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Škoda Auto is an automobile manufacturer in the Czech Republic, now part of the Volkswagen Group (VAG).
Škoda is a participant in the World Rally Championship, initially using the Octavia but now using the Fabia.
Established in 1895 as Laurin & Klement, it was merged with Škoda Works in 1925. It had a government-granted monopoly in Czechoslovakia after World War II until 1989. It was acquired by VAG in 1991.
Unlike fellow Eastern-bloc manufacturers such as Lada-AutoVAZ, and Zastava, Škoda has been fortunate in having been taken over by a major western corporation. Since 1991, VAG has invested billions of dollars into the once beleaguered company and has transformed Škoda's image almost overnight with a range of new, VW-developed models.
In the mid-20th century, Škoda was known for building very tough and reliable cars. During the 1980s and early 90s, Škodas acquired a poor reputation. Since being purchased by VAG, the design—both style and engineering—has improved greatly.
Škoda now uses this change in reputation as part of their advertising, with the slogan: "It is a ?koda, honest." In a 2003 advertisement on British television, a new employee on the production line is fitting Škoda badges on the car bonnets. When some attractive looking cars come along he stands back, not fitting the badge, since they are too good to be Škodas.
Some British owners of the Škoda Octavia have even gone as far as to fit VW badges to it, to avoid embarrassment. The Octavia is in fact engineered by VW, and is similar in size to the VW Passat and Audi A4. It is built on the Golf floorpan and is therefore directly related to the VW Golf, Audi A3 and SEAT León.
Škoda Works was the biggest industrial enterprise in Austria-Hungary and then Czechoslovakia and among the biggest in Europe. Founded by Emil ?koda in 1869 in Plzeň it soon became the leading arms manufacturer in the country producing heavy guns for navy, mountain guns or mortars as well as locomotives, aircraft, ships, machine tools, steam turbines, power-engineering equipment, etc. Prior to World War II and during the occupation by Nazi Germany Škoda also produced LT-35 and LT-38 tanks, which are better known under their German labels Panzer 35(t) and Panzer 38(t).
Mountain guns produced by Škoda:
The present-day company specializes in heavy machinery (such as nuclear reactors and locomotives). Mismanagement and lack of technological progress had weakened the company only to shadow of its past glory.
As an interesting aside, Škoda (i.e. the family name of Emil Škoda, the enterpreneur who bought the firm in 1869) happens to mean also damage or "pity" in Czech. Consequently, "To je škoda" can mean either "It's a pity" or "That's a Škoda".
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