Outlook: Specific approaches for a sustainable future

› Seven-seater ŠKODA VISION 7S concept car presents ŠKODA’s new design language
› ŠKODA showcases many sustainable interior materials in the IVET show car
› The three pillars of ŠKODA’s Sustainability Strategy 2030 – Environment, Social Responsibility and Governance & Economy – are an integral part of the NEXT LEVEL – ŠKODA STRATEGY 2030

Mladá Boleslav, 19 September 2022 – The electric VISION 7S concept study provides a clear outlook on the Czech carmaker’s future models. Based on the current OCTAVIA, ŠKODA AUTO’s IVET show car demonstrates the kind of sustainable materials that may feature in the interiors of future vehicles.

The recently presented VISION 7S concept study introduces ŠKODA’s new design language and points the way to a more sustainable future: Parts of the front and rear aprons, the wheel arch linings and the interior floor are made from recycled tyres, while the fabric on the door panels, dashboard and seat centre sections is made from recycled polyester yarns.

The powerful appearance of the VISION 7S with its solid underbody, broad shoulders and high tornado line combines with the symmetrically designed interior, which embraces the passengers, creating a feeling of safety and security. The battery-electric SUV is particularly sustainable and energy-efficient, offering a range of more than 600 kilometres in the WLTP cycle. The high-voltage battery can be charged from 10 to 80% in just 25 minutes with a peak charging power of 200 kW.

ŠKODA AUTO’s IVET interior study provides a glimpse of the sustainable materials that may shape the interiors of future vehicles. Based on the current OCTAVIA, the show car’s A, B, C and D pillar trims and the lower section of the door panels are made from a composite of polypropylene and the rapidly regrowing grass miscanthus. A composite of ABS plastic and sugar beet fibres, which ŠKODA obtains from a nearby sugar factory in Dobrovice, is used for the decorative trims on the doors, dashboard and centre console. These fibres are a by-product of sugar production. The fabric for the dash and seat centre sections is made from natural alpaca and virgin wool combined with recycled PET bottles. ŠKODA AUTO’s Development department is testing fibres and coconut husks, nut shells, rice, cork and hops as well as coffee grounds as potential natural fillers for composite plastic materials. The storage compartment in the door trim also contains a small bin with a holder and lid made of compostable plastic. The replaceable waste bags are biodegradable.

A vegan material with high recycled content is used for the steering wheel, while the fabric used for the headliner is made from 100% recycled PET bottles. The bumpers were manufactured entirely from old, discarded bumpers by car recycling companies. Working closely with a recycling company near Mladá Boleslav ensures the necessary quality and supply stability.

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The three pillars of ŠKODA’s Sustainability Strategy 2030 – Environment, Social Responsibility and Governance & Economy – are firmly anchored in the NEXT LEVEL – ŠKODA STRATEGY 2030. The car manufacturer’s Board members are responsible for implementing the strategy in close cooperation with the independent External Sustainability Council.

Among other measures, the Environmental pillar includes transforming the plants into zero-impact factories, which, in the medium term, will no longer impact the environment in any way during production. This pillar also includes promoting biodiversity projects, such as the ‘One Tree for Every Car’ initiative. Through this project, ŠKODA is supporting reforestation in the Czech Republic; since 2007, the company has planted a tree for every vehicle delivered in its domestic market. By the end of 2021, the car manufacturer had planted one million seedlings. The total area of new forest created at 170 locations amounts to 347 football pitches or 227 hectares. Thanks to a foundation and the support of its employees, ŠKODA AUTO also promotes other biodiversity projects surrounding its Czech sites. Examples include constructing and recultivating gardens and parks as well as establishing nature-oriented recreational facilities.

The company also supports numerous projects to preserve biodiversity and promote sustainability near its plants in India. Besides an eco-park close to the Chakan site, current initiatives include an oxygen park at the Aurangabad plant, where around 25,000 trees have been planted since 2019 to produce oxygen and sequester carbon dioxide. In 2020, ŠKODA supported a development project near Chakan to plant 10,000 fruit trees, which will serve as a source of income for local farmers in years to come. Another project will see more than 580,000 mangrove trees planted by 2027. The aim is to protect marine life and prevent coastal erosion.

The Social pillar focuses on training and development measures for employees based on ŠKODA AUTO’s code of conduct, which was updated in November 2019. The company also presented its Diversity Strategy 2030 last May. The content of the programme is guided by changing social expectations of forward-looking employers and clear objectives in the fields of diversity and inclusion to be achieved by the end of the decade. ŠKODA AUTO thus underlines its commitment to diversity, equal opportunities and tolerance as key elements for successfully implementing its ambitious strategic corporate goals.