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Škoda Auto has opened a new Experience Centre in Hanoi. This unique showroom, rolled out in the Czech automaker’s new corporate identity, serves customers during the day and transforms into a cultural centre at night. The opening was attended by Ondřej Černý, Chief Representative of Škoda Auto in Vietnam and Nguyễn Anh Tuấn, Chairman of the TC Group. The showroom displays the Karoq and Kodiaq models and is equipped with various digital elements for interactive customer engagement. The brand anticipates significant growth in the dynamic Vietnamese market, with sales potentially reaching over 40,000 units annually after 2030. The carmaker also plans to introduce the India-made Kushaq and Slavia models to its Vietnam portfolio soon.

“Since entering the Vietnamese market in September, we have been working intensively to establish our brand in this dynamic market. We have already opened five showrooms across four cities: Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Vinh, and Buon Ma Thuot. The launch of our new Experience Centre marks a significant step forward, allowing customers to explore our brand digitally and interactively. It offers a novel, digital experience of our Karoq and Kodiaq models, including large LED communication wall.”

Martin Jahn, Škoda Auto Board Member for Sales and Marketing

Synergies between Vietnam and India to be leveraged soon
Škoda Auto is already offering Vietnamese customers the Karoq and Kodiaq models imported from the Czech Republic, and the car manufacturer will soon be expanding its portfolio to include two additional models. This year, the TC Group-owned production line in Quảng Ninh province will be completed, enabling the local assembly of the Kushaq and Slavia models from India. Located in the Viet Hung industrial park near the port of Haiphong, this facility will strategically benefit from sea deliveries from the Parts Expedition Centre in Pune, India. Given the remarkable growth potential in Vietnam within the ASEAN region, Škoda Auto anticipates an annual sales volume exceeding 40,000 vehicles after 2030. Moreover, the capacities of the Viet Hung Industrial Park could be utilised in the future to further increase production and potentially export Škoda models across the ASEAN region.

Article source: www.skoda-storyboard.com

In 2023, Škoda Auto manufactured over 781,000 vehicles at its Czech plants, and its international facilities contributed an additional 107,000 units. The company’s scope of production was not limited to vehicles; it manufactured key components, including PHEV and MEB battery systems, axles, and engines, which also installed in other Volkswagen Group brands’ vehicles. Additionally, Škoda Auto made strategic advances in its internationalisation strategy in 2023: The brand entered the Vietnamese market in September and began preparations in mid-October for resuming production in Kazakhstan.

“Over the past year, we have produced more than 888,000 Škoda vehicles globally, demonstrating our ability to adapt quickly and flexibly to a dynamically changing and geopolitically challenging environment. This achievement reflects our commitment to our customers, our brand, and the Group. Our recent new market entries and the addition of local manufacturing facilities are key steps in expanding our global production capacities. I would like to thank all my colleagues for their great commitment and teamwork.”

Andreas Dick, Škoda Auto Board Member for Production and Logistics

Production in the Czech Republic
In 2023, Škoda Auto manufactured approximately 556,000 units of the Fabia, Scala, Octavia, Octavia iV, Kamiq, Enyaq and Enyaq Coupé series in Mladá Boleslav. This facility also produced 349,021 MQ100 and MQ200 manual transmissions, 1,736,815 axles and 469,935 EA211 engines, which are also installed in other Volkswagen Group brands’ vehicles. Additionally, the site manufactured 165,606 battery systems for MEB vehicles and 147,625 battery systems for plug-in hybrid models. With a second assembly line commissioned in December 2023, the facility’s capacity is set to increase by 50% to 1,500 units a day.

The Kvasiny plant also contributed significantly, producing a total of 225,000 units of the Karoq, Kodiaq, Superb, and Superb iV models in 2023. Key highlights of the year included the unveiling of the second-generation Kodiaq in October and the world premiere of the fourth-generation Superb in November. The brand’s ICE flagship will continue to be available in both hatchback and Combi estate body styles.

In Vrchlabí, Škoda Auto’s production focused on DQ200 automatic direct-shift transmissions, with a total of 686,066 units manufactured. These transmissions are integral not only to Škoda’s models but also to vehicles across the Volkswagen Group.

International production facilities
At the Volkswagen facility in Bratislava, Škoda Auto’s production included over 36,000 units of the Karoq SUV and the initial units of the new Superb generation. The company was responsible for the entire development of both the Škoda Superb and Volkswagen Passat, which are manufactured on the same production line in Bratislava. This initiative is part of the Beta+ project, aimed at leveraging synergies in the production network and further boosting efficiency. By transferring the production of the Superb to Bratislava, the carmaker is creating capacity for additional units of the Octavia at the Kvasiny plant from the summer of 2024 onwards. Additionally, the move will allow more battery-electric vehicles to be built at the Mladá Boleslav plant.

At the Ukrainian plant in Solomonovo, 2,580 Škoda cars were assembled last year from semi-knocked-down (SKD) kits imported from Czech production plants. The potential for increasing production volumes at the Solomonovo facility is contingent on the evolving war situation in Ukraine.

