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Hat-trick for the ŠKODA FABIA: the Czech carmaker’s popular entry-level model has won the renowned Red Dot Award for outstanding product design for the third time after receiving it in 2008 and 2015. This puts the fourth-generation FABIA on a par with the brand’s iconic OCTAVIA. ŠKODA vehicles have now won 17 awards in the product design category of the renowned design competition. The international jury was impressed by the FABIA’s striking design, spaciousness and balanced package overall.

“Winning the Red Dot Award for the new FABIA is a very special honour and wonderful confirmation of our work. I would like to thank the entire team, who strive to develop our models’ product identity with great dedication and enthusiasm every day. For over ten years now, our cars have regularly impressed the internationally renowned jury members with their emotive design, generous space, practicality and excellent value for money – an attractive package all-round that our customers also appreciate.”

Oliver Stefani, Head of ŠKODA Design

Offering the most space in its segment, the fourth-generation ŠKODA FABIA also scores points for its emotive design and athletic proportions. The angular front headlights, which come with LED technology as standard, extend to the ŠKODA grille. Just like the LED rear lights, they feature crystalline structures inspired by Bohemian glass art. Another tribute to the FABIA’s country of origin appears on the front doors, with bodylines stylising the characteristic triangle of the Czech flag.

In their summary, the expert jury of the Red Dot Award emphasised: “The FABIA conveys a sporty yet likeable impression through its exterior design. The interior has a surprisingly generous feeling of spaciousness.” The symmetrically designed instrument panel along with the free-standing central display and horizontal decorative trim emphasise the width of the interior and enhance the FABIA’s ample space.

48 design experts from 23 countries judge entries
The Red Dot Award is one of the world’s best-known and most prestigious design competitions. 48 jury members from 23 nations, including professors, designers, journalists and consultants, independently evaluated each entry based on numerous criteria, including standard of innovation, functionality, ergonomics, durability and environmental friendliness. In 2022, the Red Dot, which is an internationally recognised seal of quality product design, will be presented for the 67th time. The official award ceremony will be held at the Red Dot Gala on 20 June 2022 in Essen/Germany.

The fourth-generation FABIA has secured this coveted seal of quality for ŠKODA for the 17th time. The Czech automaker’s first Red Dot Award was received for the OCTAVIA COMBI II in 2006. Following four more Red Dot Awards in the Brand and Communication Design category, ŠKODA AUTO also won the prize in the Interface & User Experience category for the first time last year for the MyŠKODA smartphone app and the digital design system ŠKODA Flow.

An overview of all ŠKODA vehicles awarded the Red Dot to date

2022 ŠKODA FABIA IV
2021 ŠKODA ENYAQ iV
2020 ŠKODA OCTAVIA IV and ŠKODA KAMIQ GT
2019 ŠKODA SCALA
2018 ŠKODA KAROQ
2017 ŠKODA KODIAQ and ŠKODA OCTAVIA COMBI III
2016 ŠKODA SUPERB III
2015 ŠKODA FABIA III
2014 ŠKODA RAPID SPACEBACK
2013 ŠKODA RAPID
2010 ŠKODA SUPERB II und ŠKODA YETI
2008 ŠKODA FABIA II
2007 ŠKODA ROOMSTER
2006 ŠKODA OCTAVIA COMBI II

Article source: www.skoda-storyboard.com

After several weeks’ downtime, ŠKODA AUTO has resumed production of the ŠKODA ENYAQ iV. Initially, around 1,000 units per week will run off the production line, and capacity will gradually be increased. The reason for the production shutdown was supply bottlenecks for cable harnesses from Ukraine.

ŠKODA AUTO is ramping up production of its all-electric SUV ENYAQ iV at the main plant in Mladá Boleslav. Production was suspended for several weeks due to supply bottlenecks for cable harnesses.

