This car factory is bigger than the country Monaco!
What's the story
SKODA, the Czech automaker, has a manufacturing plant that is as big as the tiny European country of Monaco. The Mlada Boleslav facility produces an impressive 4,000 cars every day. This massive industrial estate employs around 30,000 people out of the town's total population of over 40,000. The site has been associated with SKODA since its inception in 1895 as Laurin & Klement.
Industrial evolution
A blend of history and modernity
The original factory buildings at SKODA's Mlada Boleslav plant now serve as a museum and cafe, showcasing the company's long history. Despite its massive scale, the facility has managed to maintain an atmosphere that pays homage to its roots. It is a far cry from the industrial landscape of today, where cranes recycle steel scraps while biomass silos are being built for a power plant to reduce CO2 emissions by 290,000 tons per year.
Initiatives
A hub of innovation
SKODA's Mlada Boleslav plant is not just a car manufacturing facility but also a hub of innovation. It houses the largest data center in the Czech Republic, a battery manufacturing plant, toolrooms, and also a fire station.
Production
It has a unique production process
SKODA's Mlada Boleslav factory produces six car models, three on a large-platform production line and another three (Fabia, Kamiq, Scala) on a small-car (MQB A0 platform) production line. The facility is the only place in the Volkswagen Group where cars based on two platforms - Enyaq, Octavia and Elroq - are built on the same line. Each car has an end customer before the production starts.