Across the four Chinese factories in Changsha (Kodiaq and Kodiaq GT), Nanjing (Kamiq, Kamiq GT and Superb), Ningbo (Octavia, Octavia Pro and Karoq) and Yizheng (Rapid), the Czech car manufacturer built approximately 18,500 vehicles in 2023.

Internationalisation strategy: entering new markets and building synergies
Škoda Auto effectively advanced its internationalisation strategy throughout 2023. The Pune factory in India produced almost 48,000 units of the locally developed Kushaq and Slavia models. Additionally, the Aurangabad plant contributed approximately 4,400 units, encompassing the Superb, Octavia, and Kodiaq models. In total, Škoda Auto’s Indian facilities produced over 52,000 vehicles.
The company is actively seeking to reach more customers in India while also expanding its international market presence. In line with this objective, Škoda Auto opened a new Parts Expedition Centre in Pune in October 2023. This will serve as a logistics hub for completely-knocked-down (CKD) kits of the Kushaq and Slavia models manufactured in India, starting this year.

In December last year, the Indian Parts Expedition Centre achieved a significant milestone by being the first in India to receive the Indian Green Building Council’s platinum certificate for green building. The certification underscores the facility’s adherence to green building principles, focusing on water conservation, energy efficiency, natural resource preservation, waste reduction, and creating healthier spaces for workers. These efforts align with Škoda Auto’s corporate strategy for a sustainable future.

From Pune, the CKD kits are set to be exported to Vietnam, reflecting Škoda Auto’s expansion into that market in September 2023. Vietnam is part of the ASEAN region where Škoda Auto strategically leads the Brand Group Core and aims to maximise growth for the Volkswagen Group.

Škoda Auto’s re-entry into Kazakhstan in October 2023 marks another significant step in its internationalisation efforts, contributing to the company’s goal of expanding its global presence.

Article source: www.skoda-storyboard.com

Škoda Auto is transforming its logistics processes to a uniform system under a Group-wide project called Project ONE Log. A new, standardised SAP solution will replace a large variety of existing systems. The Company thus consistently uses digitisation and centralisation to leverage potential for cost savings and increased flexibility in production & logistics. The project is the largest system changeover at the Vrchlabí plant over the last 25 years.

“Until now, we have been launching and using a wide range of applications developed over time in response to operational needs and gradually interconnected. That has resulted in a large number of systems and interfaces, and not only within our Company. An ecosystem such as this is highly complex and accordingly difficult to maintain. With ONE Log in place, we now have a uniform, standardised and harmonised system that forms a solid foundation for our logistics management while also saving costs and increasing both flexibility and efficiency across the entire logistics chain.”

David Strnad, Head of Brand Logistics at Škoda Auto

“The SAP S/4 HANA platform is a well-suited replacement for our currently deployed legacy systems in logistics. It gives us a future-oriented, stable and comprehensive base to build on and to serve our digitisation strategy. Implementing a new IT solution in a running business is always a challenge, and that is why it is a very strong message that we are able to cope with such complex projects in which all stakeholders and project members have to closely cooperate and work towards accomplishing set goals. A big thanks to all who have made this possible.”

Alexander Eisl, Head of IT at Škoda Auto

More efficiency through Group-wide harmonisation
ONE Log streamlines logistics processes within individual Group brands as well as across the entire Volkswagen Group. Merging existing sub-processes into a standardised, state-of-the-art SAP solution reduces the number of interfaces in logistics IT while also increasing the availability of data. Expected outcomes include increased flexibility and thus higher efficiency in production, significant cost savings, as well as consistent and transparent data. Furthermore, ONE Log also offers the opportunity to utilise the latest business intelligence tools for full-fledged data analyses across the entire supply chain.

As part of the project, employees (primarily) in logistics and IT departments at the participating brands, i.e. Volkswagen Passenger Cars, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, Audi and Škoda Auto, work closely together under the management of Volkswagen Group Logistics. The implementation of this multi-brand project started in early 2023.

Largest system change in Vrchlabí over the last 25 years
Škoda Auto has recently introduced the minimum viable product (MVP) for ONE Log as the “first wave” at its plant in Vrchlabí, and the other Czech sites will gradually follow suit. The main focus of this first version is on automatic gearbox assembly line planning, including stock level monitoring, and therefore on increasing the efficiency of material procurement and stock level monitoring processes. Mechanical machining is one of the areas of system-relevant expertise to be planned in the future.

Article source: www.skoda-storyboard.com

Škoda Auto announces the launch of series production of the second-generation Kodiaq, its SUV flagship model, at the plant in Kvasiny, Czech Republic. In preparation, the company has made considerable investments into modernising both the production line and welding shop. By transferring the production of the new-generation Superb from Kvasiny to Bratislava, Slovakia, the Czech carmaker has created additional capacity at Kvasiny to manufacture the successful Kodiaq and Karoq SUV models.