The manufacturer has now managed to restore the supply of the essential components, enabling production to be restarted. ŠKODA AUTO’s long-term goal is to maintain full production capacity. However, this is dependent on the availability of specific parts, and it is currently not possible to make predictions about the supply chains.

Around 1,000 ENYAQ iVs per week can be produced now that production has resumed, and capacity will gradually be increased over a two-month period. In the long term, the plant in Mladá Boleslav will be producing up to 370 ENYAQ iVs and ENYAQ COUPÉ iVs per day.

The first all-electric ŠKODA SUV represents the Czech carmaker’s biggest step to date in implementing its electromobility strategy. The ENYAQ iV is based on the Volkswagen Group’s Modular Electrification Toolkit (MEB). It is built at ŠKODA’s main plant in Mladá Boleslav, making it the only MEB model in Europe to be manufactured outside Germany. The company converted an existing production line to manufacture the ENYAQ iV, expanding it to handle MEB vehicles. This makes it possible to produce models based on the MEB and the MQB (Modular Transverse Toolkit) alongside each other – the only European plant in the Volkswagen Group capable of doing so. In addition to the all-electric SUV, the best-selling OCTAVIA is also produced there.

Article source: www.skoda-storyboard.com

The ŠKODA ENYAQ iV has added to its growing collection of industry accolades by scooping a top honour at the annual Top Gear Electric Awards. The in-demand all-electric SUV was named as the Best Value Electric Car by a panel of experts.

The ENYAQ iV – ŠKODA’s first purpose-built electric car – saw off stiff competition to be crowned the winner. The Top Gear judging panel praised the Czech-built SUV for its practicality, size and refinement and highlighted the ENYAQ iV’s long range and high-quality finish.

Commenting on the award, Top Gear Editor Jack Rix, said: “The SKODA ENYAQ is the practical, value choice for a family EV. This is the one that’ll shed dirt easily, wear battle scars lightly, cost you the least to own and run. If you can, upgrade to the 77kWh battery. That aside, this is the complete family package.”

Launched last year, the ENYAQ iV leads the brand’s bold electrification strategy and has proved a huge success with buyers. The in-demand SUV will be joined later this year by a new ENYAQ Coupé iV vRS variant – the brand’s first fully electric vRS model.

Launched in June 2021, the ENYAQ iV has already amassed an impressive number of automotive titles. These include Scottish Car of the Year, What Car? Best Electric Large SUV, Parkers Car of the Year, and Electrifying.com Family Car of the Year.

Article source: www.skoda.co.uk/news

To mark Earth Day today, ŠKODA AUTO is once again taking part in the Volkswagen Group’s #Project1Hour this year. The initiative focuses on personal responsibility for climate protection and calls on employees around the world to consider how they can contribute to improving their ecological footprint during a one-hour workshop. ŠKODA AUTO has incorporated its ambitious sustainability goals into its ‘GreenFuture’ strategy and tightened them as part of its NEXT LEVEL – ŠKODA STRATEGY 2030. The car manufacturer aims to reduce its fleet emissions by more than 50 per cent compared to 2020.

The #Project1Hour initiative encourages the more than 660,000 employees in the Volkswagen Group to focus on their own contribution to sustainability and climate protection. This year, ŠKODA AUTO employees are not the only people taking part in the project; the car manufacturer’s subsidiaries, including ŠKODA AUTO Slovakia, ŠKODA AUTO Germany, ŠKO-ENERGO and SAVWIPL India are also getting involved.

Article source: www.skoda-storyboard.com

ŠKODA AUTO can look back on a challenging yet successful 2021 fiscal year. 878,200 vehicles were delivered to customers worldwide despite the shortage of semiconductors and coronavirus pandemic. Newly launched models, including the FABIA and the refreshed KODIAQ, enjoy high demand. The ENYAQ iV, the brand’s first all-electric SUV, significantly exceeded expectations, with almost 45,000 being delivered. At the same time, ŠKODA AUTO now has even more responsibility at the Group level, for example, for the regions of North Africa and Russia as well as the MQB-A0 Global Platform. The company expects significant burdens on its operating business in 2022 due to the war in Ukraine and supply bottlenecks.

