Volkswagen’s Skoda division has started production on a new hatchback model in the high-volume compact segment. The group’s main factory in Mladá Boleslav in the Czech Republic rolled the Rapid Spaceback model off the production line on August 19th. Since April, a new logistics warehouse has been in operation to ensure the supply of parts to vehicle and powertrain production is faster. The company said this has increased flexibility and efficiency at the plant. The Spaceback is Skoda’s eighth production launch this year. In preparation the manufacturer implemented new equipment for car body production, a fully-automated paint shop and a new press line at the start of 2013.
Michael Oeljeklaus, board member for production at Skoda, said that he was pleased with the progress displayed “from purchasing, technical development, production and logistics”. He stressed the importance of the new model for the brand as a whole, and claimed the start-up was “carried out reliably, to the highest quality and on time.”
