Skoda Vocational Students Embark on Ninth Dream Car Design and Build Project

Building the car of their dreams: Ninth Škoda Student Car project launched
In 2022, the apprentices transformed a Škoda Kamiq into the spectacular Škoda Afriq rally car, at the same time pointed to Škoda Auto’s responsibility for the Volkswagen Group’s activities in North Africa. Source: Škoda Auto

(IN BRIEF) The Škoda Academy’s Student Car project is back for the ninth time. The project allows Škoda vocational students to design and build their dream car, showcasing the high level of training at the Škoda Vocational School. 29 vocational students have already started working on the project, with details on the vehicle to be revealed in the coming months. The project receives support from many Škoda Auto departments, including Škoda Design and Technical Development. Previous Student Cars have been built under the supervision of instructors and supported by Škoda Motorsport, with the first hand-built in 1975.

(PRESS RELEASE) MLADÁ BOLESLAV, 28-Feb-2023 — /EuropaWire/ — ŠKODA AUTO, one of the world’s oldest car makers and Czech Republic largest private company part of Volkswagen Group, announces that Skoda Academy’s vocational students in Mladá Boleslav are back with their latest project – the ninth edition of the Student Car. This annual project, which began in 2014, challenges the students to design and build a one-of-a-kind vehicle from scratch under the expert guidance of their instructors. The project is supported by various departments at Skoda Auto, including Skoda Design and Technical Development. This year, 29 students have already begun working on the project and details of the vehicle will be revealed in the coming months.

Skoda Vocational School has a rich history of designing and building unique vehicles. The first project of this kind was undertaken in 1975 when students hand-built four units of the Skoda Buggy Type 736 for the autocross scene in former Czechoslovakia. Since then, eight Skoda Student Cars have been built, with the eighth edition – the Skoda Afriq – receiving support from Skoda Motorsport for the first time.

The Student Car project demonstrates the high level of training and expertise at the Skoda Academy and provides students with valuable experience in design and engineering. The project also showcases Skoda’s commitment to nurturing young talent and developing the next generation of skilled professionals in the automotive industry.

Maren Gräf, Škoda Auto Board Member for People & Culture, says: “The Student Car project has been an integral part of the training at the Škoda Academy for nine years now. The tremendous team spirit, the enthusiasm of our talented young apprentices and their attention to detail never fail to impress me. During the project, they acquire practical experience at every stage of development. They also gain expertise and insights into many different departments at the company. I am very much looking forward to seeing Student Car number nine and wish everyone involved lots of fun and success working on this great project.”

Maren Kabowski-Ciecior, Head of the Škoda Academy, says: “With great anticipation, I am closely following our students and the development of the ninth Student Car. This project gives our talented apprentices the opportunity to apply everything they have learned in previous years. At the same time, it lays the groundwork for a promising career at Škoda Auto and introduces students to the wide range of possible positions at our company. Our students can discover new areas of interest and make an initial decision on where they would like to work and contribute their talents.”

Media contacts:

Vítězslav Kodym
Head of Product Communications
T +420 326 811 784
vitezslav.kodym@skoda-auto.cz

Michaela Sklenářová
Spokesperson for Product Communications
+420 730 862 342
michaela.sklenarova@skoda-auto.cz

Škoda Auto
› is successfully steering through the new decade with the Next Level – Škoda Strategy 2030.
› aims to be one of the five best-selling brands in Europe by 2030 with an attractive line-up in the entry-level segments and additional e-models.
› is emerging as the leading European brand in important growth markets such as India or North Africa.
› currently offers its customers twelve passenger-car series: the Fabia, Rapid, Scala, Octavia and Superb as well as the Kamiq, Karoq, Kodiaq, Enyaq iV, Enyaq Coupé iV, Slavia and Kushaq.
› delivered over 731,000 vehicles to customers around the world in 2022.
› has been a member of the Volkswagen Group for 30 years. The Volkswagen Group is one of the most successful vehicle manufacturers in the world.
› independently manufactures and develops not only vehicles but also components such as engines and transmissions in association with the Group.
› operates at three sites in the Czech Republic; has additional production capacity in China, Russia, Slovakia and India primarily through Group partnerships, as well as in Ukraine with a local partner.
› employs 45,000 people globally and is active in over 100 markets.

SOURCE: Škoda Auto a.s.