Skoda factories: comparing production in Russia and the Czech Republic. Which countries produce Skoda Octavia, Rapid, Fabia and other models The future of Skoda Rapid in Russia and the main competitors

Skoda Rapid is a combination of functionality, practicality, smart solutions and modern design. The model has become the embodiment of the main values ​​​​of the Czech brand ... but do all cars leave the assembly line in the Czech Republic? The question of whether, many are asking. Especially those who are going to buy such a car.

Where they collect and in what markets they sell the Skoda Rapid

A huge surprise among motorists is the fact that not all modifications SKODA Rapid offered worldwide are assembled in Europe. In fact, there are many companies that produce cars of the Czech brand. And this is quite reasonable, since such production takes into account the peculiarities of the local market and the needs of consumers (configuration, clearance, interior design). In addition, saving on the delivery of finished machines from Europe allows you to reduce the cost of the machine without losing quality. Such transport has a significant advantage - "native" adaptation to the operating conditions of a particular region. After all, all technologies, parts and equipment used at Skoda factories in different countries strictly comply with Czech standards.

After official presentation the final version of the Skoda Rapid at the Paris Motor Show in the fall of 2012, production was launched in several countries at once. In the spring of next year, the first cars began to roll off the conveyor of the Eurocar plant, which is located in Ukraine, in the city of Solomonovo in Transcarpathia. Ukrainians were offered a model in three trim levels, with 4 types power plants and 13-color range of the body. The modifications collected here are intended for the domestic market of the country.

A little later, the production of SKODA Rapid started in Kazakhstan, which replenished the range of the plant in Ust-Kamenogorsk. In May 2013, the first locally assembled cars appeared on the country's market. They come in three trim levels, with two naturally aspirated engines and a five-speed transmission. In the future - a turbo engine and a DSG robot.

In the same year, the assembly of the sensational novelty began in Russia. Skoda Rapid, offered by the country's car dealerships, is produced at the Volkswagen Group Rus plant. It uses original Czech equipment, so the model is in no way inferior to its European counterpart. In addition, the car is modified to suit local conditions: roads, fuel and climate. Russian version machine is available to buyers from 6 power units(4 petrol and 2 diesel).

The Czech company Skoda, which is owned by the German concern Volkswagen, in 2012 switched to new stage development. Among several sensational new models, the Škoda Rapid stands out. The novelty immediately won the love of the public and successfully replaced the Octavia Tour model, and even became more spacious than its predecessor.
Photo: Skoda Rapid 2017

Relatively large wheelbase and a spacious interior have a positive effect on the level of sales. Volkswagen Polo, which is considered the main competitor of Rapid, is inferior to it in many aspects, and this is a direct merit of Czech designers.

In today's article, we will talk about the features of the Czech liftback, and where it is produced.

Assembly and production of Skoda Rapid

The market for the model is very wide, as Rapid is successfully sold all over the world. However, the car is assembled exclusively at the enterprises of the Czech Republic, and in the CIS countries.

The main stage of production takes place at an enterprise in the city of Mladá Boleslav, where engines and individual body parts are manufactured. It should be noted that this plant supplies components to the Ukrainian and Russian branches for the final assembly of Rapid.

Local power makes cars for the European market that are in very high demand.

The second enterprise is located on the territory of Ukraine, in the village of Solomonovo. Local cars are sold exclusively in the local market.

The second largest plant that produces Skoda Rapid is considered to be a domestic branch in the city of Kaluga, where cars are assembled for Russia. The following works are carried out at this enterprise:

• welding of individual body parts and painting works;
• complete assembly of the car, which is carried out in a separate workshop;
• tests and testing of finished products, immediately before being sent to dealerships;
• conducting independent marketing activities.

At the moment, the Kaluga plant operates in the mode described above, but it is possible that in the future the capacity will expand significantly to make the car even more affordable for domestic buyers.

Do not forget that a small branch is located in the Kazakh city of Ust-Kamenogorsk. The local enterprise produces not very large batches of cars that are sold only on the local market.

