Double celebration for Skoda

It’s been a big week for Skoda with the Czech brand marking two important automotive achievements.

Firstly, it’s the 60th birthday of the Octavia, Skoda’s most successful model in the UK and a multi-million seller around the world.

Second, the 500,000th third-generation Superb has rolled off the production line in Kvasiny in the Czech Republic.

While the Octavia has been a huge sales success around the world (6.5 million!), the British have developed one of the strongest bonds with the Octavia.

More than 500,000 examples have found homes here since the very first 1959 model rolled onto UK roads. Six decades later, it remains Skoda’s top-seller.

Originally designed to bring affordable and high-quality motoring to the widest possible audience at an unbeatable price, the design and engineering philosophies behind the Octavia remain the same today.

Over the years, the Octavia has proved itself to be one of the most adaptable and practical cars on the market. It has set World Land Speed Records, been transformed into a title-winning rally car and, become one of the most trusted cars used by our emergency services.

1959-1971 first-generation Octavia
Between 1959 and 1971, a total of 360,000 Octavias were produced, including more than 54,000 estate versions.

1996 – 2004: new-generation Octavia Mk1
1,451,636 cars built

2004-2013; Octavia Mk2
2,274,529 cars built

2013-present; Octavia Mk3
More than 2,500,000 cars built to date

Superb sales success

The third-generation Skoda Superb ushered in a new era for the brand when its production run started in March 2015.

Since then, 500,000 Skoda Superbs have been built – or 1.25 million since 2001 the first generation was launched in 2001.

Later in 2019 the Superb will receive an extensive upgrade and a new plug-in-hybrid version will be added to the range.

 

“Today, we have half a million reasons to be proud,” said Skoda’s Michael Oeljeklaus.

“The production milestone is great evidence of the Skoda Superb’s continued popularity. With its design and technological qualities as well as unbeatable amount of interior space, we have been substantiating the brand’s aspiration in the mid-size car segment for four years.

“The Superb is now produced at five different factories – ranks among the best and most successful mid-size cars, and the brand owes a large proportion of its growth to it.”

Did you know? The Skoda Superb is made at five sites around the world – Kvasiny (Czech Republic), Aurangabad (India), Nanjing (China), Ust-Kamenogorsk (Kazakhstan) and Solomonovo (Ukraine)