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ŠKODA AUTO delivered 878,200 vehicles worldwide in 2021 despite the COVID-19 pandemic and semiconductor shortage. With almost 45,000 deliveries, the all-electric ENYAQ iV model has made a successful start in the markets. Thanks to the new KUSHAQ, ŠKODA AUTO is also achieving significant growth in India. The company expects the supply situation for semiconductors to gradually improve in the second half of 2022. The Czech car manufacturer is anticipating positive impetus from new products, in particular the ENYAQ COUPÉ iV and the refreshed KAROQ.

“2021 was one of the most challenging years in ŠKODA AUTO’s history. The COVID-19 pandemic and the shortage of semiconductors have significantly slowed down our growth. Thanks to the flexibility and resourcefulness of the ŠKODA team, as well as the close cooperation with our social partner KOVO and suppliers, we managed to steer the company through the year successfully and deliver a respectable result. We expect the semiconductor supply situation to gradually ease in the second half of the year. I am looking ahead with confidence; we have many new products in the pipeline, including the ENYAQ COUPÉ iV, we are experiencing very high customer demand, and we have a highly motivated team. Over the long term, the company is in an excellent position to emerge stronger from the transformation process thanks to our NEXT LEVEL – ŠKODA STRATEGY 2030.”

Thomas Schäfer, ŠKODA AUTO CEO

“The COVID-19 pandemic and the semiconductor shortage led to extended delivery times last year. I would like to express my gratitude to our customers for their trust in the ŠKODA brand and our dealers for their tremendous dedication in these challenging times. Our products are very well received worldwide, and demand continues to grow thanks to models such as the ENYAQ iV and the new FABIA. We are now picking up the pace as we enter the new year: The revised versions of our best-selling SUVs, the KODIAQ and KAROQ, as well as the new ENYAQ COUPÉ iV are great products, and I am convinced they will prove very popular with our customers.”

Martin Jahn, ŠKODA AUTO Board Member for Sales and Marketing

In Western Europe, ŠKODA AUTO delivered 409,000 vehicles in 2021, a decrease of 5.9% compared to the previous year (January to December 2020: 434,500 vehicles). In December, deliveries amounted to 34,200 vehicles (December 2020: 41,700 vehicles).
In Germany, its largest single market worldwide, the carmaker recorded 136,800 deliveries last year, down 15.4% year-on-year (January to December 2020: 161,800 vehicles). In December, deliveries totalled 14,700, down 11.5% on the previous year (December 2020:16,600 vehicles).
ŠKODA AUTO achieved double-digit growth in Portugal (1,800 vehicles; +37.4%), Norway (9,800 vehicles; +36.9%), Ireland (9,100 vehicles; +21.8%), the Netherlands (19,300 vehicles; +19.0%) and Spain (24,600 vehicles; +17.0%).

In Central Europe, ŠKODA AUTO delivered a total of 164,100 vehicles from January to December 2021, 9.8% fewer than in the previous year (January to December 2020: 181,900 vehicles). In December, the brand recorded 12,200 deliveries, a decrease of 16.5% compared to the same month of 2020 (December 2020: 14,600 vehicles).
In the Czech Republic – ŠKODA AUTO’s domestic market – deliveries from January to December 2021 dropped by 4.0% to 79,900 vehicles (January to December 2020: 83,200 vehicles). In December, the carmaker delivered 6,700 vehicles in this market (December 2020: 7,100 vehicles; -5.0%).

In Eastern Europe excluding Russia, ŠKODA AUTO delivered 35,800 vehicles to customers (January to December 2020: 39,400 vehicles; -9.2%). In December, deliveries fell by 39.9% to 2,500 vehicles (December 2020: 4,200 vehicles).

In Russia, 90,400 deliveries represents a decrease of 4.4% compared to 2020 (January to December 2020: 94,600 vehicles). ŠKODA AUTO delivered 7,200 vehicles in December (December 2020: 9,700 vehicles; -25.7%).

In China, the Czech car manufacturer delivered 71,200 vehicles in 2021. This corresponds to
a 58.8% drop (January to December 2020: 173,000 vehicles). In December, ŠKODA recorded 7,500 deliveries in this region (December 2020: 16,500 vehicles; -54.6%).

