Retail Network
GreenRetail: Our Global Initiative
Our mission is to make our dealerships and service workshops more environment-friendly. It’s not just about cutting back on waste and energy consumption – we’re always looking for ways to improve the environment around us, whether that’s by reusing rainwater or protecting local wildlife and natural habitats. Every step we take considers the delicate balance of nature, always prioritising the protection of endangered species and preserving the health of our forests and soils.
Striving for Sustainability across the Retail Network
Škoda cars are sold in around 100 countries, supported by a strong retail network of 3,200 dealers. As part of the Volkswagen Group’s goTOzero Retail project, our GreenRetail strategy adopts a comprehensive approach to environmental and climate protection throughout our retail and service network. This includes supporting our service network in the take-back of tyres and lead-acid batteries, as well as managing waste from vehicle repairs. A key objective of the GreenRetail strategy is to achieve at least a 30% reduction in the overall carbon footprint of our retail and service network by 2030, relative to 2020.
Pilot Phase of 100% Sustainable Dealerships
Our progress towards a more sustainable Škoda dealership network, guided by the GreenRetail strategy, is exemplified by Škoda Skandi Motors in Riga, Latvia. Following an extensive renovation, the dealership reopened in May 2024, incorporating energy-efficient solutions such as improved thermal insulation, solar panels, and motion-activated LED lighting. As the first sustainable Škoda dealership, it also supports local biodiversity with newly planted greenery and enhances community life by offering a public bike workshop and a cosy café corner. For partners interested in joining our network of sustainable dealerships, we’ve developed a comprehensive guide in the form of an architectural concept that can be tailored to local conditions and individual requirements.
Pilot Phase of 100% Sustainable Dealerships
Our progress towards a more sustainable Škoda dealership network, guided by the GreenRetail strategy, is exemplified by Škoda Skandi Motors in Riga, Latvia. Following an extensive renovation, the dealership reopened in May 2024, incorporating energy-efficient solutions such as improved thermal insulation, solar panels, and motion-activated LED lighting. As the first sustainable Škoda dealership, it also supports local biodiversity with newly planted greenery and enhances community life by offering a public bike workshop and a cosy café corner. For partners interested in joining our network of sustainable dealerships, we’ve developed a comprehensive guide in the form of an architectural concept that can be tailored to local conditions and individual requirements.
Tyre and Lead-Acid Battery Take-Back Scheme in the Czech Republic
In the Czech Republic, we’ve been inviting people to return their used tyres to approved Škoda dealers at no cost since 2009. This is part of our commitment to meet the national requirement for tyre manufacturers and dealers to recycle 80% of the tyres they sell or use. Instead of simply burning old tyres for fuel, they’re given new life in inventive and sustainable ways, such as creating rubber tiles for children’s play areas, noise barriers for trams, and material for asphalt-rubber roads. In 2023, 2,214 tonnes of tyres were collected and recycled. A similar take-back scheme is in place for lead-acid batteries.
Harnessing the Power of Wind
We’re championing numerous initiatives to further our sustainability agenda, including backing the construction of a 100-turbine wind farm in Tamil Nadu, India. This project is predicted to generate 200 MW, enough carbon-neutral energy for 600,000 households. In Finland, we’re also involved in establishing a new wind power plant that will soon produce enough energy to power about 150,000 homes with its 160 MW output. Additionally, another wind farm is in Melč-Moravice in the east of the Czech Republic, catering to our own energy demands.
Harnessing the Power of Wind
We’re championing numerous initiatives to further our sustainability agenda, including backing the construction of a 100-turbine wind farm in Tamil Nadu, India. This project is predicted to generate 200 MW, enough carbon-neutral energy for 600,000 households. In Finland, we’re also involved in establishing a new wind power plant that will soon produce enough energy to power about 150,000 homes with its 160 MW output. Additionally, another wind farm is in Melč-Moravice in the east of the Czech Republic, catering to our own energy demands.
