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“Real-world testing in the toughest possible environmental conditions remains a crucial part of new-vehicle development, despite the advances in computer simulation. Our extensive test programmes in desert climates with extremely high temperatures on the one hand and on the other hand in the Arctic Circle ensure that Škoda customers can rely 100 percent on their vehicles in any weather conditions. At the same time, these tests give us the opportunity to identify optimization needs as early as possible and to design the vehicles in the best possible way to meet the requirements of everyday operation.”

Johannes Neft, Škoda Auto Board Member for Technical Development

Comprehensive range of tests covering all vehicle aspects
Intensive test drives in extreme cold conditions are part of the standard programme for new-vehicle development. Škoda Auto regularly conducts such tests in the Arctic Circle, where the fourth-generation Škoda Superb and the second generation of the Kodiaq SUV have now proven that they can cope with any winter challenge. Every part of the test vehicles was scrutinised: chassis, body, engine, heating, and the entire electrical system.

Vehicle performance in snowy conditions
To assess the vehicles’ general winter performance, Škoda Auto examines the impact of snow on the bodywork as well as the effects of snow entering the engine compartment and air intakes. All mechanical functions of the vehicle body as well as the electrics must perform flawlessly even at temperatures of minus 25 degrees Celsius, and the engine should start without problems at temperatures close to minus 30 degrees. All doors, the bonnet, and the tailgate as well as the fuel filler cap and the cover of the charging socket on PHEV vehicles must be capable of opening even under such adverse conditions.

Tests examining driving behaviour and assistance systems
Numerous aspects of vehicle behaviour are assessed during real-world driving – for example, how well the vehicle copes with slush on the road, or how the front and rear bumpers perform when the vehicle hits a snow barrier. Driving over blocks of ice tests the robustness of the suspension and underbody. The test drivers check how the vehicles behave on icy and snowy roads and how well the assistance systems work. The testers evaluate the cars’ driving dynamics, the performance of the all-wheel drive, if applicable, and the functional characteristics and ride comfort of the suspension. They check whether the transmission shifts faultlessly and whether the windscreen wipers and washers work. The vehicle lighting at night and the acoustic behaviour of frozen vehicle parts are also tested. High-voltage batteries of PHEV vehicles are charged in a frozen state, followed by a determination of the maximum range. To precisely assess the vehicles’ durability in winter conditions, the test drivers cover tens of thousands of kilometres.

Testing interior functions
The test programme also looks at many interior functions, for example the performance of the heating system at extremely cold outside temperatures and the level of thermal comfort in the interior. The testers also check whether the windows mist up and how quickly they can be defrosted. Furthermore, they also evaluate whether the heating systems for the seats, the steering wheel, exterior mirrors, windscreen, and rear window perform as expected. Where applicable they also test the optional auxiliary heating. In addition, the drivers check how well the central touchscreen responds when the vehicle’s interior temperature has dropped below zero.

Article source: www.skoda-storyboard.com

“We are transforming Škoda Auto and transitioning towards e-mobility and digitisation. To successfully navigate this change, we are creating the conditions to upskill our employees and prepare them for the future requirements of our industry. In this context, lifelong learning and empowering our employees are top priorities for us. We can look back on an almost 100-year tradition of training and education at Škoda Auto, starting with our first apprentices in 1927. Today, with its innovative and strategic approach to learning, the Škoda Academy plays a key role in enabling our employees to develop new skills and contributes towards future-proofing Škoda Auto and enhancing our competitiveness in a radically changing world.“

Maren Gräf, Škoda Auto Board Member for People & Culture

Maren Kabowski, Head of Škoda Academy, adds: “The range of courses of Škoda Academy not only aims to pass on technical knowledge but also to integrate professional and social skills. This anniversary gives us the opportunity to look back on the amazing results of the past decade and express our sincere thanks to all partners for our fruitful collaboration. At the same time, as we celebrate our tenth anniversary, we are outlining our vision of the education of the future and continuing to drive transformation. The Škoda Academy will make a significant contribution to the successful future of our company and thus also our regions.”

Building up a strong educational community
In 2013, the education and training of employees and pupils was merged under the Škoda Academy roof. It was established as part of the Volkswagen Group Academy strategy. Within this framework, the role of the Škoda Academy is defined, in particular, by the following topics: product, digitalization, mindset culture, factory and working methods.

The Škoda Academy has built up an exceptional educational community within and outside the Volkswagen Group, from which it now benefits to respond quickly and purposefully to changes.

People empowerment at Škoda Auto
As a rapidly transforming company focused on digitalization and future technologies, Škoda Auto has made learning an integral part of its corporate strategy. The company considers the right skills and employee empowerment to be a major key to successful transformation. The Škoda Academy therefore sees its task as offering training courses that are not only relevant in terms of content, but that also motivate employees to learn independently and enable them to develop continuously.

With “Degreed“, the Škoda Academy now offers a suitable digital learning ecosystem with re-skilling and upskilling, development paths and mindset measures. This ecosystem is itself in a constant process of transformation to keep pace with the rapidly changing environment in the automotive industry and social realities. It creates innovative workspaces and changes the paradigm of learning.

Škoda Auto has a long tradition of education
The Czech car manufacturer has a long track record of investing heavily in training and further education. It was in 1927 that the Škoda vocational school in Mladá Boleslav opened its doors to the first 58 students. Since then, more than 25,000 people have graduated from the school. Today, the vocational school forms part of the Škoda Academy, where almost 820 aspiring automotive specialists across 19 disciplines are preparing for their future roles. Nearly one hundred of them are women. The company has already upskilled more than 23,000 employees to prepare them for the demands of e-mobility and secure jobs at the site.