The thoughtful policy of the Czech company makes it one of the most successful in Europe.

Features Skoda Rapid Russian assembly

Due to the fact that Rapid is one of the advanced models of the company, the most attention is riveted to it. Most experts believe that the Skoda Rapid can be safely included in the top three best cars subcompact class. But this does not mean that the machine is designed perfectly, and there are many ways to improve it.

It is worth noting that the Russian version, unlike the Ukrainian and Kazakhstani ones, is slightly different from the Czech Rapid. The differences appear in the following points:

• the Russian version is equipped with a 1.2-liter engine with a capacity of 76 horsepower;
• recently another gasoline engine has appeared - a 1.6-liter unit, which is capable of producing 106 "horses";
• for senior gasoline unit both a six-band "automatic" and a similar "mechanics" are used.

If you analyze the reviews, it turns out that the best option would be a car equipped with a 1.6-liter unit, paired with a six-speed automatic transmission.

Video: assembly of Skoda cars at a plant in Kaluga

Prospects for Skoda Rapid Russian Assembly

At first glance, it seems that the domestic Skoda Rapid has little chance of making significant progress in the Russian market. After all, there are more than enough serious competitors. However, the list of positive features of the new liftback can change the minds of even the most skeptical critics and analysts:

• the European origin of the car, as most of the parts are made in the Czech factory;
• incredible appearance Rapid, which is very similar to Octavia;
• large interior space and high ergonomics;
• excellent technical characteristics;
• the use of German technologies in the assembly of power units;
• loyal pricing policy of the company.

Even despite the unstable financial situation, the Czech company does not increase the cost of Skoda Rapid, which cannot be said, for example, about Korean models. Even the French Logan has become more expensive, which greatly increased the popularity of the liftback.

At the moment, the minimum cost of the Skoda Rapid Russian assembly established at the level of 650,000 rubles. However, the variant with a 1.6-liter unit is in the greatest demand, for which you will have to pay 720,000 rubles.

Skoda Rapid- a convenient liftback with many functional solutions for the car owner. However, like any car, the Rapid has its drawbacks. They also influence the reviews of the owners, who are full of comments regarding the various characteristics of the car. What does not suit Skoda Rapid drivers - we will find out further.

Technical malfunctions

Many Skoda car owners do not like the quality of spare parts. This is especially true of the stabilizer bushings. In the cold, the car has characteristic squeaks of the bushings, which can not always be changed under warranty. If this problem does not bother you much, you can wait until spring: when it gets warmer, the creak goes away. The main thing is not to smear with silicone - the rubber bands wear out quickly, as more dirt will stick.

The creak of door seals is another common malfunction of the Skoda Rapid. Car owners complain that it starts to creak after the first washes. Possible cause are small gaps velvet. Someone smears these places with laundry soap, someone with silicone from the inside.

Among the owners of Skoda, there are cases when the foam breaks in the seats of the driver and passengers. The reason is a manufacturing defect or poor material that cannot withstand the load. But this malfunction bypasses some drivers, and does not appear when buying. It is difficult to talk about any regularity in this situation.

It is known that some owners complain about wheezing speakers in the cold. Official dealers, as a rule, do not comment on this situation. Such shortcomings of the Skoda Rapid especially concern car owners from the northern regions of the Russian Federation.

Air conditioning and cooling system

One of the diseases of the Skoda Rapid car is clogging of the lower part of the radiator. This happens due to excessively large holes in the vertical blades of the radiator grille. In this case, the driver may get a possible overheating of the car engine. To avoid this, it is recommended to install an additional protective grid.

Among the manufacturer's shortcomings, one can note the flooding of the air conditioner with rainwater. This also applies to the steering rack. Water flows down the windshield on the passenger side, then gets under the hood and floods the parts listed above. Perhaps, over time, the problem will be solved by the manufacturer, or this issue will completely fall on the shoulders of the car owner.

