The first Superb iV has rolled off the line at the Skoda Auto Kvasiny plant, which has been updated at a cost of some 12 million euros to allow the manufacture of the first electrified production model in the company’s history.

The new plug-in hybrid model is made exclusively in Kvasiny, where it is built on the same production line as Superb variants that are powered solely by a combustion engine.

Michael Oeljeklaus, who is in charge of production and logistics at Skoda Auto (www.skoda-auto.com), said: “The beginning of serial production of the Superb iV is a major step towards the future.

"Over the past few months, we have rigorously made the provisions required to begin manufacturing our first plug-in hybrid at the Kvasiny plant.”

Thanks to the updating work at the plant, the Superb iV plug-in hybrid can be built on the same production line as models featuring a conventional combustion engine.

However, as the two drive variants have different floorpans, some of the equipment in the body shop had to be adapted, and some new equipment had to be installed.

Skoda Auto also undertook staff development relating to electromobility: it built a new training centre in Kvasiny, and almost 5,500 members of staff have completed their training there.

The ‘modernised’ Skoda Superb has been built at the Kvasiny site since July 2019. In addition to the brand’s flagship model, the Karoq and Kodiaq SUVs are also manufactured there.

In 2018, more than 300,000 cars left the Kvasiny plant in one year for the first time. Skoda Auto employs around 9,000 people at this ‘state of the art’ production facility.