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SkodaŠkoda Auto is the leading automobile manufacturer in the Czech Republic, now part of the Volkswagen Group (VAG). Škoda is a participant in the World Rally Championship, initially using the Octavia but now using the Fabia. History Established in 1895 as Laurin & Klement, the company started manufacturing bicycles. In 1899 it added motorcycles and in 1905 cars. The first model, Voiturette A, was a success and the company was established both within Austria-Hungary and internationally. During the First World War it was engaged in war production. After the war it began producing trucks, but, in 1924, after running into problems and being hit by a fire, the company sought a partner. As a result it merged with Škoda Works, the biggest industrial enterprise in Austria-Hungary and then Czechoslovakia. Most later production was under the koda name. After a decline during the economic depression, koda was again successful with models such as the Popular in the late 1930s. During the World War II Occupation of Czechoslovakia the koda works was turned into part of Hermann Gring Werke serving the German World War II effort. After WWII koda became part of the planned economy and was separated from the parent koda company. In spite of unfavourable political conditions and losing contact with technical development in noncommunist countries, koda retained a good reputation until the 1960s, producing models such as the koda 440 Spartak, 445 Octavia, Felicia and koda 1000 MB. koda was internationally known for building very tough and reliable cars. In the late 1980s koda (then named Automobilov zvody, nrodn podnik, Mlad Boleslav) was still manufacturing cars conceptually from the 1960s. In western Europe, the models from the 1980s and the early 1990s gave koda a poor reputation, a common joke of the time being "Q: How do you double the value of a Škoda? A: Fill the tank with petrol". The turning point came in 1987 with the Favorit model. The Favorit's appearance was designed by Italian design company Bertone and, with some motor technology licensed from western European companies, koda engineers succeeded in designing a car comparable to western production. The technological gap was still there, but began closing rapidly. While still the target of jokes in the West, the Favorits were very popular in Czechoslovakia and other Eastern Bloc countries. The Velvet Revolution brought great changes to both the politics and economy of Czechoslovakia, and most industries were subject to privatization. In the case of koda automobile the government decided to bring in a strong foreign partner. VAG was chosen in 1990 and on 16 April 1991 koda become the fourth brand of VAG. The example of other Eastern-Bloc automobile manufacturers such as Lada-AutoVAZ and Zastava, and of koda works, once koda auto parent company, prove this was the right decision. (Privatization to a major German company was somewhat controversial at the time the decision was made.) Backed by VW knowhow and investments the design—both style and engineering—has improved greatly. The 1996 model Felicia was still based on the floorplan of the Favorit, but quality made huge improvements and in the Czech Republic the car was popular as it was good value for money. The subsequent models Octavia and Fabia finally made their way to the demanding EU markets. They are built on common VAG floorpans, e.g. Octavia on the Golf floorplan and therefore directly related to the VW Golf, Audi A3 and SEAT Len. Possibly the next challenge for koda was to maintain some independence of the parent Volkswagen group. Perception of koda in what was Western Europe has changed completely. While technical development went gradually, Škoda's image changed almost overnight. Škoda now uses this change in reputation as part of their advertising, with the slogan: "It is a Škoda, honest." In a 2003 advertisement on British television, a new employee on the production line is fitting Škoda badges on the car bonnets. When some attractive looking cars come along he stands back, not fitting the badge, since they are too good to be Škodas. Models Škoda Works Škoda Works was the biggest industrial enterprise in Austria-Hungary and then Czechoslovakia and among the biggest in Europe. Founded by Emil Škoda in 1899 in Plzeň it soon became the leading arms manufacturer in the country producing heavy guns for navy, mountain guns or mortars as well as locomotives, aircraft, ships, machine tools, steam turbines, power-engineering equipment, etc. Škoda produced the world's first triple-barrelled gun turrets for the Viribus Unitis class of battleships of the Austro-Hungarian navy. Prior to World War II and during the occupation by Nazi Germany Škoda also produced LT-35 and LT-38 tanks, which are better known under their German labels Panzer 35(t) and Panzer 38(t). Mountain guns produced by Škoda: Other weapons produced by Škoda: The present-day company specializes in heavy machinery (such as nuclear reactors and locomotives). Mismanagement and lack of technological progress had weakened the company to only a shadow of its past glory. Pity As an interesting aside, Škoda (i.e. the family name of Emil Škoda, the enterpreneur who bought the firm in 1869) happens to mean also damage or "pity" in Czech. Consequently, "To je škoda" can mean either "It's a pity" or "That's a Škoda". See also External links Skoda
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