKODA logo was given a new, oval shape, but the central element was still the brand name in the middle of the laurel wreath.

ŠKODA Logo

The logo with the famous feathered arrow was used for the first time in 1926. Its origin is unclear, although the idea (a stylized Indian head with a five-feather headdress) was at times attributed to the commercial manager of the ŠKODA plant in Pilsen, Tomáš Maglič.

ŠKODA AUTO Logo

The black and green logo used from 1999 emphasized the originality of the brand: black stood for the company's hundred-year tradition, while green symbolized the environmental friendliness of production.

ŠKODA Logo

With the slogan "The New Power of ŠKODA", the company presented the core elements of its new corporate design in 2011, which is characterized by freshness and precision. Thanks to the new color scheme, the traditional logo of the feathered arrow is even clearer and more precise than before.

ŠKODA Logo

The new ŠKODA logo is based on the core idea "Driven by the spirit of invention. Clever ideas - since 1895". It represents the tireless drive to meet the needs of our customers and at the same time underlines the tradition and brand values of ŠKODA. The redesigned branding, launched in the second half of 2016, is part of the new corporate identity and shows our close connection to the VW Group. A significant change relates to the word mark, which in the new layout is now under the figurative mark with the winged arrow in the chrome ring.

MODERN HISTORICAL MODELS

The modern history of ŠKODA dates back to 1991, when the company joined the Volkswagen Group. By then, the first modern model, the FAVORIT, was already on sale and had initiated the brand's transition into a successful manufacturer of contemporary cars. Discover this and other models made over the years.

ŠKODA FAVORIT

The ŠKODA FAVORIT was the first ŠKODA model with a front engine and front axle. The model premiered in July 1987. With its modern design, it ushered in a new era for ŠKODA. The FAVORIT was a hatchback and had a basic engine with a displacement of 1289 cm³.

ŠKODA FELICIA

The ŠKODA FELICIA was the first completely new model to be developed after the merger with the Volkswagen Group. The FELICIA produced in 1994 not only brought about changes that were visible at first glance, such as modern, rounded shapes and a pleasant interior, but also meant a significant leap in quality.

OCTAVIA I

The first ŠKODA model to be completely redeveloped after the fall of the Iron Curtain and the merger with Volkswagen. From this point in time came the decisive impetus for the rapid transformation of the company into one of the recognized global players. It was the first ŠKODA car with disc brakes on all wheels. The OCTAVIA also had air conditioning and power steering.

ŠKODA ROOMSTER

In 2006, ŠKODA launched the innovative ROOMSTER, a small MPV with lots of space. The car was fictionally divided into two parts: the "Driving Room" - a cockpit for the driver and front passenger - and the "Living Room" - a generous passenger and cargo area in the rear. Another unique selling point was the flexible VarioFlex rear seat system, which can now be found in the KAROQ.

ŠKODA YETI

ŠKODA's first off-road vehicle was presented in 2009. The ŠKODA YETI was a compact SUV with a timeless design, split headlights, impressive all-wheel drive and increased ground clearance, all in compact dimensions with a practical interior. The YETI also offered the flexible VarioFlex rear seat system.

ŠKODA RAPID

In 2012, the range was expanded to include the compact family model RAPID, which embodies the brand's new design language. The elegant liftback design hides the characteristic ŠKODA spaciousness in both the passenger compartment and the trunk. A year later, a hatchback version with the distinctive name "RAPID SPACEBACK" was launched.

ŠKODA Museum

Experience the history of ŠKODA in our museum, where you can experience the latest futuristic concepts as well as iconic models.

Visit the ŠKODA Museum