Skoda’s Mladá Boleslav plant is now working at full speed to produce the first batch of 2013 Skoda Octavia models for market launch in January 2013. The plant has been thoroughly upgraded for the new larger, more advanced Octavia’s production, as it comes with many features over the previous generation.

The Czech car maker produces Octavia, Rapid, and Fabia models at this plant. With the introduction of the new model they boosted the Octavia/Rapid production line’s capacity step by step from 800 to 1,200 cars per day, and also made a new body shop and a fully automated interior painting line as part of the expansion of production capacity. In 2013 a new press line will be added as well.

Skoda is counting on Octavia’s popularity as the company’s bestselling model to return the investment they made by scoring big sales numbers. Since 1996, more than 3.7 million Octavias have been delivered to customers.

“The Octavia is the heart of ŠKODA brand,” says ŠKODA CEO Winfried Vahland. “Our people have employed competence and passion to create the best Octavia ever. This car is a class of its own in every respect. It is a great moment to give the starting shot for the third generation here at our main plant today.”