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The 112^th Tour de France, the world’s most famous stage race, gets underway tomorrow, and Škoda Auto is once again joining as the main partner – its 22^nd year in this role. The carmaker is providing up to 225 support vehicles for the organisers, all of which are either fully electric or plug-in hybrid models. Among them will be two ‘Red Cars’ – the new Škoda Enyaq and Superb iV – for Race Director Christian Prudhomme. Škoda is also the longstanding sponsor of the green jersey for the leader of the points classification and supplies the trophies for the overall winner, points leader, mountain classification leader, and best young rider. This year’s race will see a peloton of 184 cyclists in 23 teams compete over 21 stages, covering a total of 3,339 km, with the finish on Paris’s Champs-Élysées.

“Škoda Auto is proud to mark 22 years as the main partner of the Tour de France. As we celebrate our 130th anniversary of Škoda Auto, our commitment to cycling is stronger than ever. We are looking forward to being part of one of the most watched sporting events on the planet, providing a modern fleet of electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles to support this exciting race. Škoda is joining millions of fans along the route and an incredible three billion TV viewers to witness the riders’ outstanding performances. And we are excited to connect with these fans through our WeLoveCycling platform and share the thrill of the race together.”

Martin Jahn, Škoda Auto Board Member for Sales and Marketing

Tour de France returns to the Champs-Élysées
The 112th Tour de France will take place from 5 to 27 July. The Grand Départ sets off from Lille in the north and will culminate with the traditional finish on the Champs-Élysées in Paris. A total of 184 riders in 23 teams will tackle 21 stages and 3,339 km with a total elevation gain of 52,500 metres, crossing France’s Massif Central, Pyrenees, the Alps including the legendary Mont Ventoux climb, and Jura Mountains. The highest point on the route will be the Col de la Loze (2,304 m above sea level).

Škoda Auto provides up to 225 support vehicles to the organisers and Race Director
As the official main partner of the event, Škoda Auto is supplying the organisers with up to 225 fully electric and plug-in hybrid support vehicles. The fleet will include the new all-electric Enyaq, as well as the plug-in hybrid version of the Superb. In addition to the official vehicles, Škoda will be bringing two show cars to this year’s Tour de France: the Elroq Respectline joins the caravan for every stage of this year’s race, highlighting the brand’s values of respect, diversity, and inclusion. Fans can also look forward to the tenth Škoda Student Car, the L&K 130, designed and built by students at the Škoda Auto Secondary Vocational School of Engineering.

Race Director Christian Prudhomme will have two Red Cars at his disposal, which will once again lead the peloton – the Škoda Enyaq and Superb iV. These mobile command centres, covered in distinctive liveries, are equipped with sophisticated communication technology to continuously monitor events on the track and exchange information with other race organisers.

Škoda Design creates crystal trophies featuring the 130th anniversary logo
Škoda is the sponsor of the green jersey for the points leader and supplies the trophies for the overall winner, as well as the points and mountain classification leaders and best young rider. This year’s trophies will feature a special Škoda logo to mark the carmaker’s 130th anniversary.

Škoda launches fan activities and a competition for a place on the Champs-Élysées
Throughout the Tour, Škoda will provide race updates and behind-the-scenes stories on WeLoveCycling.com and run competitions with exclusive prizes. The main prizes are places in Škoda cars on the final stage in Paris for seven winners and their companions, including the chance to ride alongside former pros on a 60 km circuit around the Champs-Élysées. Other prizes include professional bikes and official Škoda green jerseys. Members of the Škoda cycling community could also sign up for a ride with 2010 Tour de France winner and Škoda WeLoveCycling ambassador Andy Schleck. During the event, spectators can visit the Škoda Coffee Car, while a Škoda promotional caravan will tour the route with gifts and souvenirs. The car manufacturer also sponsors the official Tour de France app.

Škoda’s commitment to cycling rooted in the company’s history
The Czech automaker’s history is closely linked to bicycles. In 1895, Václav Laurin and Václav Klement – Škoda Auto’s founders – started with a bicycle factory in Mladá Boleslav. The Czech carmaker supports many other major cycling events for both professionals and amateurs, including the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift, the Vuelta, and L’Etape. In May this year, Škoda announced it will be the official partner of two more flagship Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) events for the next two seasons: the UCI Mountain Bike World Championships and the UCI Gravel World Championships.

Article source: www.skoda-storyboard.com

Sales of the locally produced Škoda Kushaq have now launched in Vietnam. Škoda is leveraging synergies with India, from where it imports completely knocked-down (CKD) kits for assembly. Alongside the Kushaq, Škoda’s line-up in Vietnam also includes the Karoq and Kodiaq SUVs imported from Europe. In the coming months, local production and sales will be extended to include the Slavia saloon, which will also be assembled from CKD kits from India.

