Škoda Auto

On December 17, 1895, Václav Laurin and Václav Klement opened a bicycle workshop in Mladá Boleslav that would eventually become one of the world's oldest car manufacturers. Their first automobile, the Voiturette A, appeared just one year later in 1896. Although Emil Škoda founded the heavy industrial works in the same town decades earlier, he did not create this specific automotive entity. The company remained independent until state nationalization occurred in 1948 following World War II.

Privatization efforts began after the Velvet Revolution in 1991, leading to a strategic partnership with Volkswagen Group that same year. This alliance evolved into full ownership by 2000, integrating the Czech brand into the German conglomerate while preserving its distinct identity. By 2025, the automaker had secured the position of the third best-selling brand in Europe, demonstrating sustained growth over previous decades. [edit]