Technical Development

Technical Development continued modernising its facilities in 2024. The new Virtual Development Centre was launched in early January, providing, above all, essential facilities during the conceptual development phase by enabling the full utilisation of new trends digitisation and virtualisation.

The advancement of Technical Development

The Virtual Development Centre will help streamline work tied to the development of new products. It makes it possible to virtually experience and touch a new product, view technical designs, and appraise ideas and solutions at the early stages of development. The facility provides tools for evaluating vehicle bodywork surfaces and comparing prototypes with what is shown on virtual models, with the ability to switch between different trim levels within seconds or explore the interior and its ergonomics in virtual reality.

5-Star Euro NCAP Rating

Customer safety, and indeed the safety of all road users, remains Škoda Auto’s top priority. The long-standing balance of five-star ratings in independent Euro NCAP safety tests – even after stricter testing parameters were introduced in 2023 – reaffirms the Company’s unwavering commitment to the highest safety standards.

In 2024, the new-generation Škoda Kodiaq and Superb upheld the tradition of five-star ratings. The Škoda Kodiaq scored 84% overall (89% for adult passenger protection and 83% for child protection), while the Škoda Superb achieved 87% overall (93% for adult passenger protection and 87% for child protection).

Škoda Octavia Enhanced with ChatGPT

Škoda Auto launched batch production of the updated Octavia in April. Among other improvements, the innovated fourth generation of Škoda’s most successful model now features voice assistant Laura, with integrated ChatGPT. This upgrade expands Laura’s capabilities beyond the prior standard voice commands, allowing her to respond to a wider range of questions. ChatGPT does not have access to vehicle data or personal information; all requests are processed anonymously, and interactions are deleted immediately afterward to ensure the highest level of data protection. In 2024, Laura communicated in English, Spanish, Czech, and German. The strategic integration of artificial intelligence (AI) underscores Škoda Auto’s commitment to technological innovation and its focus on the customer.

On 1 October 2024, the Company unveiled the new Škoda Elroq in Prague, marking the début of Škoda’s first batch-produced model to embody the new "Modern Solid" design language.

The Škoda Elroq represents the new design language, Modern Solid.

Škoda Design successfully preserved and reinterpreted the Škoda brand’s key design elements in this new model, combining them with fresh ideas and visual accents, such as the characteristic glossy black Tech-Deck Face grille. The Elroq comes with new Remote Parking and Remote Trained Parking functions, enabling parking without needing to be inside the car, using only a smart phone and the MyŠkoda app.

6.6 s

Acceleration 0–100 km/h

180 km/h

Maximum speed

580 km

Maximum range

Supporting International Collaboration

In 2024, Technical Development took part in meetings with senior development staff from major Volkswagen Group brands (Škoda, Volkswagen Passenger Cars, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, and Seat/Cupra) to discuss the synergies and strategies of those brands. In cooperation with local engineers in India, Škoda Auto participated in the development of the Kylaq, as a sub-4 metre car, the most important segment on the Indian market. The Kylaq is built on the robust MQB-A0-IN platform, which it shares with the Kushaq and the Slavia and which is central to Škoda Auto’s strategy in India. The Czech-Indian team developed this with the emphasis on a high degree of localisation, low operating costs, and short lead times.

Responsibility for the MQB-27 Platform

In 2024, Škoda Auto assumed full responsibility for the development of the Volkswagen Group’s global MQB-27 platform.

Engine and Powertrain Development

Škoda Auto is gradually taking on responsibility within the Volkswagen Group for the development of the full EA 211 engine series. These transverse, inline gasoline engines are utilised in a wide range of models across the Škoda, Volkswagen, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, Seat, Cupra, Audi, and Jetta brands. It is expected that full responsibility will be taken for this by 2027.

The impact of Euro 7 on Technical Development

Following negotiations in 2023, the legislative process for Euro 7 also continued in 2024. This was the year when implementing acts, which set tout the details of the legislation and are essential for defining technology and subsequent development work, were meant to be nearly finalized. Unfortunately, no satisfactory progress has been made in this area and the implementing acts are far from being finalized, which means that development can only be done based on (internal) premises and not final legislation. As the deadline for introducing the Euro 7 standard for all cars is currently fixed at November 2027, the delay in implementing acts significantly reduces the time for development work with final legislative requirements and the need for their implementation and certification in cars. This presents a risk and a significant challenge to the entire automotive industry in Europe.

In 2024, the customer programme won numerous awards in the World Rally Championship, European Rally Championship, and national championships. Throughout 2024, the competition cars made a total of 4 685 starts.

Achievements of Success for Škoda Motorsport

In the WRC2 category, Oliver Solberg, alongside his co-driver Elliott Edmondson, finished in 2nd place, with Toksport WRT finishing 2nd and 3rd places in the team standings. The WRC2 Challenger category saw crew Kajetan Kajetanowicz and Maciej Szczepaniak finish in 3rd place, while in the WRC Masters Cup, the Škoda crews secured all podium positions.

Rally2

Škoda vehicles proved to be the most successful in their category across both continental and national championships. Drivers claimed a total of three titles at the continental level and 18 titles at the national level.

Dominik Stříteský and his co-driver Jiří Hovorka claimed their first overall victory in the Czech Rally Championship, and all five Škoda Auto dealer teams featured in the first six positions.

Engine

Turbocharged engine with 1.6-liter capacity

Safety

The crew is protected by 35.8 meters of steel tubing

Speed

Maximum speed of 200 km/h

Performance

The engine delivers approximately 214 kW (289 hp)

Fuel Tank

Special 82.5-liter fuel tank