Latest news with #Škoda
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Arriva signs €300m contract with Škoda for electric trains in Czechia
Arriva Group has confirmed a €300m ($349.3m) contract for Škoda to deliver a fleet of electric multiple units for Czechia, bolstering its commitment to sustainable and efficient passenger transport in Europe. Škoda will supply 22 modern electric trains, designed to reach speeds of up to 200km/h, which will enhance the travel experience for passengers in Czechia. The investment follows a 15-year, €750m contract awarded by the Czech Ministry of Transport to Arriva last month for the operation of long-distance services and electric rolling stock. This contract entrusts the company with the operation of long-distance rail services along one of Czechia's most vital transport corridors, linking Prague, Pilsen, and Western Bohemia. Scheduled to commence service in December 2028, the EMUs will reduce travel times, offering a viable and eco-friendly alternative to car usage. Approximately 80% of the supply chain for the new fleet will be local to Czechia, reflecting Arriva's dedication to fostering strong local partnerships and stimulating regional economic development. Arriva Group mainland Europe managing director Sian Leydon said: 'Our partnership with Škoda is a significant milestone for our rail operations in Czechia and a strong demonstration of our ambition to grow in liberalising European markets. 'By investing in modern trains and partnering with established local suppliers, we're directly contributing to sustainable economic growth and driving the shift towards greener travel. We're thrilled our latest fleet investment will provide passengers with faster, reliable and sustainable alternatives to road travel.' The introduction of these trains builds upon Arriva's expanding electric rail operations in Czechia. Following the successful launch of electric trains in the Pilsen region in 2023, the company continues to grow its presence in the Czech rail market, which it entered in 2013. Now, Arriva employs over 3,500 individuals, operates more than 1,800 buses and 100 trains, and serves millions of passengers annually. "Arriva signs €300m contract with Škoda for electric trains in Czechia" was originally created and published by Railway Technology, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Time of India
14-07-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
Skoda Auto India crosses 300 touchpoints across 172 cities
Škoda Auto India has surpassed 300 customer touchpoints across 172 cities, reflecting the brand's focus on improving accessibility and customer service nationwide, especially in emerging markets. Earlier this month, Škoda posted its best-ever H1 sales in India, driven by strong demand for models like the Kylaq , Kushaq , Kodiaq, and Slavia. In the past nine months, the company has entered 30+ new cities—86 per cent in Tier 2 and 3 markets. According to the company's statement, around 75 per cent of its total network now caters to these regions, improving service access and reducing travel time for customers. 'Our growing network enables faster, smarter service with consistent quality,' said Ashish Gupta, Brand Director, Škoda Auto India. 'This expansion reflects our commitment to getting closer to customers.' Škoda's SUV range—Kylaq, Kushaq, and Kodiaq—continues to drive volumes, while the Slavia reinforces the brand's sedan legacy. The carmaker is also expected to launch a global sedan. The company's expansion strategy aims to strengthen its presence beyond metros, focusing on customer-centric service and long-term brand trust. The company is also marking its 25 years of operations in India.
Hindustan Times
04-07-2025
- Automotive
- Hindustan Times
Skoda Auto crosses major milestone, rolls out 500,000th car in India
Skoda Kylaq is the latest launch from the brand. It goes up against sub-compact SUVs like Maruti Suzuki Brezza, Tata Nexon, Hyundai Venue, Kia Sonet and Mahindra XUV 3XO. Check Offers Škoda Auto Volkswagen India has announced a key manufacturing milestone with the rollout of its 500,000th car produced in India. This significant achievement comes over two decades after the Czech carmaker began its local production journey in 2001 with the Octavia model at its Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar (formerly Aurangabad) plant. The half-a-million mark reflects not just growing customer demand but also Škoda Auto Volkswagen India's steady integration of global manufacturing standards with Indian operations. Production is currently carried out across two major facilities in Pune and Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar, with roughly 70 per cent of the vehicles assembled in Pune. Škoda's journey in India has been marked by the introduction of several key models, ranging from early favourites like the Octavia and Laura to more recent offerings such as the Kushaq and Slavia. These vehicles have catered to a wide spectrum of Indian buyers and have contributed to Škoda's expansion into a more accessible and locally relevant portfolio. Watch: Skoda Kylaq review | Practical, no-nonsense 'baby Kushaq' | Should you buy the Nexon, Brezza rival? Beyond serving the domestic market, Škoda's Indian manufacturing is also playing an increasingly important role in its international strategy. Components and parts manufactured in India are now being used to assemble cars in Vietnam, including models like the Kushaq and Slavia. This development aligns with India's broader objective of becoming a global manufacturing hub under the "Make in India" initiative. According to Andreas Dick, Škoda Auto's Board Member for Production and Logistics, this milestone is not only about the volume but about building a responsive, scalable