Skoda Auto - International Business :: essays research papers

Skoda AutoThe story of Skoda is one of struggle and success. Skoda enjoys a century-long history of motor vehicle manufacturing in a small town in the Czech Republic, about sixty kilometers outside the cultural and tourist center of Prague. Despite early achievements, times became much harder during the former socialist era. The physical whole shebang fell into disrepair and quality declined. However, this tale in one of transformation, and Skoda has once again become very successful in a joint venture confederation with the large German manufacturer Volkswagen (Mendenhall and Oddou, 379).At the beginning of 1895 mechanic Vclav Laurin and bookseller Vclav Klement began producing bicycles Slavia in Mlada Boleslav.In the next few years, 1899, the firm Laurin & Klement decided to manufacture in addition motorcycles, which leaded to success in many international competitions. After basic attempt at the turn of the century the firm started to manufacture cars. In 1905, Laurin & Kleme nt introduced their first car, Voiturette A, which became very successful between Czech classical veteran cars. Its production grew so fast that soon L & K overstepped the scope of the family business. Skoda 420 PopularIn 1907 the founders implemented the business transaction to joint-stock company. In 1920s, the need for merge with stronger industrial partners was expressed that, in 1925, Laurin and Klement merged with Skoda Plzen (Pilsner). In the following years the modernize manufacturing did not only include cars, but also trucks, buses, air engines, and agriculture machinery. In 1930 the car production in the scope of concern was earned many credits. entry of Joint Company for Automobile Industry (JCAI) after the world industrial crisis leaded for the success on the international market with new models of Skoda, Skoda 422 and 420 Popular.The World state of struggle II had broken this development, which damage the civil program and oriented the production of the war equipmen t. The JCIA Skoda became the part of German concern Hermann-Goring-Werke and fully did have to orient to the war equipment. Besides the preparation of the various parts of guns, Skoda manufactured also different kinds of terrain vehicles, such as heavy tractors and towing vehicles, tanks, etc. Skoda 1101After World War II the JCIA was changed to Automobile Factory/National Company (AFNC) Skoda. Skoda started to manufacture new models, Skoda 1101/1102 Tudor, which had got along with the technical success of the prewar years. During the 1950s and 1960s, Skoda again introduced new models, Skoda 1200, Spartak, Octavia, Felicia, as rise up as Skoda 1000MB.