Škoda Auto: The long journey of this well-known Czech marque from arms, bicycles and motorcycles to automobiles.
* Škoda Works was established as an arms manufacturer in 1859.
The origin of what became Škoda Auto goes back to the early 1890s when, like many other long-established car manufacturers, a company started out manufacturing bicycles. The mechanic, Václav Laurin, and the book-seller, Václav Klement, both bicycle enthusiasts, started manufacturing bicycles of their own design, patriotically named ‘Slavia’ in the nationalist atmosphere of the end of the 19th century.
* A few years later, in 1899, the Laurin & Klement Company began producing motorcycles, which were soon successful and gained several racing victories. After initial experiments at the turn of century, the production of motorcycles was gradually replaced by that of automobiles from 1905 onwards.
* Like the motorcycles, the first Laurin & Klement automobile, the Voiturette A, was a success, later becoming the archetype of the Czech automobile classic. It soon ensured a stable position for the company in the then developing international automobile market, so that the company could start operating on a wider scale.
* After World War I, the Laurin & Klement Company began producing trucks. However, in 1924, after running into problems and even being gutted in a fire, the company sought a partner and was acquired by Škoda Works, arms manufacturer, which had become a multi-sector concern and the biggest industrial enterprise in Czechoslovakia. After a decline during the economic depression, Škoda was again successful with models such as the Popular in the late 1930s.
* After the political transformations of 1989 and under the new market economy conditions the Government of the Czechoslovak Republic and the management of Škoda began to search for a strong foreign partner whose experience and investment would be capable of securing long-range international competitiveness for the company.
* In December 1990, the government decided on co-operation with the Volkswagen Group of Germany. The Škoda-Volkswagen joint venture began operational on April 16, 1991 under the name Škoda, automobilová a.s., becoming the fourth brand of the Volkswagen Group along with VW, Audi and Seat.