Ten years of forward-looking topics
During the anniversary celebrations, the attendees had the opportunity to participate in interactive, innovative workshops to explore the development of educational topics such as artificial intelligence, 3D printing, automation, e-mobility, and various projects on human skills.

As part of the anniversary event, students from the Škoda vocational school in Mladá Boleslav released a video offering a preview of the next Apprentice Car.

The Apprentice Car is the Škoda Academy’s flagship project, which involves vocational school students transforming a vehicle from Škoda’s portfolio into their very own dream car in one academic year. The apprentices are solely responsible for realizing the concept – from the first sketch to the finished unique vehicle. They receive support from many Škoda Auto departments, including Škoda Design and Technical Development.

Commitment to people empowerment
On the occasion of the anniversary, Klaus Zellmer, Chairman of the Board of Škoda Auto, Maren Gräf, Member of the Board for People and Culture and Jaroslav Povšík, Chairman of the KOVO trade union, signed a memorandum to promote and support the Škoda Academy. The company is thus committed to investing intensively in the training and development of its employees to successfully master the transformation to e-mobility and digitalization.

Article source: www.skoda-storyboard.com

Historic Škoda Superb, 1934-1949
By the time the historic Superb went into production in 1934, Škoda had already produced several top-of-the-range models. However, the Superb was innovative in many ways; the onboard wiring worked with a then-new 12 V system, which is still used in cars today. Along with its contemporaries, the Superb was based on an innovatively designed chassis. The traditional longitudinal frame with a channel section was replaced by an advanced backbone frame with a central tube, dividing into two beams at the front. This design not only allowed the driveshaft to be housed in the frame’s tube but also created more room for the independent suspension, which ensured superior ride comfort. The Superb was also the brand’s first model to feature single-circuit hydraulic brakes with equal action on all four wheels. During production, engines with the recently developed OHV valve train began to be installed in Superb cars in 1938. And unlike some of its predecessors, such as the luxury Hispano-Suiza, the Superb was developed entirely in-house at Škoda. The bodywork, which underwent considerable modernisation in 1939, was built of a timber-framed wooden body with outer metal sheet panels, allowing the Superb to be manufactured in a variety of body styles; five civilian and three military versions were rolled out during its 13-year production period. It was available with SV or OHV engines with outputs ranging from 40.5 to 70.7 kW and displacements from 2,492 to 3,991 cm³. Most of the engines had six cylinders, the exception being the Superb 4000, which featured a V8-cylinder engine under the bonnet. This meant the Superb 4000 had the most power and the largest displacement in the series. One of the few surviving Superb 4000s is now among the most valuable exhibits of the Škoda Museum in Mladá Boleslav. Around 900 civilian and 1,600 military vehicles of all Superb variants were produced between 1934 and 1949.

Return of the flagship, 2001-2008
2001 was a year of many highlights for the Škoda brand, including its ten-year anniversary under the wing of the Volkswagen Group. The Škoda Fabia was launched as a saloon, with Škoda also introducing its signature Simply Clever concept of practical innovations. The main event of the year, however, was the presentation of the Superb hatchback after a 50-year hiatus. This raised the Škoda brand’s profile, positioning it among the manufacturers of upper-mid-class cars. Unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show in September 2001, the first-generation Superb was built on the PL 45 chassis platform. This was widened by 100 mm for the Škoda Superb, giving it an exceptionally spacious interior. The series also boasted a comprehensive range of engines; the first modern generation of the Superb offered both petrol and diesel powertrains, ranging from a 1.8-litre four-cylinder turbo with 110 kW (150 hp) to the top version – a 2.8-litre V6 with 142 kW (193 hp). It brought with it several firsts for the Škoda brand, including bi-xenon headlamps, Tiptronic automatic transmission, the Coming Home lighting system and electronically controlled brake assist, which enhanced the braking action. The multi-link front suspension and longitudinally mounted engines were also unique among Škoda cars. In 2006, the first-generation Superb underwent a facelift, which integrated the trademark C-shaped rear-light concept.

„With the Enyaq iV 50, we are making the Enyaq family’s entry level even more affordable. For less than 40,000 euros, our customers get a modern battery-electric vehicle that offers an ample range for everyday driving, plenty of space for the entire family and a comprehensive equipment.“

Martin Jahn, Škoda Auto Board Member for Sales and Marketing

Design Selection Loft and good standard equipment
The Škoda Enyaq iV 50 comes with rear-wheel drive and a 109 kW electric motor on the rear axle. A 55 kWh high-voltage battery (net 52 kWh) enables a maximum range of up to 365 kilometres on the WLTP cycle. At DC fast-charging stations, the battery can be replenished from 10 to 80 percent of its capacity in 36 minutes, with a maximum charging power of 110 kW. The Enyaq iV 50 comes with 19 inch Regulus alloys and is equipped with front and rear parking sensors and a rear-view camera as standard. Its interior features the Design Selection Loft. A central 13-inch touchscreen display and the navigation function for the infotainment system are included as standard, as is one of Škoda’s famous Simply Clever features: the iconic umbrella in the driver’s door. The Škoda Enyaq iV 50 will be available in selected European markets, for example, Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium. At the same time, Škoda Auto will be offering incentives to promote e-mobility in other markets, for example, special leasing and financing.

Article source: www.skoda-storyboard.com