In India, ŠKODA AUTO achieved significant growth in 2021 following the launch of the KUSHAQ, which was developed specifically for this market, recording a total of 22,800 vehicles deliveries in the region (January to December 2020: 10,900 vehicles; +108.9%). In December 2021, deliveries stood at 3,500 vehicles (December 2020: 1,400 vehicles; +156.2%).

The manufacturer can also report encouraging growth in the rest of the world: from January to December 2021, ŠKODA AUTO increased its vehicle deliveries by 20.6% to 85,000 units (January to December 2020: 70,500 vehicles).

Article source: www.skoda-storyboard.com

Top marks for ŠKODA: The European New Car Assessment Programme (Euro NCAP) has declared the all-electric ŠKODA ENYAQ iV SUV and the fourth-generation ŠKODA FABIA best-in-class for the 2021 test year. This means the two models were the safest of all vehicles tested in their respective classes in 2021. The ENYAQ iV is the safest SUV to have been submitted to the crash safety reference test to date, scoring 86 per cent of the total possible points. The new FABIA meanwhile, at 78 per cent, achieved the best score of all the compact cars tested in 2021. ŠKODA is the only manufacturer to be represented with two vehicles in the line-up of “Best-in-class Cars of 2021”. All 14 new ŠKODA models launched since 2008 have received the maximum five star rating in the Euro NCAP test.

Euro NCAP regularly compiles a list of the vehicles that have achieved the top result in their class in the crash safety reference tests performed during the previous year. For 2021, these “Best in class Cars” include two ŠKODA models: the ŠKODA ENYAQ iV in the SUV class and the ŠKODA FABIA in the compact car class. This makes ŠKODA the only manufacturer to have two class winners in 2021. The ENYAQ iV and the FABIA are the thirteenth and fourteenth new ŠKODA models in direct succession to have received the top rating of five stars since 2008. In 2014, the third-generation FABIA had also been declared best in its class. As the Euro NCAP test requirements become tougher each year, the best-in-class comparison is made only within the years 2020 and 2021 so that all vehicles are assessed against the same standards.

The ŠKODA ENYAQ iV received the maximum rating of five stars and an overall score of 86 per cent of all possible points in the 2021 Euro NCAP test. The first ŠKODA vehicle to be based on the Volkswagen Group’s MEB modular electric car platform achieved outstanding results in the comprehensive crash and safety tests of the European New Car Assessment Programme, particularly in terms of occupant protection. With 94 per cent of available points for Adult Occupant Protection and 89 per cent for Child Occupant Protection, the ŠKODA SUV set a new record in the Euro NCAP tests, which were once again made more stringent, compared to 2020. Since then this percentage has only been exceeded once, by a premium class vehicle.

In its Euro NCAP test, the new ŠKODA FABIA benefited from a further increase in safety due to the switch to the Volkswagen Group’s MQB-A0 Modular Transverse Matrix, which now enables the use of seven modern assistance systems, among other improvements. The successful model’s fourth generation scored 78 per cent of the maximum available points and, like the ENYAQ iV, excelled particularly in the area of occupant protection, with 85 per cent of the possible points for Adult Occupant Protection and 81 per cent of the maximum points for Child Occupant Protection.

The European New Car Assessment Programme (Euro NCAP) is a scheme founded in 1997 by transport ministries, automobile clubs, insurance associations and research institutes from eight European countries. The consortium is based in the Belgian city of Leuven. It conducts crash tests on current vehicle models and evaluates their active and passive safety as well as their rescue and recovery safety. In recent years, the tests have continuously been made more stringent and now include various collision scenarios. While initially only the results of crash tests were evaluated, the ratings of active safety systems, as well as driver assistance systems, now have a greater weighting in the overall evaluation.

Article source: www.skoda-storyboard.com

The all-electric ŠKODA ENYAQ iV boasts efficient drive technology and outstanding aerodynamics in its segment. This enables long-distance ranges of more than 520 kilometres in the WLTP cycle. Outside temperatures between 20 and 30 °C are ideal for efficiency. However, the range of electric vehicles is reduced in winter when electricity from the battery is needed, for example, to heat the interior and keep the batteries at the correct temperature. With the right steps and equipment options, the reduction in range at low temperatures can easily be minimised.

