Based in the Czech Republic, Skoda Automobile was created by a disgruntled bookstore owner and his brother and started out as a bicycle repair shop in 1895. Vaclav Laurin and his brother started the business when they couldn't get their German bikes fixed due to lack of parts. They decided to call the company Slavia from a patriotic urge. Later, it was changed to Laurin & Klement Co. and it started making motorcycles.
After several victories in local races, the two bothers decided to export their motorcycles to London. Based on the success of the first model, Voiturette A, Laurin and Klement expanded into automobile making starting with 1905. By that time they were established as a big company both locally and internationally.
Recent trends have seen the Czech automaker move into a slightly more luxurious market with the Superb and the Octavia. The company is also trying to secure other segments of the market with the 2006 MPV called Roomster and a crossover concept called the Yeti. |