Before production started, pre-series Kushaq vehicles covered over 330,000 kilometres on a variety of Vietnamese roads and underwent extensive climate testing, including trials at temperatures from -10°C to +42°C and in high humidity. Since Škoda’s entry into the Vietnamese market in September 2023, 15 dealerships have opened, including a new Experience Centre’ showroom concept in Hanoi. Further expansion of the network is planned for this year.

Article source: www.skoda-storyboard.com

For the fifth year running, Škoda Auto took part in European Diversity Month – an initiative by the European Commission to highlight the value and importance of diversity, inclusion and equal opportunities, both in the workplace and across society as a whole. This year’s activities centred around the theme ‘Your bubble is one of many. Get to know others’, encouraging people to look beyond their familiar surroundings and discover new perspectives as a foundation for greater empathy, respect and human connection. The celebrations began with the premiere of the Elroq Respectline – a striking concept car that visually symbolises Škoda’s commitment to human rights and inclusion. Throughout May, employees took part in panel discussions, online events and a range of activities aligned with the company’s mission ‘Škoda Auto – A place for everyone’, built on the core values of Humanity, Respect and Openness. Škoda also published its latest Diversity Annual Report, outlining key milestones and progress made in this area over the past year.

“Diversity is the foundation of who we are at Škoda Auto. Every individual is unique, and it is our responsibility to ensure that everyone is treated fairly, regardless of age, background, religion, gender, family status, or sexuality. Just as our customers come from diverse backgrounds and our portfolio caters to a wide range of needs, we must also embrace this diversity within our company. The reason: diversity brings varied perspectives and experiences to the table, leading to more creative and innovative solutions that better meet the needs of our customers.”

Maren Gräf, Škoda Auto Board Member for People & Culture

Škoda Auto’s Diversity Day and a rich programme of events for employees
Škoda Auto marked European Diversity Month with a series of events centred around the theme ‘Your bubble is one of many. Get to know others’. Early in the month, the company unveiled the Elroq Respectline with a bold exterior and interior design. As the second model of its kind, it symbolises Škoda’s core values of humanity, respect, openness, and its strong commitment to inclusion. Employees had the chance to view the vehicle up close during Diversity Day, held on 13 May at the Laurin & Klement Kampus headquarters.

The day’s programme also included an exhibition exploring the stories and initiatives behind Škoda Auto’s efforts. Employees also engaged with themed booths run by the company’s employee resource groups – Škoda Proud, Internationals@Škoda and Women@Work – as well as a Škoda Academy stand offering inclusion-focused training via the internal Degreed platform. The event featured friendly competitions and the launch of the HandBike Challenge, a long-term initiative organised in partnership with the charity Cesta za snem, which supports people with disabilities. Škoda Auto is the main partner of this organisation.

Throughout May, additional activities included a series of interviews, panel discussions, online events and friendly competitions on a wide range of topics – from neurodiversity awareness and anxiety among young people, to inclusive language, intergenerational cooperation and inspiring conversations with women across the company. Highlights also included the Fun&Run sports gathering, designed to encourage informal connection and team spirit outside the workplace.

Equity, inclusion and human rights: Škoda Auto’s long-term commitment
In close collaboration with the KOVO trade union, Škoda Auto has long been committed to developing and implementing a corporate culture and working conditions that consider the various individual needs and expectations of its workforce. Diversity is embedded in the Next Level Škoda Strategy, which sets measurable goals as part of the company’s long-term vision.

These efforts are already delivering tangible results. In 2024, Škoda Auto surpassed its target for women in management, reaching 20.4%. The company also operates sheltered workplace programmes to support employees with disabilities, with 530 individuals participating last year. Diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) are fully integrated into Škoda Auto’s broader Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) framework. In a recent independent ESG assessment, the company received an above-average score of 94% in the area of DEI.

Full details can be found in the latest edition of Škoda’s Diversity Report, published in May.

Škoda Auto also demonstrates its ongoing commitment to openness, acceptance and respectful coexistence through partnerships with organisations that promote these topics across many areas of society. Among others, these include Prague Pride Festival, Pride Business Forum, Czechitas and Business for Society.

