AUG 4 THE ŠKODA: A CZECH SUCCESS STORY

AUG 4 THE ŠKODA: A CZECH SUCCESS STORY

One of the advantages of the Euro-Zone has been the opening of automobile markets to neighboring nations. It's been nearly twenty years, and the results are in. Diversity is apparent. For example, in France, you'll see many different brands and makes of cars. Yet decade or two ago, the French roads were a sea of Peugeots and Citroens. And parked prominently upfront by the valets of Paris is a new-comer to the luxury car market: The Skoda.

Never heard of the Škoda? It may sound like an upscale Swedish manufacturer but this car actually comes from Czechia. (formerly the Czech Republic). Wait...You're wondering: How does a country in Eastern Europe produce a desired automobile? Isn't this the region that was responsible for the Yugo? The Lada? Well...during the Cold War...you could put the Škoda in this category as well. The MB1000 had a tiny 1200cc engine in the rear of the box. (Oops! I mean the rear of the car.) See, when markets are controlled by the Soviets, this is the type of car you must build.

Sadly, the Skoda was stuck with this ugly stereotype. Prior to the Cold War, the Škoda was a sought-after automobile. Take, for example, the stylish Škoda 422. It was the vehicle of choice for the Viennese elite in the 1920's. Let's face it: It's the perfect car to take you and the baroness to the opera or symphony house. It wasn't just Austria. From the city of Mlada Boleslav, the factory exported vehicles to Berlin, Paris, Milan and more. And not just luxury automobiles either, as Škoda produced trucks and motorcycles as well.

Motorcycles? Yep, that was the company's first product. Škoda actually dates back to 1894. That's when an adventurous bicycle salesman decided to place a small motor between the handlebars of a bike. It was horribly unsafe, but it was a step in the right direction. Soon, the company changed design. Specifically, they  moved the engine under the seat. This made the two-wheeled invention much more safe. In 1898, the Škoda was the first company making motorcycles in continental Europe. Called the Slavia, it was even used by Britian's Royal Army.

It's clear: The history of the Škoda Car Company mirrors that of the Czech people: Up, down, up. For centuries, the Kingdom of Bohemia was a thriving scientific community. Then, suddenly in 1945, the Iron Curtain was drawn across Europe. The poor Czechs ended up on the wrong side! For fifty years, they languished, producing mundane cars and products. Finally, the Velvet Revolution lifted the veil and let the eager Czechs compete across Europe. Like the Croatian Soccer team, they entered a crowded marketplace and thrived!