Driving in winter places high demands on modern electric vehicles like the ŠKODA ENYAQ iV. While a model with a combustion engine uses the engine’s waste heat to warm the interior, the energy required for this in an electric vehicle comes from the traction battery. The thermal management of the battery also consumes electricity, which is why the range is reduced. However, by improving the battery temperature control using new software, the optional heat pump and a few simple steps the driver can take, the winter reduction in range can be greatly minimised.”

Axel Andorff, Head of MEB Projects

The ŠKODA ENYAQ iV has an impressive range, making it suitable for everyday use and long-distance journeys. For example, the ENYAQ iV 80 with an 82-kWh lithium-ion battery can travel more than 520 kilometres on a single charge (according to the WLTP cycle). When it is cold, however, the range of electric vehicles is reduced since the battery must be kept within an optimal temperature window by a sophisticated thermal management system. Energy from the battery is used for this as well as for heating the interior. Unlike models with combustion engines, electric models cannot use waste heat for this purpose. The heat pump, which is available as an option for the ENYAQ iV, offers a solution; it compresses CO₂ to produce warm air, which heats the interior without drawing energy from the battery.

Improved thermal management of the battery using new software
The ENYAQ iV’s drive battery is kept within an ideal temperature window to enable optimal power output, efficient recuperation and the fastest possible DC charging at fast charging points. A new version of the vehicle software optimises the battery’s thermal management, further extending its range in winter temperatures as well as increasing the battery’s service life. The new software will also be installed in ENYAQ iVs that have already been delivered. ŠKODA guarantees that the battery will still have at least 70 per cent of its original capacity after eight years or 160,000 kilometres. To protect the health of the battery, it is advisable to charge it as often as possible to a maximum of 80 per cent for daily use.

Preparing well for winter driving with the ŠKODA ENYAQ iV
With a few simple tricks, ENYAQ iV drivers can increase the vehicle’s range in winter. When the car is parked in a garage, the battery and the interior do not need to be heated as much as when it is parked outside. In addition, preheating the interior can be programmed or switched on via the MyŠKODA app. If a charging cable is connected during preheating, the ENYAQ iV will not draw any energy from the battery. Before setting off, unused vehicle attachments, such as roof racks, should be removed and the tyre pressure checked. Insufficient air pressure increases rolling resistance and thus energy consumption. Eco mode offers additional savings potential; it reduces the power of the Climatronic and limits the engine output to a top speed of 130 km/h. The driver can override these settings at any time by kicking down.

Useful tips for additional energy savings
If the optional steering wheel and seat heating are switched on when driving in low temperatures, the interior heating can be set lower, which saves energy. If you are driving alone, it also makes sense to heat only the driver’s area with 2-zone or 3-zone Climatronic. The anticipatory Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) included in the Travel Assist package saves energy by driving smoothly at a constant speed. It also automatically detects speed limits, bends and roundabouts and allows the ENYAQ iV to brake or coast well in advance. When driving in the city, drive mode B should be selected so that as much energy as possible can be recovered through enhanced recuperation performance. When driving through rural areas or on the motorway, the ENYAQ iV’s low driving resistance makes it possible for only kinetic energy to be used when cruising over extended distances.

Article source: www.skoda-storyboard.com

ŠKODA AUTO is employing 3D printing for the production of components, spare parts and tools. The Czech car manufacturer is making its production and logistics more flexible and efficient by using what is known as 3D print farms. The Confederation of Industry of the Czech Republic (Svaz průmyslu a dopravy České republiky) recognised the ‘More flexible with 3D print farms’ project, considering it one of the five most innovative Industry 4.0 applications from the past year in the country.

“At ŠKODA AUTO, we use 3D printing to manufacture components and tools faster, more efficiently and more cost-effectively and make targeted use of technologies from Industry 4.0. This is how we are implementing our FORCE programme for the Future Factory and pushing ahead with digitalising our production sites. I am delighted that our project has been recognised as one of the five most innovative approaches in the area of Industry 4.0 in the Czech Republic.”

Michael Oeljeklaus, ŠKODA AUTO Board Member for Production and Logistics

The benefits of 3D printing across the business
ŠKODA AUTO uses 3D printing, for example, in prototype production in its Pilot Hall. Plastic 3D printing is used, in particular, in the maintenance departments in vehicle production. The carmaker also employs the technology in Central Technical Service, for the production of tools and spare parts and for the testing of new materials. Furthermore, the technology is used for the production of one-off items and small series.

