20 Million Reasons to Celebrate

Try to imagine: 20 million cars produced, 20 million stories. One of the oldest automotive manufacturers in Europe is building upon a tradition rooted in 1895, when Laurin & Klement was established. There are many important models among the 20 million cars, including some trendsetters in the automotive industry that became four-wheel legends.

ŠKODA Storyboard is presenting an overview in their historical contexts of the most outstanding models from the 123-year history of ŠKODA automobiles.

Like the saying goes (well, sort of anyway): the first 20 million is the hardest and then it gets easier! Today, ŠKODA is achieving great success on world markets and more and more customers are choosing its vehicles.

LAURIN & KLEMENT VOITURETTE A 
1905

The first L&K automobile was branded the Voiturette A (from French for a cart or small car). It was powered by a water-cooled, two-piston engine with 7 horsepower and a displacement of 1,100 cm³. The engine’s power was transferred to the rear wheels by a chain or drive shaft, depending on the version.

LAURIN & KLEMENT 110
1925

The Laurin & Klement 110, which also was offered as the ŠKODA 110, bore various wooden or combined wood–metal superstructures. It reached speeds up to 80 km/h. In total, just under 3,000 were manufactured.

ŠKODA POPULAR
1934

The year 1934 marked the premiere of ŠKODA POPULAR, a vehicle for a wide range of customers. It was a bestseller. With it, ŠKODA for the first time surpassed 5,000 vehicles manufactured in one model line.

ŠKODA SPARTAK
1955

ŠKODA 440 “SPARTAK” was introduced to the market in 1955. The number 440 stands for a four-cylinder engine with 40 horsepower. In 1959, the numeric branding of ŠKODA models was replaced by names. The ŠKODA 440 became OCTAVIA (from Latin octo = eight, because it was the eighth model in ŠKODA’s post-war history).

ŠKODA FELICIA
1959

The smart-looking ŠKODA FELICIA was a convertible based on the OCTAVIA. Its predecessor was the ŠKODA 450.

ŠKODA 1000 MB
1964

ŠKODA 1000 MB was the first ŠKODA introduced with a rear engine. In its era, this vehicle was considered one of the best in its class with displacement up to 1 litre. It also provided excellent value for its price. The 1-litre engine was the state of the art in its class, with an engine block produced in a patented pressure-cast aluminium casting process.

ŠKODA 110 R
1970

The elegant ŠKODA 110 R Coupé rolled off the production line for 10 years, all the way to 1980. Racing specials were also built on its base, such as the successful ŠKODA 130 RS rally car.

ŠKODA 105/120/130
1976

The model ŠKODA 105/120/130 was being produced in ŠKODA factories through the whole of the 1980s. The numeric marking corresponded to engine displacements from 1.0 to 1.3 litres. Coupe versions were also produce, known as GARDE and RAPID.

ŠKODA FAVORIT
1987

A new model, ŠKODA FAVORIT, was presented. This car is a milestone in ŠKODA’s history. The modern concept of combining a compact front-engine, front-drive vehicle with a variable interior and large fifth door was successfully developed. A total of 1 million such cars drove off the line.

ŠKODA OCTAVIA
1996

ŠKODA OCTAVIA marked ŠKODA’s introduction of a second model line. OCTAVIA provided a decisive impulse for vigorous transformation of the company into a recognized international player. This car was followed in 1998 by OCTAVIA COMBI.

ŠKODA FABIA
1999

The third model to come to market was the new ŠKODA FABIA, followed by ŠKODA FABIA COMBI a year later. To this day, it has found more than 4 million owners.

ŠKODA SUPERB
2001

With ŠKODA SUPERB, ŠKODA revitalized the tradition of this model line from the 1930s and entered the upper middle class. An estate version was added to the model line in its second generation.

ŠKODA KAROQ
2017

This newest model continues the ŠKODA brand’s SUV offensive. It offers abundant space to the occupants, a number of electronic assistants, and an individually adjustable digital instrument panel.