“ŠKODA’s heart beat in Mladá Boleslav,” says ŠKODA Production Director Michael Oeljeklaus. “What began here 120 years ago as Laurin and Klement’s small bicycle factory has since become one of the most advanced, powerful and respected production sites in the automotive industry. Producing 12 million vehicles is evidence of the strength and significance of the site and demonstrates the great competence of the local team. Over the coming years, we plan to develop the Mladá Boleslav plant even further.”
Mladá Boleslav is the central pillar of ŠKODA’s global production network. More than 50 % of all ŠKODA vehicles produced around the world to date come from this manufacturing location. The site has undergone comprehensive redevelopment particularly since the brand joined forces with the Volkswagen Group in 1991. Since then, 7.8 million vehicles have been manufactured at the location, of which almost 3.3 million Fabias, around 2.8 million Octavias and over 309,000 Rapids.
The Mladá Boleslav plant plays a key role in ŠKODA’s current model campaign. One of the most comprehensive modernization and expansion projects in the history of the site was undertaken prior to the 2012-production launch of the Octavia/Octavia Combi, Rapid/Rapid Spaceback und Fabia/Fabia Combi models. The capacity of production line I rose from 800 to 1200 vehicles daily. A new car body shop and a fully automated paint shop were also built. In 2013, a new, environmentally friendly press line commenced operations. In addition, another new press line will have been installed by early 2017.
The factory on Václav Klement Road, Mladá Boleslav, is ŠKODA’s factory par excellence. This is where the origins of the Czech manufacturer’s 120-year success story lie. In close proximity to today’s production facilities, ŠKODA’s two founders, Laurin and Klement, first started by constructing bicycles in 1895, then moved on to motorbikes, and eventually produced their first automobile in 1905.
Today, it is not only cars and petrol engines that are manufactured in Mladá Boleslav but also gearboxes. The site employs around 15.000 people in production alone.
Besides the main factory, ŠKODA has two other plants in the Czech Republic, namely Kvasiny and Vrchlabí. In Kvasiny, the Superb, Superb Combi and Yeti are produced. And the Vrchlabí site manufactures the dual-clutch gearbox DQ 200 both for ŠKODA and for other Volkswagen Group brands. In addition to manufacturing in the Czech Republic, ŠKODA vehicles are also produced in China, Russia and India.
Milestones in ŠKODA AUTO’s production:
– 24 November 2015: 12 million ŠKODA vehicles at the Mladá Boleslav plant
– 19 March 2014: 11 million ŠKODA vehicles at the Mladá Boleslav plant
– 26 August 2013: 4 million ŠKODA Octavia
– 9 July 2013: 1 million ŠKODA vehicles in China since 2007
– 5 February 2013: 15 million ŠKODA vehicles since 1905
– 30 January 2012: 14 million ŠKODA vehicles since 1905
– 12 October 2011: 10 million ŠKODA vehicles at the Mladá Boleslav plant
– 8 April 2009: 12 million ŠKODA vehicles since 1905
– 13 July 2006: 10 million ŠKODA vehicles since 1905
– 1991: 5 million ŠKODA vehicles since 1905
Selected vehicles previously manufactured at the ŠKODA plant in Mladá Boleslav:
1905 – 1991
– 1906-1909: L&K type B/B2/BS – 300 units
– 1916-1925: L&K type 200/205/210 – 1200 units
– 1922-1929: L&K type 100/105/110/115/120/125/150 – 5800 units
– 1933-1947: ŠKODA Popular/Standard/Rapid/Favorit/911 – 26,600 units
– 1946-1952: ŠKODA 1101/1102 – 52,500 units
– 1959-1964: ŠKODA Octavia/Combi – 313,700 units
– 1969-1976: ŠKODA 100/110 – 1,079,800 units
– 1976-1989: ŠKODA 150/120/130 – 1,830,300 units
– 1988-1994: ŠKODA Favorit/Forman – 848,800 units
1991 – October 2015
– 1994-2000: ŠKODA Felicia/Felicia Combi – 850,000 units
– 1996-2004: ŠKODA Octavia I – 838,000 units
– 2004-2013: ŠKODA Octavia II – 1,334,100 units
– 2012-10/2015: ŠKODA Octavia III – 633,600 units
– 1999-2008: ŠKODA Fabia I – 1,736,600 units
– 2006-2014: ŠKODA Fabia II – 1,384,400 units
– 2014-10/2015: ŠKODA Fabia III – 166,100 units
– 2012-10/2015: ŠKODA Rapid/Rapid Spaceback – 309,000 units
151124 Heart of ŠKODA Production 12 Million Cars Produced at Mladá Boleslav Plant
