Skoda Logo — Škoda Auto is a manufacturer of automobiles in the Czech Republic and one of the four oldest car companies in the world. In 1991 it became a subsidiary of Volkswagen Group. The origins of Škoda go back to the beginning of the 1890s, beginning as a manufacturer of bicycles.

By 1894, a 26-year-old Václav Klement, who was a bookseller in the city of Mlada Boleslav in the Czech Republic today (which was then part of Austria-Hungary), could not get parts to repair his German bicycle. Klement returned his bicycle to the manufacturers, Seidel and Naumann, with a letter asking Czech necessary parts for repair, only to receive a reply, in German saying: “If you want an answer to your request, you should try writing in a language they understand.” A disgusted Klement, and although he had no previous technical experience, decided to open his own bicycle repair shop with the help of Václav Laurin. Opened in 1895 in Mlada Boleslav. Laurin was already a manufacturer of bicycles in the nearby town of Turnov before going into business partnership with Klement.

In 1898, following the transfer to the new factory they had built, bought a motorcycle Werner produced by the French company Werner Brothers. First Motorcycle Laurin and Klement, who was the engine located in the fork of the front wheel, proved dangerous and unreliable, Laurin himself lost one of his teeth in an accident with it. In order to design a safer machine, whose structure was around the engine, both wrote to German ignition specialist Robert Bosch for advice on a different electromagnetic system. The new motorcycle manufactured, named Slavia, made ​​its debut in 1899. A year later, in 1900, the company had 32 employees and export of Slavia started with 150 motorcycles Hewtson sent to the company of London. Shortly after the daily press called them as the first manufacturers of motorcycles. In 1905 joined their production cars.

His first model, Voiturette A, was a success and the company was established at the level of Austria-Hungary and internationally. During the First World War Škoda production tasks performed for the war. After the first World War the company began producing trucks, but in 1924, after several problems and a fire, the company sought a partner. As a result came Škoda Works, the largest industrial enterprise of Austria-Hungary and then Czechoslovakia, although most of the production was under the Škoda name. After several problems during the economic depression, Škoda took up his success with models like the Škoda Popular in the mid 1930’s. During the occupation of Czechoslovakia in World War II, production of the company was part of Hermann Göring Werke in order to add support to the German side.

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