Four weeks after its world premiere near Prague, Skoda has started producing the fourth modern generation of the Superb at the Volkswagen brand plant in Bratislava. This strategic relocation of its ICE flagship model from Kvasiny opens up production capacity at the Kvasiny site, which will be used to build additional units of the Octavia. The Superb has been the ICE flagship of Skoda’s model range since the first modern generation was introduced in 2001.
The decision to produce the
fourth-generation Superb at the Volkswagen brand plant in Bratislava was
announced in November 2020. The move is part of the Beta+ project,
aimed at leveraging synergies in the production network and further
boosting efficiency. Skoda was responsible for the entire development of
the Skoda Superb and Volkswagen Passat, which will both be produced on
the same line.
By transferring the production of the Superb to
Bratislava, Skoda is creating capacity for additional units of the
Octavia at the Kvasiny plant from the summer of 2024 onwards.
Additionally, the move will allow more battery-electric vehicles to be
built at the Mladá Boleslav plant.
The production of the Superb
in Slovakia begins with the body parts, many of which are pressed in
Bratislava and then transported to the new body shop. The hall had been
vacant and underwent a complete transformation under the Beta+ project.
Moreover, in less than two years, Skoda installed over 500
state-of-the-art robots, control systems and bonding equipment as well
as onboarding suppliers. In addition, the assembly hall was
comprehensively upgraded: the assembly line, where the new models have
been seamlessly integrated into the existing production lines for
Volkswagen and Skoda vehicles, had not been previously used for plug-in
hybrid models. The assembly hall rebuild included installing automation
equipment and handling technologies, industrial camera systems, and
further updates across the assembly line. Additionally, the chassis
production area was extended to incorporate battery packs for electric
vehicles.
The paint shop at the Bratislava plant has also
undergone significant changes, bringing tangible environmental benefits.
For example, the introduction of new paint booths equipped with
advanced air circulation systems and the ability to capture volatile
organic compounds marks a further step towards more eco-friendly
manufacturing.
The production of the fourth-generation Superb
launches with the Combi estate variant, followed by the hatchback set
for the first half of 2024. The range of modern and efficient
powertrains includes three petrol engines with outputs spanning 150 hp
to 265 hp and two diesel engines delivering 150 hp and 193 hp. In
addition, the lineup includes a new plug-in-hybrid, exclusive to the
Combi estate, with a purely electric range of over 100 km, as well as a
mild hybrid version - a first for the Superb series.
