Skoda Withdraws Production From Slovakia

AktuálnÄ›.cz reported that the Czech car maker Škoda Auto based in Mladá Boleslav is going to withdraw its production of Octavia model range from VW plant located Bratislava, Slovakia, into Czech town Vrchlabí. According to the President of the Board Reinhard Jung the transfer is scheduled now for May this year (originally the planned deadline was April).

The announced reason for moving of production is that the plant in Bratislava is about to launch production of small family cars that are to be sold under Volkswagen, Seat and Škoda. Octavia has been produced in Bratislava since 2008 when it replaced there the production of VW Polo.

Plant in Bratislava also produces other popular VW Group models - VW Touareg, Audi Q7, Porsche Cayenne. Currently VW has plans to expand its Bratislava plant and invest EUR 308 million for this purpose. A new paint shop and a production line have already been constructed.

The factory that operates in Vrchlabí employs about 1,000 people and produces now Octavia Tour. Its management is looking forward to starting production of the whole Octavia model range. In general, Octavia is one of the Škoda’s most popular models and it was the last year's best-selling car in the Czech Republic. Total of 24,951 vehicles was sold throughout the year which is 18.5 percent more than in 2008.

It should be mentioned that in spite of unstable economy and crisis in many industries the last year became lucky for the Czech car maker. Its global sales reached a record maximum. According to information published by VW Group Škoda vehicles sales rose by 1.4 percent and reached 684,200 cars. Especially good results Škoda showed in China and Germany.

Photo: Skoda Octavia II, by Thomas doerfer (wikimedia.org)