It was with the Kodiaq that we began our SUV campaign began back in 2016. The fact that this successful model is entering its second generation today is a very special event for the entire team. Countless hours have gone into the thorough preparations for the production launch. And by investing 49 million euros into modernising the manufacturing facilities, we have made a substantial contribution to future-proofing production at our Kvasiny plant. My heartfelt thanks goes to everyone involved. Their expertise and dedication are the reasons we can now write the next chapter in the success story of our flagship SUV.”

Andreas Dick, Škoda Auto Board Member for Production and Logistics

Investment of 49 million euros, producing up to 410 Kodiaq SUVs a day
The new Kodiaq will continue to be produced on its original production line. In a strategic move to future-proof the Kvasiny plant, Škoda Auto has invested 49 million euros in modernising the production line and welding shop. This investment also encompasses preparations for the production of the new Kodiaq iV, featuring a plug-in hybrid drivetrain. Key enhancements during the production line conversion include updates to manipulators, chassis assembly, conveyor technologies, and the refinement of robot functions for applying window glue.

Until recently, the production line at the Kvasiny plant was also used for the Škoda Superb. In a strategic move to increase SUV production capacity, Superb production has now been relocated to the Volkswagen plant in Bratislava, coinciding with the launch of its fourth generation. This effectively frees up capacity at Kvasiny, enabling the plant to produce an additional 150,000 units annually of the Karoq and Kodiaq SUV models. Consequently, the plant is primed to build up to 410 Kodiaqs a day.

The Škoda Kodiaq’s success story
Škoda Auto began its SUV campaign with the world premiere of the Kodiaq in September 2016. This milestone was followed by the launch of the compact Karoq in 2017, the Kamiq city SUV in 2019, and the all-electric Enyaq SUV in 2021. The Kodiaq RS, introduced in autumn 2018, marked the first SUV in Škoda’s sporty RS family.

To date, the combined efforts of Škoda’s manufacturing facilities in the Czech Republic, Ukraine, China, and – until early 2022 – Russia, have resulted in over 870,000 units of the first-generation Kodiaq. These vehicles have reached customers across 60 markets around the world. The model has enjoyed widespread popularity among customers and journalists alike, earning more than 40 prestigious international awards for the first-generation of this large Škoda SUV.

Škoda Auto unveiled the second-generation Kodiaq in Berlin on 4 October. This presentation showcased the manufacturer’s advancements in sustainability and efficiency, as well as introducing the first elements of its new Modern Solid design language. The new Kodiaq reflects Škoda’s traditional emphasis on spaciousness, incorporating sustainable materials and innovative elements like Škoda Smart Dials, while the exterior boasts the latest generation of LED matrix headlights. The vehicle offers five different powertrain options, ranging from 110 kW (150 hp) to 150 kW (204 hp), with the higher-tier engines equipped with all-wheel drive as standard. Additionally, the Kodiaq is now available in a plug-in hybrid variant, offering an electric range of over 100 kilometres – a first for the series.

Article source: www.skoda-storyboard.com

Škoda Auto announces the integration of the AI-based chatbot ChatGPT into its Laura voice assistant. This important step will enhance the in-vehicle experience of many customers and help to make everyday life easier. Škoda models based on MEB GP and MQB EVO platforms will benefit from this new feature. They will be able to access a vast AI database and have content read out to them while driving. This new function is powered by Cerence Chat Pro from technology partner Cerence Inc., offering a unique, automotive-grade ChatGPT integration. Personal data and vehicle information are protected at all time.

“Enriching Škoda voice assistance with artificial intelligence makes our cars an even better everyday companion. Drivers and passengers will have easy, verbal access to worlds of knowledge while on the road. Integrating ChatGPT into our voice assistant Laura is just the latest way that Škoda adapts advanced technology to improve the driving experience. Everything remains hands-free for the driver, and data security remains a priority. I am confident that customers will appreciate this modern new feature.”

Klaus Zellmer, Škoda Auto CEO

New functions for an enhanced in-vehicle experience
The new chatbot will be offered together with the latest generation of infotainment systems from mid-2024. It will be available in the following models based on the MEB GP and MQB EVO platforms: selected versions of the Škoda Enyaq, the new-generation Škoda Superb and Kodiaq and the updated Škoda Octavia. Enabled by Cerence Chat Pro, the integration of ChatGPT into the Laura voice assistant introduces a variety of new capabilities that go far beyond the previous voice commands. The Laura voice assistant can be used, for example, to control the infotainment, navigation and air conditioning and answer general knowledge questions. In the future, AI will provide additional information in response to questions that go beyond this as part of its constantly growing capabilities. This can be helpful during a car journey: Enriching conversations, clearing up questions, interacting in intuitive language, receiving vehicle-specific information, and much more — completely hands-free for even more safety for driver and passengers.

Data protection as a top priority

The operation remains straightforward for the driver: the voice assistant is activated with “Okay, Laura” or the respective steering wheel button. If the request cannot be answered by the Škoda system, it is anonymously forwarded to the AI. ChatGPT does not access vehicle data or personal information. All interactions are immediately deleted after processing to ensure the highest standard of data protection. This new feature will also be available in further models of Volkswagen Group brands.

Article source: www.skoda-storyboard.com

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