ŠKODA AUTO CEO Thomas Schäfer emphasises: “Despite all the challenges, 2021 was a good year for ŠKODA AUTO. We did everything we could during the semiconductor crisis to produce as many cars as possible. This enabled us to keep global deliveries at a respectable level. At the same time, we introduced new models and set the course for a new decade of transformation with the NEXT LEVEL – ŠKODA STRATEGY 2030. We are strengthening our role within the Group by taking on even more responsibility, for example for the region of North Africa and the MQB-A0 Global Platform. We are expanding our range of e-models, such as the ENYAQ COUPÉ iV, and we are taking further ambitious steps in sustainability and diversity. For the rest of the year, we expect a great deal of uncertainty due to the war in Ukraine and supply constraints.”

ŠKODA AUTO Board Member for Sales and Marketing, Martin Jahn, adds: “With the new generation FABIA, the refreshed best-selling SUVs KAROQ and KODIAQ as well as our first all-electric ENYAQ iV, we have upgraded and expanded our model range in a targeted manner. The shortage of semiconductors meant that we were only able to meet the high demand to a limited extent. Despite the difficult situation, we managed to rank among the top 8 brands in Europe. In India, we more than doubled our deliveries thanks to the successful launch of the KUSHAQ. I would like to thank our customers for their trust and patience and our dealers for their outstanding commitment. This year, we will continue this momentum with new models such as the ENYAQ COUPÉ iV, the FABIA MONTE CARLO and the refreshed KAROQ. At the same time, we expect another very challenging sales year due to the ongoing production limitations.”

OCTAVIA still the brand’s bestseller, ENYAQ iV exceeds expectations, strong growth in India
ŠKODA AUTO delivered 878,200 vehicles worldwide in the 2021 fiscal year. With 200,800 units delivered, the OCTAVIA was once again the most popular model, followed by the SUV series KAMIQ (120,700 vehicles) and KAROQ (119,200 vehicles). The ENYAQ iV, ŠKODA’s first model based on the Modular Electrification Toolkit, was successfully launched on the markets and significantly exceeded expectations with around 45,000 units delivered. In total, more than 115,000 orders have been received. The Czech carmaker has now added an attractive coupé variant to its model portfolio with the ENYAQ COUPÉ iV. In addition, a new software package increases the maximum range, shortens charging times, increases comfort and optimises operation. The new ENYAQ COUPÉ iV, the refreshed KAROQ as well as the FABIA MONTE CARLO will be heading to customers in 2022.

In India, the new KUSHAQ, the first model developed under the INDIA 2.0 project, has generated significant growth for ŠKODA (+108.9 per cent compared to the previous year). Production of the second model, the notchback saloon SLAVIA, recently started and will ensure further growth in the popular A0 segment.

The new NEXT LEVEL – ŠKODA STRATEGY 2030 sets the course through a decade of transformation
With its new corporate strategy NEXT LEVEL – ŠKODA STRATEGY 2030, ŠKODA AUTO is becoming even more electric, digital and international. The company aims to be one of the five best-selling brands in Europe by 2030 with particularly affordable entry-level models and a strong e-model portfolio. At the same time, the Czech carmaker aims to be the leading European brand in India and North Africa and to take on additional responsibility within the Volkswagen Group. The strategy also lays the groundwork for further progress in sustainability and diversity.

Three more all-electric models, MEB battery production launched, ENYAQ iV receives software update
Following the successful launch of the ENYAQ iV and the introduction of the ENYAQ COUPÉ iV, ŠKODA AUTO is planning three more all-electric models before 2030, all of which will be below the ENYAQ iV in terms of price and size. Depending on market developments, the share of all-electric models in Europe is expected to rise to 50 – 70 per cent. More than 227,000 high-voltage traction batteries for the plug-in hybrid models of ŠKODA and other Group brands have already been produced at the headquarters in Mladá Boleslav. In addition, production of MEB battery systems will start there at the end of April. The decision on a possible Gigafactory in the Czech Republic is also expected in the first half of the year. Through these initiatives, ŠKODA AUTO’s home country is becoming an electromobility hub, with the aim of securing jobs and creating new ones.

