ŠKODA AUTO Board Member for Production, Michael Oeljeklaus, said, “Reaching the milestone of two and a half million engines manufactured epitomises our company’s 120 years of engineering prowess and our team’s capabilities. Our main plant in Mladá Boleslav is one of the longest-established sites in automotive history. By reaching the production milestone for the EA211 range, we are now adding another chapter to this success story.”
The EA211 range, which has been produced in Mladá Boleslav since 2012, consists of three- and four-cylinder units featuring an aluminium engine block. At present, approximately 900 employees at the main plant build 2,400 engines per day – four different types with cylinder capacities ranging from 1.0 to 1.6 litres. The portfolio of three-cylinders comprises the 1.0 MPI delivering 44 kW (60 PS) or 55 kW (75 PS), the 59-kW (80PS) 1.0 MPI EVO and the 1.0 TSI, which is available with power outputs of 70 kW (95 PS), 81 kW (110 PS) and 85 kW (115 PS). The four-cylinder members of the EA211 family are the 1.4 TSI producing 94 kW (128 PS) or 110 kW (150 PS) and the 1.6 MPI offering 81 kW (110 PS). These are installed in Volkswagen Group models around the globe. They are currently used in nine different models from three Group brands: the ŠKODA FABIA, OCTAVIA, RAPID SPACEBACK, KAROQ, KAMIQ and SCALA, the VW Polo and Ameo, as well as the SEAT Ibiza, Ateca, Leon and Arona.
In addition to engine production in Mlada Boleslav, ŠKODA AUTO’s Vrchlabí component plant also plays a key role in Volkswagen Group’s global production network. The DQ 200 direct-shift transmission, for example, is made there. This modern seven-speed gearbox is used in ŠKODA models as well as in other Volkswagen Group vehicles. 2,200 transmissions of this type are made every day at the high-tech Vrchlabí site. In January 2018, the plant reached the mark of 2,000,000 units built.
Engine production in Mladá Boleslav has a proud history dating back 120 years: Václav Laurin and Václav Klement, the company’s founding fathers, began with the manufacturing of bicycles in 1895. Just four years later, in 1899, they presented their first bike featuring an auxiliary engine. The single-cylinder that powered this motorbike had an output of either 1.25 or 1.75 PS. In 1905, L&K developed a water-cooled 7-PS engine with a cylinder capacity of 1,100 cc for their first car, the Voiturette A.
Milestones for EA211 production in Mladá Boleslav:
2012: EA211 production begins with the 1.0 MPI
2014: 1.4 TSI and 1.6 MPI introduced
2015: 500,000th EA211 built
2016: Start of 1.0 TSI production; ŠKODA AUTO manufactures 1,000,000th EA211
2018: Production of the 1.0 MPI EVO begins
2019: ŠKODA AUTO manufactures 2,500,000th EA211