High degree of flexibility: adaptable parts and reduced lead times
Currently, there are fifty 3D printers in ŠKODA AUTO’s Production and Logistics division, enabling the carmaker to apply the additive process. These are linked by a dedicated network for a working group responsible for plastic 3D printing. The largest 3D print farm, a group of ten units, is located in the body shop at the carmaker’s main plant in Mladá Boleslav. The technology makes it possible to flexibly produce the necessary tools or to carry out repairs at short notice. This means the lead time for the tools and spare parts required is significantly shorter and there is no need to keep any stock. The printed parts are added to a database, allowing them to be reproduced or adapted at any time.

Versatile technology
In early April 2020, the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic showed just how versatile 3D printing technology could be: in Technical Development, the carmaker’s own Academy and in Production at the Mladá Boleslav and Kvasiny sites, ŠKODA AUTO manufactured 1,400 protective shields for its own workforce as well as staff of various aid organisations within just two months.

Digitalisation is an integral part of the company’s NEXT LEVEL – ŠKODA STRATEGY 2030
ŠKODA AUTO is fully exploiting the use of Industry 4.0 technologies and, in this context, the possibilities 3D printing has to offer. The consistent further digitalisation of internal procedures and processes across the entire company is one of the cornerstones of the
NEXT LEVEL – ŠKODA STRATEGY 2030.

Article source: www.skoda-storyboard.com

Title successfully defended: The ŠKODA ENYAQ iV is ‘Switzerland’s Favourite Car of 2022’, securing the second successive victory for the Czech manufacturer in the popular readers’ poll of several Swiss media outlets after the OCTAVIA won last year. The award was presented in the eleventh run of the ‘Swiss Car of the Year’ awards. Around 30,000 readers and users voted in the poll, in which ŠKODA’s first all-electric SUV secured 3.6 per cent of the votes ahead of a strong field of entrants that included 55 new cars.

The Swiss magazine ‘Schweizer Illustrierte’, along with ‘AutoScout24’, ‘Blick’, ‘L’Illustré’, ‘Il caffè’ and ‘SonntagsBlick’, held the eleventh run of the readers’ poll for ‘Switzerland’s Favourite Car’. The ‘Swiss Car of the Year’ award ceremony took place online as it did last year due to COVID-19. The ŠKODA ENYAQ iV won over a majority of the approximately 30,000 readers and users, garnering 3.6 per cent of the votes. It takes the baton from the ŠKODA OCTAVIA, which last year became the first ŠKODA ever to win the title of ‘Switzerland’s Favourite Car’. The vehicles nominated for ‘Switzerland’s Favourite Car of 2022’ are all new models that were launched on the Swiss market in 2021 or can be ordered by March 2022 at the latest.

ŠKODA has entered an electrifying new era with the ENYAQ iV. The all-electric SUV is ŠKODA’s first production model to be based on the Volkswagen Group’s Modular Electrification Toolkit (MEB) and is built at the main ŠKODA plant in Mladá Boleslav. This makes the ENYAQ iV the only MEB model in Europe to be manufactured outside Germany. It comes with rear- or all-wheel drive, and also offers a choice of five power levels from 109 to 220 kW and three battery sizes. Its range of more than 520 kilometres in the WLTP cycle ensures its suitability for long-distance travel.

ŠKODA ENYAQ iV continues its string of successes at international award ceremonies
Being voted ‘Favourite Car of Switzerland 2022’ is the fourth high-profile award for the ENYAQ iV in just over three months. The new electric flagship has also been awarded the 2021 Golden Steering Wheel as the best E-SUV by the trade magazine ‘Auto Bild’ and ‘Bild am Sonntag’ in Germany, ŠKODA’s most important single market in Europe. In the ‘Auto Trophy 2021’, organised by the trade magazine ‘Auto Zeitung’, the ENYAQ iV celebrated overall victory as the best E-SUV up to 50,000 euros and also won the import classification. In the poll for the ‘Family Car of the Year’ by the trade magazine ‘AUTO Straßenverkehr’, it took overall victory in the category ‘Best Technology’ for vehicles up to 25,000 euros, also winning the import ranking in this class as well as the ‘Best Design’ category. The ENYAQ iV has qualified for the finals of the European ‘Car of the Year’ award as one of the seven best models, with the winner being chosen and announced in February 2022.

Article source: www.skoda-storyboard.com

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