One of most undisputed best selling models in the
automotive world, celebrates two decades of vehicle design, advanced
technology, high efficiency and ergonomics in OCTAVIA production.
3 September
1996, former Czech President Vaclav Havel gave the starting signal for the
production of the ŠKODA OCTAVIA in the newly opened part of the plant at the
company's headquarters. This also marked the beginning of a unique success
story. Over the following two decades, the ŠKODA OCTAVIA became a worldwide
bestseller and is still the best selling model.
The
development of the completely new OCTAVIA model series began in 1992,
approximately one year after the traditional Czech brand joined the Volkswagen
Group. The ŠKODA OCTAVIA was based on a group platform which was completely new
at the time. The robust body structure, which had been developed using the
latest CAD (Computer Aided Design) technology, provided exemplary active and
passive safety in combination with front airbags for driver and passenger. In
addition, this was the first time that ŠKODA had offered the then new side
airbags for the OCTAVIA.
With the
clever liftback solution, the new compact featured an especially practical
highlight, thanks to the large tailgate of the hatchback model, customers
benefited from excellent access to the 528-litre boot, which could be extended
to as much as 1,328 litres by folding the rear seats down.
In 1996 – the first sales year – ŠKODA OCTAVIA customers could choose from two
four-cylinder petrol engines or a turbo diesel drive-train. In May 1998, the
ŠKODA OCTAVIA COMBI extended the model range; from 1999 the estate version was
also available with all-wheel drive. The last vehicle from the first generation
rolled off the production line in November 2010. Between September 1996 and
November 2010 around 970,000 saloons and more than 470,000 estates were
delivered.
The second-generation ŠKODA OCTAVIA seamlessly continued the success story of
its predecessor: Between 2004 and 2013, 1.6 million customers opted for the
saloon, 900,000 buyers chose the ŠKODA OCTAVIA estate. The third generation of
the ŠKODA OCTAVIA has been in production since November 2012.
Today the bestseller is considered the heart of
the brand and is extremely popular with Derek Slack Motors’ customers both as a
family car and as a company vehicle. Since the start of production of the first
generation on September 3, 1996, more than five million ŠKODA OCTAVIAs have
left the production halls.
