The Czech automobile firm, Škoda Auto, manufactured over 925,000 vehicles in its global production facilities in 2024 with a 4.2% year-on-year increase. According to Automotive World, part of the success was attributed to its main plant, Mladá Boleslav, which produced 575,000 Škoda vehicles.
The firm also produced more than 280,000 battery systems for electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles across the Volkswagen Group. In addition, it assembled 1 million transmissions and nearly 500,000 engines.
2024 also saw the production of a record number of new and refreshed models, including the Scala, Kamiq, Kylaq, Octavia and Kodiaq model series. The firm also continued strengthening its international operations. The capacity at the Pune plant in India was expanded for the Kylaq compact SUV, which was Skoda’s third model made in India for India.
Additionally, preparations for vehicles assembly in Vietnam were finalised, while Kodiaq SKD production started in Kazakhstan.
Andreas Dick, Škoda Auto Board Member for Production and Logistics said, “From a Production perspective, 2024 was one of the most challenging years in Škoda Auto’s history. This was due to the launch of a record number of new vehicles, the expansion of our international production capacities, and further optimisation of manufacturing processes. I want to thank the entire Production and Logistics team for the dedication and hard work, which have been key to achieving this outstanding result. Last year, we took important steps to boost our competitiveness and efficiency, including the logistically demanding partial relocation of the Octavia’s production to Kvasiny. This move freed up capacity on our unique, flexible production line in Mladá Boleslav, which accommodates both ICE vehicles and electric vehicles, making way for the new Elroq model range.”
Car manufacturing in the Czech Republic
The Czech vehicle plants remain Škoda’s largest contributors to its global production. Mladá Boleslav increased its production by 3.4% to 575,000 automobiles last year. This was driven by the relocation of its best-selling Octavia production to Mladá Boleslav.
Last year, the Fabia, updated versions of the Scala, Ovtavia, and Kamiq, as well as the fully electric Enyaq and Enyaq Coupé models also rolled out of the plant.
Škoda’s Enyaq range attracted strong customer interest, despite increasing competition and an industry-wide slowdown in demand for fully electric vehicles, manufacturing nearly 80.000 units last year.
The production line in Mladá Boleslav stands out within the Volkswagen Group for its ability to manufacture both internal combustion engine vehicles on the MQB platform and electric vehicles on the MEB platform simultaneously. This versatility boosts efficiency and enables the plant to adapt quickly to market demand. By the end of the year, preparations for the series production of the all-new Elroq were finalized, with a planned daily output of up to 600 units.
Meanwhile, the Kvasiny plant, marking its 90th anniversary in 2024, continued its strong performance, producing 248,000 vehicles. The facility primarily focuses on the latest generation of the Kodiaq and Karoq models, with the recently updated Octavia now added to its production lineup.
Manufacturing of engines, transmissions, and battery systems
The Mladá Boleslav plant is also a key producer of automotive components. In the past year, it manufactured nearly 500,000 engines from the efficient EA 211 range and 355,000 MQ 200 manual transmissions. In 2024, Škoda Auto marked 125 years of in-house engine development and production, reaching a milestone of 15 million engines—reinforcing its reputation as one of the world’s longest-established engine manufacturers.
Furthermore, the expanded production line in Mladá Boleslav assembled 227,000 traction batteries for electric vehicles based on the MEB platform. These batteries power Škoda models as well as other Volkswagen Group brands, including Volkswagen, Audi, and SEAT/CUPRA. An additional 53,600 batteries were produced for plug-in hybrid models. In December 2024, Škoda Auto reached a significant milestone: 1 million battery systems produced since 2019.
Meanwhile, the carbon-neutral Vrchlabí plant, celebrating 160 years of operation in 2024, produced 710,600 seven-speed DSG 200 automatic transmissions. These transmissions are used not only in Škoda vehicles but also across other Volkswagen Group models.
Škoda’s Global Production Performance and Importance
Škoda Auto plays a leading role in the Volkswagen Group’s operations in India, overseeing multiple brands. India serves as Škoda’s second-largest base outside Europe and is emerging as a key export hub, leveraging growth potential in markets such as ASEAN, the Middle East, Australia, and New Zealand.
In 2024, Škoda Auto produced 32,800 vehicles across its two Indian plants. The Pune facility manufactures the Slavia and Kushaq models, and in December 2024, production began on the brand-new Kylaq compact SUV. This launch was accompanied by a 30% expansion in production capacity. The Kylaq is expected to contribute to Škoda’s goal of reaching 100,000 annual sales in India by 2026. Additionally, the local logistics center prepares Slavia and Kushaq models as completely knocked-down (CKD) kits for assembly at a newly established plant in Vietnam. Meanwhile, production of the Kodiaq SUV continued at the Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (formerly Aurangabad) facility.
In Slovakia, the Volkswagen Group’s Bratislava plant has been producing the latest-generation Superb since December 2023. In 2024, 54,500 units of this model were built. As part of the Beta+ project, Škoda was responsible for the development of both the Superb and its sister model, the Volkswagen Passat.
Škoda also maintains a strong presence in China, with production facilities in Changsha, Ningbo, and Nanjing. In 2024, the lineup included the Octavia, Octavia Pro, Kamiq, Kamiq GT, Karoq, Kodiaq, and Superb, with total production reaching 15,200 vehicles.
Additionally, in Solomonovo, Ukraine, assembly of the Karoq SUV continued.
Expanding Škoda Auto’s Global Presence
In 2024, Škoda Auto continued to strengthen its international footprint, particularly in Vietnam—one of the fastest-growing markets in the ASEAN region. Extensive preparations took place for the production of the Slavia and Kushaq models, which will be assembled from knocked-down kits imported from India. Series production of the Kushaq is set to begin in the first quarter of this year, with Vietnam serving as a strategic gateway to other ASEAN markets.
In Kazakhstan, Škoda Auto assembles the Kodiaq, Karoq, Kamiq, and Octavia using semi-knocked-down (SKD) kits. Following the company’s re-entry into this market, more than 1,400 vehicles were produced in 2024. Looking ahead, Škoda plans to expand local SKD assembly in 2025 to include the next-generation Superb.
Source: www.automotiveworld.com