ecosystem that supports international quality benchmarks. He noted the importance of combining global processes with Indian engineering talent to meet evolving market demands. Škoda Auto Volkswagen India CEO and Managing Director Piyush Arora emphasized the emotional significance of the achievement, viewing the 500,000 units as not just products but meaningful customer connections. He highlighted the company's ongoing efforts to deliver vehicles with a focus on quality, safety, and engineering precision. Also Read : Skoda Octavia RS spotted in India for the first time. Here's when it will arrive This milestone also comes at a symbolic time, as Škoda Auto marks its 130th anniversary globally and its 25th year in India. Earlier in 2025, the company recorded its highest-ever monthly sales in March, delivering 7,422 units—further underscoring the brand's momentum in the Indian automotive landscape.Škoda Auto Volkswagen India has announced a key manufacturing milestone with the rollout of its 500,000th car produced in India. This significant achievement comes over two decades after the Czech carmaker began its local production journey in 2001 with the Octavia model at its Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar (formerly Aurangabad) plant. The half-a-million mark reflects not just growing customer demand but also Škoda Auto Volkswagen India's steady integration of global manufacturing standards with Indian operations. Production is currently carried out across two major facilities in Pune and Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar, with roughly 70% of the vehicles assembled in Pune. Škoda's journey in India has been marked by the introduction of several key models, ranging from early favourites like the Octavia and Laura to more recent offerings such as the Kushaq and Slavia. These vehicles have catered to a wide spectrum of Indian buyers and have contributed to Škoda's expansion into a more accessible and locally relevant portfolio. Also Read : Confident of Kushaq sales bouncing back in 1-2 months: New Skoda boss. Facelift coming soon Beyond serving the domestic market, Škoda's Indian manufacturing is also playing an increasingly important role in its international strategy. Components and parts manufactured in India are now being used to assemble cars in Vietnam, including models like the Kushaq and Slavia. This development aligns with India's broader objective of becoming a global manufacturing hub under the "Make in India" initiative. According to Andreas Dick, Škoda Auto's Board Member for Production and Logistics, this milestone is not only about the volume but about building a responsive, scalable ecosystem that supports international quality benchmarks. He noted the importance of combining global processes with Indian engineering talent to meet evolving market demands. Škoda Auto Volkswagen India CEO and Managing Director Piyush Arora emphasized the emotional significance of the achievement, viewing the 500,000 units as not just products but meaningful customer connections. He highlighted the company's ongoing efforts to deliver vehicles with a focus on quality, safety, and engineering precision. This milestone also comes at a symbolic time, as Škoda Auto marks its 130th anniversary globally and its 25th year in India. Earlier in 2025, the company recorded its highest-ever monthly sales in March, delivering 7,422 units—further underscoring the brand's momentum in the Indian automotive landscape. Check out Upcoming Cars in India 2025, Best SUVs in India. First Published Date: 04 Jul 2025, 12:00 PM IST
Yahoo
01-07-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
The big car making big money for Škoda
This industry, which we all love to be a part of in our different ways, can be puzzling. Why, for example do so few OEMs now offer large sedans, hatchbacks or wagons? They would claim it's a shrinking segment and is mostly for buyers who want a premium brand car such as an E-Class, V90, 5 Series or A6. And yet. Not everybody wants a premium badge Neither Toyota nor Honda nor Geely nor BYD nor Hyundai & Kia nor the Volkswagen Group think they should walk away from the 4.8-5.0m long class. There is a lot of business to be done in this size category and as Škoda knows, many people don't feel connected to luxury nameplates such as Mercedes, Volvo, BMW or Audi. Look around the major markets of the world and we find the Hyundai Grandeur and Kia K5 doing great business in South Korea, while the Toyota Crown series is successful in Japan. Plus the decades-long rivalry of the Accord versus the Camry in the USA and China continues. Not to mention the ongoing big demand for BYD's Qin models and Geely's Xingrui sedan. Yes these segments have contracted but they're still worth being in as the smart companies which remain, know. Škoda Auto is almost gone from China and it's small or non-existent in Asia's other markets of consequence, including India. Conventional logic says it's important to be making it big in such countries. Why then is the Czech OEM setting record profits and selling so many cars in Europe that in *May it passed BMW to become regional number three? Will second placed Toyota be next? And is this company making its best margins from all its small or medium sized cars, SUVs and those pricey-to-develop EVs? Making it big The Superb is in some ways almost a cultish Škoda. It's one of those cars you either know everything about or are ignorant of. Nobody dislikes it. I've lost count of the number of people who've had their minds blown when shown the amount of space inside a Superb of any generation or body style. Now, with the current shape, the interior is more premium than you'll find in most VWs or Audis. Reason being, technology overload is not