Transmission elements

A typical breakdown of the Skoda Rapid is a gearbox ailment. We are talking about the loss of smoothness of the gearshift mechanism. This happens due to wear of the clutch discs caused by increased operating temperature mechatronics. If you don't want to face a similar problem when owning your Skoda Rapid, take the manufacturer's advice carefully. When stopping for more than 1 minute, do not be too lazy to switch the gearbox from mode D to mode N. This way you will save your car from premature repairs.

DSG transmission jerks are also the cause of mechatronics malfunction. This problem is quite well known among owners - it occurs already at an early stage of car operation. In previous versions of Skoda, drivers also encountered this typical malfunction. In some cases, in order to find a solution to the issue, it was even possible not to disassemble the device. However, it is best to contact a specialized service in the event of a problem.

Electronics

At Skoda cars Rapid with low mileage may have trouble with electronic devices, namely with software control unit. This trouble is solved by a simple flashing, but it also requires the owner to spend time and money.

An incorrectly inserted cigarette lighter even at the stage of assembling the car can later cause a short circuit and blow the fuse. This moment requires care from the car owner: watch how you insert the cigarette lighter into place.

Many drivers complain about the noise from the car's air conditioner. Moreover, the problem concerns not only a specific model, but also other Skoda cars. The issue is solved by installing a new compressor, and often the noise becomes quieter for a while. Owners complain about defective parts, but there are no other solutions yet.

We examined the main typical malfunctions of Skoda Rapid cars. It can be seen that of the critical shortcomings of the car, only problems with the gearbox can be called. Other disadvantages also occur in other car brands. It is possible and even necessary to deal with them at the stage of buying a car, because dealers provide services for replacing elements under warranty. In general, the car deserves respect, and even minor problems will not play a decisive role in refusing to buy this handsome man.

Some car owners still believe that the country of manufacture and the brand of the car are closely related. To some extent, this is true, but the boundaries of production are gradually “washed away” with an increase in demand for the products of a particular brand.

So, Skoda cars are the property of the Czech Republic and were previously produced only on the territory of this country. But the situation is changing, and the geography of production, caused by the growth in demand for cars from this manufacturer, is expanding.

Below we will consider in which countries Skoda factories are located, and what models they produce. We will also touch on the topic of how to recognize the country of origin by the VIN code and briefly consider the features of the Czech car brand.

General information about Skoda

Skoda Auto a.s. - a Czech manufacturer that has been producing for over a hundred years Cars, which are in great demand among millions of car owners. The headquarters of the company is based in the village of Mlada Boleslav.

In 1926, the brand's logo, the "winged arrow", was introduced for the first time. At the same time, the first sketches appeared in 1915.

The year of birth of the brand is 1895. It was then in the city mentioned above that two cycling enthusiasts decided to create their own bike, called Slavia.

The business developed very successfully, which made it possible already in 1899 to launch a more serious production of motorcycles, which triumphantly began their “career” and were used during their participation in many competitions.

A few years later, the founders of the company decided on the need to expand production and production of passenger cars.

At the present stage Skoda company considered one of the largest car manufacturers. The factories of this brand produce trucks, buses, engines and vehicles for agricultural purposes.

In recent decades, many factories have appeared located in Russia, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, China and a number of other countries.

In the city where the company was opened, there is a technical school, as well as a university where specialists are trained to work at the plant. Today, the number of employees is more than 25 thousand people.

As noted above, various vehicles are produced under the Skoda brand. Here are just a few of the businesses:

• Electrician (ELECTRIC) and Ostrov (OSTROV) - production of trolleybuses and other electric vehicles.
• Power (POWER) - products for the energy sector.
• Transportation (TRANSPORTATION) - manufacture of rail transport (trams, locomotives and others).
• TS and JS - production of equipment for the food industry and nuclear power, respectively.

In addition, machine tools, trolleybuses, gearboxes and, of course, cars(Skoda Auto).

The main factories of the brand

The main production of Skoda is concentrated in the following places:

Skoda production has also been established in a number of other countries:

• Bosnia and Herzegovina (Sarajevo);
• Kazakhstan (Ust-Kamenogorsk);
• China (Shanghai);
• Poland and others.

