Skoda Celebrates A Phenomenal 20 Year Partnership With The Volkswagen Group

MILTON KEYNES, UNITED KINGDOM – April 18, 2011: Time flies when you’re having fun, but it also passes quickly when, like Škoda, you’re busy and successful. This month – 16th April 2011 to be exact – marks the 20th anniversary of the iconic Czech car maker formally becoming part of the Volkswagen Group.

In that time Škoda has transformed beyond all recognition. In two short decades it has changed from a state-owned Eastern European manufacturer selling two products, to a global automotive player with five distinctive and award-winning model lines, three body style choices and state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities.

It also has a deserved reputation for value-for-money products built to the highest standards, engineering innovation, championship-winning motorsport and outstanding customer service. Being part of the Volkswagen Group has brought the benefits of Škoda ownership to millions of new customers.

It has also been a period of outstanding business success. In 2010, new car sales for the year stood at more than 762,000 units, breaking through the three quarter-million barrier for the first time.

Revenue rose by 22.4% to €8.692 billion, while operating profit was more than doubled to €447 million.

In the UK, total registrations for last year reached a new annual high of more than 41,000 cars, representing a 10.5% increase on 2009 and a 2% market share – another milestone in the continued success for the Czech brand.

The landmark occasion was celebrated last Friday (15 April) in the presence of high-ranking international representatives and personalities from politics and business, as well as representatives of the Volkswagen Group.

Attendees at the official ceremony at Škoda’s manufacturing plant in Mladá Boleslav included Czech president Václav Klaus and the president of the Senate of the Czech Parliament Milan Štěch.

Among the hosts were chairman of the supervisory board of Škoda and chairman of the board of Volkswagen AG, Prof. Dr. Martin Winterkorn, Škoda’s chairman of the board Prof. Dr. h.c. Winfried Vahland, and the chairman of the union OS KOVO and chairman of the works council of Škoda, Jaroslav Povšík.

“The merger was the decisive strategic turning point for the success and rebirth of Škodaduring the last 20 years,” emphasised Škoda’s chairman of the board, Prof. Dr. h.c. Winfried Vahland. “Since 1991,Škodahas nearly quadrupled sales under the umbrella of the Volkswagen Group and expanded its international presence to more than 100 markets. A one-model manufacturer has turned into a seller with a broad product range. Our employees in particular have contributed to this development in an outstanding manner. The entire company and its employees are proud of this shared path and will continue their efforts in the coming years.”