ŠKODA produces 1.5-millionth third-generation OCTAVIA

› Milestone vehicle rolls off the production line at the main plant in Mladá Boleslav
› More than five million customers have opted for the ‘heart of the brand’ since 1996
› The ŠKODA OCTAVIA is one of the most successful model lines in the automotive world

Mladá Boleslav, 2 May 2017 – The ‘heart of ŠKODA’ has reached a special milestone: the car manufacturer’s employees at the main plant in Mladá Boleslav have produced the 1.5-millionth third-generation OCTAVIA. The comprehensively upgraded new version of the bestseller has continued the model range’s success story since the beginning of February. It impresses with redesigned front and rear sections as well as state-of-the-art solutions in terms of driver assistance systems, infotainment and connectivity. Since the first modern OCTAVIA generation was launched 21 years ago, over five million customers around the world have chosen the compact model from the long-established Czech brand. This makes the OCTAVIA model range one of the most successful in the automotive world.

“With the OCTAVIA, the rapid development of our company really gathered pace from 1996,” said Michael Oeljeklaus, Board Member for Production and Logistics. “It has been an important pillar of the ŠKODA portfolio for over two decades. With the third generation of our bestseller, we have seamlessly built on the success story of the first two editions. Much of the credit for the success of the OCTAVIA and the ŠKODA brand goes to our motivated and highly skilled workforce, which now has 1.5 million reasons to be proud of its achievements,” added Oeljeklaus.

“With the OCTAVIA, the rapid development of our company really gathered pace from 1996,” said Michael Oeljeklaus, Board Member for Production and Logistics. “It has been an important pillar of the ŠKODA portfolio for over two decades. With the third generation of our bestseller, we have seamlessly built on the success story of the first two editions. Much of the credit for the success of the OCTAVIA and the ŠKODA brand goes to our motivated and highly skilled workforce, which now has 1.5 million reasons to be proud of its achievements,” added Oeljeklaus.

With more than five million units sold, the ŠKODA OCTAVIA is the Czech car manufacturer’s bestselling model. The first generation alone, which rolled off the production line from 1996 until the end of November 2010, won over more than 1.4 million buyers. The second-generation OCTAVIA continued the success of its predecessor: between 2004 and 2013, ŠKODA sold a total of 2.5 million vehicles. The third generation of the OCTAVIA, which is considered to be the cornerstone of ŠKODA’s model range, has been in production since November 2012; its one millionth vehicle left the production halls in Mladá Boleslav at the end of March 2016. In total, almost 1.4 million vehicles from the third generation were produced by the end of 2016. Production of the comprehensively upgraded OCTAVIA commenced at the beginning of February 2017. ŠKODA makes the compact model at its main plant in the Czech Republic as well as in China, India, Russia, Ukraine and Kazakhstan.

ŠKODA offers the comprehensively upgraded third-generation OCTAVIA as a hatchback and an estate. With its redesigned front and rear sections, streamlined body and wider track, it comes across as even more dynamic than before. The new version of the compact model impresses with proven strengths and sets new standards in its segment in terms of the amount of interior space, functionality, technology for safety as well as comfort, and value for money. Customers have a choice of four trim levels: Active, Ambition, Style and L&K. Furthermore, they can also choose Scout and RS versions. The engine portfolio comprises state-of-the-art petrol and diesel units with power outputs ranging from 63 kW (86 PS) to 180 kW (245 PS). Depending on the engine version, the ŠKODA OCTAVIA is also available with advanced direct-shift transmission (DSG) and all-wheel drive.