present. Instead, sensibility, tactility and silence. Everything you could possibly want is there but of things which grate there are none. Want just one example of how intelligently designed the Superb is? To deactivate steering interference there is an actual button which you touch with one finger whilst keeping your right hand on the steering wheel. Overall, nothing beep-nags, everything feels nice and looks great. This, in other words, is a luxury car. OK, the sunroof controls are awful but no worse than what I recently found in an XC90. Nice knobbly knobs A neighbour asked me about the Superb and sighed when I mentioned the touch-sensitive glass roof sliders and inadequate shading from the blind. Lamenting that his ID.3 is as bad, still he loves the car. The VW's swipe-for-volume also frustrates so he was happy to see that it does not exist in the Škoda. An actual knob does that job, the same applying to mirror adjustment. Things which are more neutral rather than rubbish would include what is an overloaded left-hand stalk. I did get used to it, and the right hand one, which selects R, N, D and P, also works well enough. The idea behind each is to liberate space on the central console. Here, you may hide valuables or just be a minimalist by rolling rubbery covers into place. Overall, the interior is way nicer than that of the new Audi A5 and Q5. Some will say ah yes this is a mere niche model. Sure. So then why is it such a strong seller in the two big European countries which have expanding populations, namely Poland and Britain? Or why does it outsell all manner of supposed mainstream models in Germany, including Ford of Europe's best seller, the Puma, or the Mercedes A-Class? Circa 80,000 sold each year Of course this huge car is far from being a six-figures global seller, production volume in 2024 - a changeover year - amounting to 54,500 with 17,400 delivered in Q1 of 2025 (placing it seventh in the brand's 12-model line-up). Yet it has always been an important vehicle, the first generation dating to 1935 and having a fourteen-year production run at the firm's Mladá Boleslav factory. For reasons unknown, the company terms the fifth generation car number four. That's how many evolutions have appeared under Volkswagen ownership, the first new post-WW2 Superb debuting in 2001. Each has been a better seller than its predecessor, the previous-to-current model setting a new record of 805,000 registrations between 2015 and when it was replaced in mid-2024. Build is no longer in the Czech Republic, the 3Y series hatchback and Combi being produced on the same line as the Passat estate at the Volkswagen Group's Bratislava factory. Škoda Auto in fact led the development of both cars, tweaking the FWD/AWD MQB Evo platform in the process. Multiple engines, two dual clutch gearboxes The shift to Slovakia took place not only to save cash by creating a shared manufacturing footprint for the VW and its Škoda twin, but also freed up capacity at Mladá Boleslav for more Octavia production. A move which is presently proving to have been a visionary one. You've a choice of multiple engines and two DSGs with the latest generation Superb. The one I lived with for a week was the iV, which is Škoda-speak for petrol plug-in hybrid. Its transmission has six gears whilst the one in all others has seven. Many more miles on electrons Engine alternatives to the 1.5-litre PHEV are a base mild hybrid of the same capacity, or else a 2.0-litre petrol and a 2.0-litre diesel. With the TSI and TDI there are two power alternatives in each case. The petrol-electric system has had a major makeover, the battery's capacity near-doubling to 25.7 kilowatt hours. That means a realistic range of up to 75 miles, which is…superb. It should be surprising to no-one that this car keeps on keeping on. Not the top seller in its global size class - that title will continue to go to a German premium marque - yet Škoda doesn't mind. Nor is the Superb likely to evolve into an EV for many years yet. Loyal buyers want it to stay much the same as it is: long but not too wide, priced fairly, dynamically comfortable rather than too firmly sprung and not seen on every street. Sum-up This continues to be one of the world's best large cars. How lucky we are to live in the main region where it's available. Pricing ranges from GBP35,925 to GBP49,115 (hatchback) or from GBP37,225 to GBP50,415 (estate). *June data were not available as the time of publication "The big car making big money for Škoda" was originally created and published by Just Auto, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site.
Time of India
01-07-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
Skoda India clocks highest-ever H1 volumes with 36,194 units
Škoda Auto India has recorded its highest-ever half-yearly sales in the country, retailing 36,194 units in the first half of 2025. With this performance, the brand has climbed into the top seven automotive brands in India , a jump of four positions from 2024. 'This landmark sales performance reflects the growing acceptance of Škoda's products and services in India,' said Ashish Gupta, Brand Director, Škoda Auto India. The brand's previous best half-yearly sales stood at 28,899 units in H1 2022. According to the company's statement, Škoda's strong performance in 2025 has been aided by the launch of the Kylaq, its first sub-4-metre SUV, aimed at widening access to the Škoda brand, especially in Tier 2 and 3 markets. Škoda Auto India has expanded its network from 120 touchpoints in 2021 to over 295 today, with a goal of reaching 350 by end-2025. It also offers a class-leading warranty, a one-year complimentary Škoda Supercare maintenance package, and a strong focus on after-sales experience—ensuring enhanced peace of mind and customer satisfaction.
