| |
|
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 beleagured company, and has since transformed Škoda's image almost overnight by way of a range of new, VW-developed models.
Škoda's vehicles are not uncommon in the UK. Historically, Škodas had a poor reputation and no fashionable person would be seen in one, let alone own one. Since being purchased by VAG, the design - both style and engineering - has improved greatly and Škoda now use this historical joke as part of their advertising, with the slogan: 'It is a Skoda, 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' 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. (In fact, the Octavia is engineered by VW, and is mechanically similar to the SEAT Leon and Audi A3.)
Škoda has been successful in rallying.
Škoda Works was the biggest industrial enterprise in Austria-Hungary and then Czechoslovakia and among the biggest in Europe. Founded by Emil Škoda in 1869 in Plzen 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:
As an interesting aside, Škoda (i.e. the family name of 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 Skoda".
See also: List of automobiles