Skoda Octavia - factories in Russia and Ukraine

The Skoda Octavia is well-deservedly popular and is considered one of the best-selling models today.

The main advantage is the perfect combination of two criteria - the cost and quality of the sedan.

Skoda Octavia belongs to class C cars, has a wide choice of engines and rich equipment.

The assembly of new generation machines is carried out at the previously mentioned car factory located in Kaluga (in the technopark Grabtsevo).

Besides, Russian market saturated with cars from other manufacturing countries - Ukraine, the Czech Republic and Kazakhstan.

A small percentage of Skoda cars can also come from other countries - India, Slovakia, China and others.

Skoda Rapid (Rapid)

The Skoda Rapid model is considered the "younger brother" of the car discussed above. The machine is aimed at amateurs Vehicle, which are guided by two criteria - high quality and affordable price.

Despite the compactness and relatively low cost, this car has the most advanced technologies, and even the basic version is saturated with a sufficient number of smart solutions.

The main competitors of Skoda Rapid are cars, and.

The model has been produced in Russia since the beginning of 2014. The assembly is carried out at the same Kaluga Automobile Plant. It is here that cars are assembled that are delivered to all CIS countries.

As for the European consumer, Skoda Rapid is produced for him in the Czech Republic, at a plant in Mlada Bratislava. As in the case of the Octavia model, car production has also been established in other countries - Ukraine and Kazakhstan.

The quality of the cars is not satisfactory, because all the parts for Rapid are supplied from the Czech Republic, and Russian craftsmen assemble cars, paint and weld.

As for the preparation of the car and the sale itself, these issues are dealt with by the specialists of the dealer network.

Skoda Fabia

In recent years, compact and economical cars have been increasingly in demand on the market of the Russian Federation and other CIS countries. One of these is the Skoda Fabia, which, despite its "modesty", is full of various equipment and electronics.

This is a small class car, which was introduced back in 1999, and in 2001 replaced the outdated Felicia model at that time.

In 2007 the world saw Skoda Fabia second generation, and seven years later (in 2014) the version of the machine was updated to the third generation.

The production of the car has been established in Russia, at the plant of the VW concern, near Kaluga. A small percentage of cars that are directly assembled in the Czech Republic enter the Russian market.

Interestingly, the country of origin of the first Generations of Skoda Fabia was exclusively Czech Republic. At the same time, all cars were produced on the original equipment of the plant in Mlada Bratislava.

As for other markets (including some CIS countries), the production of first-generation cars was established in Ukraine and Poland.

The next (second) generation was assembled in an expanded number of countries. Automobile plants in Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as China, have been added to the already mentioned list.

In Russia, Skoda Fabia has been assembled since the second generation. The place of production is the same plant near Kaluga.

Skoda Yeti

Skoda Yeti - compact crossover, first presented at the Geneva Motor Show. Car production started in 2009, including Russia (since November).

From the first days of its appearance, the car was warmly received by the public and earned a lot of flattering reviews. Already two years after the start of production, the 100,000th car rolled off the assembly line, and in 2015, half a million of them were already produced.

In fact, this is the first crossover of the concern, which has earned respect, thanks to the comfort inside the cabin, the original appearance as well as practicality.

This model successfully combines the best features of a crossover ( four-wheel drive) and hatchback (availability). It is not surprising that many people liked the car and even today it is actively sold in many countries of the world.

Skoda Yeti is a family car with rich equipment, an increased level of comfort and a large luggage compartment. On such a machine, you can go on any trip and not worry about spaciousness.

Production Skoda Yeti, like the rest of the "brothers" established in the Czech Republic and the Russian Federation (near Kaluga). At the same time, the first generation of the car was produced only at home.

Skoda Roomster

The Skoda Roomster model is a car designed for outdoor enthusiasts. For the first time the car was presented in 2006 with the subsequent release on the basis of a station wagon and a van.

In fact, this is Yeti's main competitor for the title of a family car and the only minivan in the Skoda lineup today.

Outwardly, this is a small car that stands out from the crowd, it is distinguished by practicality and large interior space. Although, not all connoisseurs of Skoda cars are delighted with this version.