ŠKODA AUTO assumes worldwide responsibility for the MQB-A0 Global Platform
Since October 2021, ŠKODA AUTO has been responsible for developing the Volkswagen Group’s existing MQB-A0 Global Platform. Based on this, ŠKODA and other Volkswagen Group brands will be designing new entry-level models for regions with high growth potential such as India, Africa, the ASEAN countries and Latin America.

Tangible progress in digitalisation: use of AI, establishing an IT training institute
ŠKODA AUTO is focusing on digital services that offer customers real added value. For example, ENYAQ iV drivers can now charge their car easily and conveniently at over 293,000 charging points in Europe thanks to the Powerpass. At the same time, the Czech car manufacturer is making targeted use of artificial intelligence. One example is the Citymove app, which combines bus and tram links as well as the underground, rental bikes, taxis and ride-hailing services to map out a smart and fast route to the destination; it was downloaded 230,000 times last year. The peer-to-peer car-sharing platform HoppyGo also launched in Poland and Slovakia in 2021. Users of the scooter sharing service BeRider have travelled more than 2 million kilometres in Prague since 2019. To promote the training of IT specialists, ŠKODA AUTO has cofounded the ‘42 Prague’ training institute. Starting this summer, up to 450 future programmers will receive training free of charge to prepare them for the jobs of the future by teaching them the most important software programming languages in a practical way, among other things.

Sustainability Advisory Board established, substantial progress towards CO₂ reduction
ŠKODA AUTO is enlisting the expertise of an independent Sustainability Advisory Board to help it implement its ambitious sustainability goals. The five internationally experienced members of the independent committee are contributing new impetus and suggestions to promote dialogue between the company and its stakeholders. The first specific projects will be initiated this year. In addition, ŠKODA AUTO has cut CO₂ along the entire value chain. As a result, the company surpassed the EU’s CO₂ fleet target by three grams last year. The increased share of all‑electric vehicles, in particular, lowered the average emission values and thus made a significant contribution to outperforming the targets. In addition, a total of 11,000 tonnes of CO₂ were saved in production and water consumption was reduced by more than a third.

Systematic further development of the brand with a new design language
In the second half of 2022, ŠKODA AUTO will be unveiling a new design language. Following the central theme of ‘modern solid’ it will be rolled out gradually over the coming year. In doing so, the Czech car manufacturer is turning its focus towards family and outdoor lifestyles, taking into account its customers’ rapidly changing expectations and needs.

Major uncertainties due to war in Ukraine and supply bottlenecks, relief campaigns launched
The company expects tremendous burdens on its operating business in 2022 due to the war in Ukraine and supply bottlenecks. In close collaboration with its social partner KOVO, ŠKODA AUTO has devised numerous specific aid measures. For example, the Czech car manufacturer has donated 10 million Czech crowns to the Czech organisation ‘People in Need’ (‘Člověk v tísni’) as a first step. Any Ukrainian workers in need will be helped to build a safe life in the Czech Republic for their families. ŠKODA AUTO is sending millions of crowns to support partner cities in caring for refugees near its production plants, focusing on accommodation, language classes, education, health care and integration. In addition, ŠKODA Logistics is helping to transport material donations to Ukraine and lending vehicles to Czech humanitarian organisations to support their activities quickly, efficiently and without unnecessary bureaucracy.

Article source: www.skoda-storyboard.com

The ŠKODA ENYAQ iV has added to its growing collection of industry accolades by scooping a top honour at the annual Top Gear Electric Awards. The in-demand all-electric SUV was named as the Best Value Electric Car by a panel of experts.

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