Skoda - A Czech Automotive Company with History

Skoda, a Czech word that means "damage", is also the name of one of the oldest automotive companies in existence. Based in the Czech Republic, the company was founded in 1895 by two friends, Václav Klement and Václav Laurin.

The Beginning

Klement and Laurin started their company as a simple bicycle repair shop after Klement was badly treated by a German bicycle manufacturer for repairs. Lauren already had experience manufacturing bicycles, while Klement was starting from scratch.

The pair built a factory to produce their own bicycles and in 1898, bought a new style of bike called the motorcyclette, by the Werner Brothers in France. This novel bicycle featured a motor between the handlebars, allowing the rider to get from place to place without having to pedal.

When the Werner motorcyclette proved to be both dangerous and quite unreliable, the pair enlisted the help of Robert Bosch, a German with a specialty in ignitions. He helped them design a new version of the powered bicycle which debuted as the Slavia motorcycle in 1899.

In 1900, 150 motorcycles, pedalled under the name "Voiturette A" were shipped to London and the reign of the Klement Laurin Company had begun.

Interruptions

The First World War was a big distraction to Klement and Laurin. They turned their factories to produce war items for the duration of the war and only returned to vehicles once it had ended, branching out into not only motorcycles and cars, but also trucks.

In 1905, the company began to produce cars as well, but in 1924, ran into another set-back. A massive fire destroyed the production line and left Skoda reeling. The newly introduced trucks were put on hold while they searched for a partner to help them recover from the disaster.

They found their partner in Skoda Works, the largest industrial business in the country. From then on, most products were produced under the Skoda brand.

During World War II, Skoda stopped regular production to support the German war effort and didn't resume making cars until after the war had ended.

After the War