As for assembly, the situation is similar. For the Russian Federation and the CIS countries, this model is assembled in Russia, near Kaluga.

Below is a summary table that indicates where Skoda cars are assembled.

How to determine the country of manufacture by Vin-code?

Many car owners do not know that you can find out a lot of interesting things from the VN code of a car, including the country of origin of the vehicle.

Let's look at two options below.

For Skoda Felicia. To determine the country of manufacture of the car, you need to look at the 11th character of the code:

• Assembly line in Mlade Boleslav - 0-4.
• Kvasins - 5.
• Vrchlabi - 7-8.
• Kvasins - 9.
• Ukraine - V.
• Russia (Kaluga) - K.
• Mladá Boleslav - N.
• Poznan (Poland) - X.

See below for the full code decryption.

For Skoda Octavia the situation is as follows. By the first group, consisting of three characters, you can understand the manufacturer's code.

So, T - Europe, M - Czech Republic and B - Skoda Auto.

• Mlada Boleslav - from 0 to 4.
• Kvasins - 5.
• Verkhlabye -7, and since 1999 - 8.
• Sarajevo - 9 (since 2002).
• Poznań - X.

See the full decoding of the Skoda Octavia Vin code below.

➖ Build quality
➖ Oil consumption
➖ Crickets in the cabin
➖ Noise isolation
➖ Ergonomics

pros

➕ Roomy trunk
➕ Spacious interior
➕ Design

The advantages and disadvantages of the Skoda Rapid 2018-2019 in a new body are identified based on feedback from real owners. More detailed pros and cons of Skoda Rapid 1.6 90 and 100 hp. with mechanics and automatic transmission (automatic transmission) can be found in the stories below.

Owner reviews

1. The seat is convex inward, and this is on new car, as a result - a sore back, I bought a lumbar support on Ali (uncomfortable, but nowhere to go).

2. The location of the cup holder and ashtray under the buttons behind the gearshift lever - why?

3. The location of the cigarette lighter, it is also a socket, sticking vertically upwards - why? As a result, charging / anti-radar and anything else pops up on every bump, no matter how you stick it, and it’s also right under the armrest, and in order to crawl there ...

4. Isofix is ​​hidden in the slots in the upholstery, that is, not between the backs and the seat, but cut the upholstery and stuck it there.

5. I am of average height and build (176/77), but why are the pedals so close, and the steering wheel, even if it is adjusted for reach, so far? Why should I sit hunched over?

6. The worst tires you can find — Kama … This is increased noise, handling, and of course safety.

7. There is no bluetooth in the radio, the plastic on it is all rubbed from the cable that stretched to the outlet. The socket power does not turn off after the ignition key is removed (note that you may not start in the morning). The mating part of the belt is very far away, I fasten it with difficulty, my wife is pregnant, she asks me to fasten it.

8. The clutch pedal works somewhere in the middle, as if the discs have already worked out half of their resource (a colleague has the same thing).

9. Air from the central blinds always blows in the face, no matter how you adjust it.

10. Reverse gear is engaged by sinking the lever into the tunnel - a controversial decision, because it is not informative. I like the button more like in Solaris.

11. And most importantly - PRICE, people compare not just the price of a car, but also its service.

Victor Ilov, drives Skoda Rapid 1.6 (110 HP) MT 2016

Video review

The new Rapid was without music with 4 front speakers. For a penny found native music and rear 4 speakers. Parktronic? 2 700r and half a day in the garage. Hook hitch — another half a day.

The breakdowns are minor: the thermostat broke down on a run of 800 km. I replaced it myself with the original (2,000 r). At 15,000 km, the stabilizer lever rattled - I also replaced it. I don’t go to MOT (on previous machines, too, never). Oil - Opel GM 5W-40, the same specification as the native Volkswagen (which is 2.5 times more expensive) every 10,000 km.

For 2 years ran 40,000 km. There are no crickets. Handling dynamics is mediocre. I go, I do not regret for 2 years.

The owner drives a Skoda Rapid 1.6 (90 hp) on the mechanics of 2014.