Article source: www.skoda-storyboard.com

Škoda Auto has taken another significant step toward future-proofing its main plant in Mladá Boleslav by laying the foundation stone for an advanced paint shop. Scheduled to open in 2029, the facility will have a daily capacity of up to 1,600 bodies. Combined with existing facilities, the total daily painting capacity at the Mladá Boleslav plant will reach 2,600 bodies. The state-of-the-art facility will utilise automation, robotics, and advanced technologies to enhance the quality of each protective coating applied. Capable of painting vehicles built on both internal combustion (ICE) and electric platforms, the facility will significantly enhance operational efficiency and flexibility. It will also enable two-tone paint applications and matte finishes. Crucially, the new paint shop aligns with Škoda Auto’s aim to achieve carbon-neutral production at its Czech plants by 2030. Alongside a reduction in volatile organic compounds (VOCs), CO₂ emissions from painting processes will be cut by 28%.

“The construction of a new paint shop at our main plant in Mladá Boleslav underscores our commitment to both the Czech Republic, the home of Škoda Auto, and the company’s ongoing development. The facility’s extensive use of cutting-edge technologies, such as robotic systems for PVC-based sealant application and automated systems for plugging body openings, will significantly boost efficiency. It will also set new environmental standards as one of the Volkswagen Group’s most advanced paint shops, substantially reducing VOC and CO₂ emissions by 28%.”

Andreas Dick, Škoda Auto Board Member for Production and Logistics

Optimal conditions for advanced body treatment at Škoda’s main plant
The Mladá Boleslav site currently has two paint shops, with the original facility operating since 1996. This older facility will be fully replaced by the new paint shop, which offers additional capabilities such as contrasting roof colours and matte finishes. The second paint shop began operations in 2019. Together with the new facility, Škoda Auto’s main plant will provide optimal conditions for advanced body surface treatments.

Highlighting the scale of the project, the new building will measure 301 metres in length, 131 metres in width, and 32.5 metres in height, comparable to a seven-storey structure. The total floor area will span 118,000 square metres – equivalent to over 16 football fields – and the conveyor system will extend to 15 kilometres. The facility will be built on the current site of a finished-vehicle car park, adjacent to the recently opened Laurin & Klement bridge.

Painting is among the most important stages of vehicle production, as it provides long-term aesthetic quality and all-round protection against external factors. The body surface protection process includes multiple layers: a cataphoretic anti-corrosion coating, PVC application in vulnerable areas, followed by precoat and base coat paints applied using a wet-on-wet process. For the first time, Škoda will employ a process that applies the decorative basecoat directly onto the cataphoretic layer without baking the primer coat, optimising cost efficiency without compromising quality. The final clear coat and cavity waxing complete the process, resulting in a total coating thickness of approximately 100 micrometres (0.1 mm).

Cutting-edge paint technology: flexible, precise, economical, sustainable
The new paint shop at Škoda Auto’s Mladá Boleslav plant will greatly increase operational flexibility by accommodating both ICE and electric models on the same production line. It will feature a new curing oven, optimised for precise curing of coatings throughout the painting process. A combined energy source, using biogas and electricity will boost flexibility, reduce emissions, and lower costs.

Moreover, the new paint shop will set benchmarks for environmental compatibility: VOC emissions will decrease by over 14 grams per square metre, and overall CO₂ emissions will be reduced by 28%, contributing substantially to Škoda Auto’s carbon-neutral production goal by 2030.

Article source: www.skoda-storyboard.com

Next week, 28 students from the Škoda Auto Secondary Vocational School of Engineering will unveil the tenth Škoda Student Car, named the Škoda L&K 130. The designation of this one-off vehicle reflects Škoda Auto’s 130-year heritage, as does its striking colour scheme. The combination of red, gold and black pays tribute to the original Laurin & Klement logo used on the company’s earliest cars in 1905.

A tribute to the legacy of Václav Laurin and Václav Klement
Škoda Auto’s 130th anniversary has been woven into every detail of the new Student Car. Scheduled for unveiling in mid-June, the Škoda L&K 130 references the Czech automaker’s rich heritage, which began with founders Václav Laurin and Václav Klement in 1895.

Colour scheme inspired by the historic 1905 L&K logo
The Laurin & Klement legacy extends beyond the vehicle’s name. Selected from numerous student-submitted designs, the colour scheme echoes the original 1905 company logo. Its elegant combination of gold, deep red and black complements the modern contours of the student-designed vehicle as effectively as it did the classic grille of the Voiturette A – the very first car to bear the Laurin & Klement name. Inside, this historical theme continues, with the seats, dashboard, door panels and steering wheel upholstered in sustainable materials inspired by Škoda’s heritage.

All ten Škoda Student Cars on display
This year’s Škoda Student Car marks the tenth remarkable one-off creation by students at the Škoda Auto Secondary Vocational School of Engineering in Mladá Boleslav. To celebrate this milestone, all nine previous Student Cars, from the 2014 Citijet to the 2023 Roadiaq, will be exhibited alongside the new L&K 130 at its official unveiling next week.

Article source: www.skoda-storyboard.com

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