Skoda rolls out six millionth Octavia

Skoda completes production of its six millionth Octavia. The jubilee vehicle ran off the production line at the company’s headquarters in Mlada Boleslav today. Since its launch in 1996, the Skoda Octavia has become a global sales hit and the bestseller for the Czech company. The first Octavia model was introduced by the company in 1959.  

Michael Oeljeklaus, Skoda board member for production and logistics, said, “No other model has run off Skoda’s production lines more often than the Octavia. It is the heart of our brand and represents the high performance of Skoda production and logistics. The Octavia has made a significant contribution to Skoda’s rise in the global markets.”

The Skoda Octavia exemplifies the brand's success over the past two decades. It was the first newly developed Skoda model following the fall of the Iron Curtain and after joining forces with the Volkswagen Group. Its introduction provided the impetus for Skoda's rise to becoming a globally operating company, which has now successfully established itself among the large volume brands.

First OCTAVIA and its forebear

The launch of the Skoda Octavia took place in autumn 1996 at the 'Mondial de l'Automobile' in Paris. The saloon in the upper compact class featured modern technology and promised excellent value for money. The car was designed by former Skoda chief designer Dirk van Braeckel that sported a striking appearance with its large radiator grille that enlivened the street scene in the 1990s.

The name Octavia came from the Latin word for the number eight: 'Octo'. In 1997 Skoda produced 61,000 Octavias, one year later the production number had almost doubled to over 117,500 units. The Skoda Octavia Combi, which also stimulated demand, followed in 1998. In 2010, the last of 1,442,100 Octavias of the first generation rolled off the line at the Vrchlabí plant.

Skoda launched global production with the OCTAVIA II 

The successor, first introduced at the Geneva motor show in March 2004, continued the triumphant success of its predecessor. The Octavia II had a fresh design, more space in the interior and boot, and improved technology. 

With the second-generation Octavia, the Czech manufacturer also stepped up its internationalisation strategy. The production of the Octavia began at the Indian plant in Aurangabad in 2005. The Shanghai Volkswagen plant has been building the Octavia for China since 2007. And since 2009, the Octavia has been produced at the Russian Volkswagen plant in Kaluga. The third Octavia generation celebrated its premiere in 2012. Just one year later, production of the brand's bestseller also commenced in Ukraine and Kazakhstan.

The updated Skoda Octavia for India will launch soon. Read our review here.