Strict forms, everything is concise, without show off. Impressive light! It seems like ordinary halogens, but the light output is generally a fairy tale. I concluded that the old cars were driven by a blind man.

The salon in the Skoda Rapid is large, the little ones have fun from the heart, the place allows. I have a liftback in operation for the first time, before all the sedans were. Trunk — it's something with something! There is no comparison with a sedan.

Suspension is almost not killed. During operation, two discs and tires in tatters, and the suspension is alive. At the last MOT, the suspension was diagnosed - everything is normal. By the way, the suspension itself is set up so that it is not stiff, but it goes confidently along the highway, without any steering and does not collapse in turns.

Among the shortcomings of the Skoda Rapid, I note poor sound insulation. In winter, the windshield crackled. In general, it seems to me that the windshield is not ice. The cracks did not even come from spikes, but from small pebbles. The stock digital radio does not have a USB port. Seats are better immediately in covers - they quickly get dirty.

Vladimir Novikov, review of the Skoda Rapid 1.6 (110 hp) mechanics 2014

Do not buy this junk))) Well, or get ready to change the following parts and waste time at the dealer: brake pump vacuum, trunk gas stops, lower speakers, seat upholstery, backrest foam, heated seats, steering rack, thrust bearings, master cylinder clutch, stabilizer bushings, air conditioning compressor, dryer, driver seat back frame, right stabilizer strut, left power window, trunk reinstallation (rut seal), engine airbag + right engine mount.

This is not counting squeaks, crickets, vibrations and other things) The car really sucks, I regret that I bought it ...

On the new Rapid, such things break down that do not fit in my head, I'm shocked. If you think that you will take the mechanics and everything will be fine, then it was not there - every 20,000 km the clutch master cylinder fails.

Alexey Titov, drives a Skoda Rapid 1.6 (105 hp) automatic transmission 2014

The car was purchased in July 2017, Style equipment, manual transmission, with the addition of a number of options (bi-xenon headlights, alloy wheels R 16, passenger seat height adjustment and heating rear seats). The price with all discounts is 802,000 rubles. During the first month of operation, the machine ran 8 thousand km, driving from Chelyabinsk to the Moscow region, from there to the Crimea and back to Chelyabinsk.

Appearance for this class of cars I think is excellent. With a height of 188 cm, I comfortably fit in it (with the seat raised to the maximum, which is surprising), which I cannot do in the Polo sedan (which is strange).

It is pleasant to sit in the car, it is also convenient and pleasant to drive it. Manual transmission switch 2-3 fingers, a very nice thing. Noise isolation is good. Seat upholstery is expensive. Modern lighting fixtures, head unit, bluetooth, cruise control and climate control work perfectly.

Accelerates, in my opinion, very briskly, like all Skoda. At 120 km / h, the tachometer shows exactly 3,000 rpm ( excellent result), and fuel consumption does not creep up much. At first I was confused by 90 hp, until I realized that 110 hp. (or, for example, 123 on other machines of this class) are reached at the red zone of the tachometer. How often do you spin the engine to the red zone? Personally, I never. The average consumption on 92nd gasoline on the highway is from 5.7 to 7 liters per 100 km, in the city the range is wider - from 7.5 to 10.

— Happy sports seat. Very good lateral support, you sit like a glove. Hand on the front armrest, adjusted the steering wheel height and reach, everything is comfortable.

— side mirrors small, but visibility is good. Because of the tinting in the rear-view mirror, it seems like twilight, it's good that cars drive with DRLs or headlights on.

- The music is not bad, the flash drive is read, the files are in folders, it catches the radio well, and the phone works via bluetooth.

— The engine, of course, pleases. If you want to accelerate sharply, then the gas to the floor, and the car shoots. While you can note the tight gas pedal, and if you press on it smoothly, then the acceleration occurs with a slight delay. Hope it develops further.

— DSG box works perfectly, so far no kicks, no poking noticed.

Review of Skoda Rapid 1.4 TSI (125 hp) on DSG 2017 robot