Innovative Urban Transport Solutions
Through our platforms HoppyGo and Citymove, we’ve rolled out a comprehensive range of urban transport solutions across a growing number of European nations. From two wheels to four: HoppyGo, our peer-to-peer car-sharing platform, already has about 180,000 users across three countries. And the Citymove app, which maps out the most efficient routes through Prague, has a host of other features designed to make travelling simpler, more enjoyable and, importantly, greener.
Innovative Urban Transport Solutions
Through our platforms HoppyGo and Citymove, we’ve rolled out a comprehensive range of urban transport solutions across a growing number of European nations. From two wheels to four: HoppyGo, our peer-to-peer car-sharing platform, already has about 180,000 users across three countries. And the Citymove app, which maps out the most efficient routes through Prague, has a host of other features designed to make travelling simpler, more enjoyable and, importantly, greener.
Eco-Management of Used Oils and Waste
We take utmost care in managing used oils and hazardous waste across our sales and service network, strictly following all regional laws, such as the Czech Republic’s 541/2020 Coll. (Waste Act). This ensures the protection of the environment and the health of our employees and service partners.
Back to Our Roots with the Škoda Trees Programme
Launched in 2007, our ‘One Car, One Tree’ CSR project involves planting a tree for every vehicle sold in the Czech Republic. We passed the one million mark in 2021, and by the end of 2023, we’d managed to plant 1,244,080 saplings. The new forests cover the equivalent of over 259 hectares or 395 football pitches! This leafy legacy is not only breathing new life into the Czech landscape but also cultivating richer biodiversity throughout the region.
Back to Our Roots with the Škoda Trees Programme
Launched in 2007, our ‘One Car, One Tree’ CSR project involves planting a tree for every vehicle sold in the Czech Republic. We passed the one million mark in 2021, and by the end of 2023, we’d managed to plant 1,244,080 saplings. The new forests cover the equivalent of over 259 hectares or 395 football pitches! This leafy legacy is not only breathing new life into the Czech landscape but also cultivating richer biodiversity throughout the region.
Conserving Biodiversity
As part of our GreenFuture strategy and the Volkswagen Group’s regenerate+ strategy, we’ve implemented a number of measures to protect biodiversity around our production plants worldwide. In addition to planting trees in the Czech Republic, we’ve initiated the Krakonoš Gardens funding project and constructed habitats for endangered peregrine falcons in Mladá Boleslav. Moreover, our test track site now boasts a biodiverse forest spanning 208.5 hectares. Beyond these initiatives, we encourage our staff to champion sustainability efforts both locally and internationally. For example, Škoda Auto Volkswagen India (SAVWIPL) is a signatory to the India Business and Biodiversity Initiative. At our 500-hectare Pune site in India, we’ve cultivated a habitat for over 340 species of plants, trees, and animals and set up an Oxygen Park, Green Hub and Green Future Park, which collectively contain over 80,000 trees, at our Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar plant.
Preparing Czech Dealerships for a Carbon-Neutral Future
We’re planning a radical overhaul of our Czech dealership network to align it with our 2030 sustainability goals. As part of our journey towards e-mobility, a 2022 pilot project found an exciting solution for used e-car batteries: repurposing them as energy storage systems. These will soon be rolled out across our Czech dealerships, enabling solar energy produced from rooftop panels to power showrooms and garages.
Preparing Czech Dealerships for a Carbon-Neutral Future
We’re planning a radical overhaul of our Czech dealership network to align it with our 2030 sustainability goals. As part of our journey towards e-mobility, a 2022 pilot project found an exciting solution for used e-car batteries: repurposing them as energy storage systems. These will soon be rolled out across our Czech dealerships, enabling solar energy produced from rooftop panels to power showrooms and garages.
Going above and beyond
Our importers are also doing their part. For example, Škoda Slovakia is working with a centre for abuse survivors to repurpose used advertising banners into handy Dorka Tote bags. Meanwhile, Škoda Switzerland recently donated new cars to the Theodora Foundation, an organisation that has been bringing joy, laughter, and momentary relief to children in hospitals and institutions for youth with disabilities since 1993.