Does Skoda belong to FAW or SAIC?
3 Answers
Skoda belongs to SAIC. The models under Skoda include: Octavia, Superb, Karoq, Rapid, and Kodiaq. Taking the 2020 Skoda Octavia as an example, it is a compact car with body dimensions of: length 4675mm, width 1814mm, height 1460mm, a wheelbase of 2686mm, a fuel tank capacity of 51 liters, and a curb weight of 1210kg. The 2020 Skoda Octavia features a front MacPherson strut independent suspension and a rear torsion beam non-independent suspension. It is equipped with a 1.5L naturally aspirated engine, delivering a maximum horsepower of 113ps, a maximum power of 83kw, and a maximum torque of 145nm, paired with a 5-speed manual transmission.
I remember when I was researching the origins of car brands recently, I found that after the Czech veteran brand Skoda entered China, it was entirely operated in cooperation with SAIC Volkswagen under Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation. FAW-Volkswagen focuses on the Audi and Volkswagen lineups, while Skoda has been assembled on SAIC Volkswagen production lines since the 1990s, such as the Superb produced at the factory in Shanghai's Anting. This joint venture model stems from the history of Sino-German cooperation, with SAIC partnering with Volkswagen as early as 1984 and officially introducing the Skoda brand in 2007. Nowadays, the Skodas made in China available on the market all bear the SAIC Skoda badge on the rear. Notably, this affiliation has allowed Skoda to achieve steady growth in market share in China, especially with its popular SUV models.
From the perspective of automobile production, I understand that ŠKODA in China is entirely under the SAIC Group. As part of the SAIC Volkswagen joint venture system, ŠKODA models are assembled in factories such as those in Shanghai and Nanjing, while FAW-Volkswagen primarily focuses on the Audi project at its Changchun base. Although both belong to the Volkswagen Group, there is a clear division of labor between the brands. SAIC Volkswagen utilizes existing facilities to provide localized designs for ŠKODA, such as the tuning of engines and suspension systems, which are all completed in China. This strategy saves costs and also drives innovation, but FAW has no involvement in ŠKODA's affairs.
