More than 90 percent of new Skoda cars sold on the domestic market are produced at Skoda plants in Russia. The Rapid series is assembled in Kaluga, while the Octavia and Yeti modifications will be assembled at facilities in Nizhny Novgorod. Let's try to figure out what are the advantages of such a process organization and what prospects do consumers expect in the future?
History of creation
In 2004, the production of Skoda was organized in the Czech Republic. Cars were made there and then imported to Russia. Such a scheme is convenient and uncomplicated. However, it has practically no prospects. Given that the company is part of the Volkswagen concern, which is a world leader in the automotive industry, other projects have been developed aimed at developing local production.
By the way, at VW - this is one of the basic rules with a specific expectation for the future. The essence of this approach is to saturate the domestic markets with high-quality machines that are affordable for the average consumer.
Production development
After 2004, in connection with an active marketing policy, Russia became the third largest market for Czech cars Skoda. The company now feels quite confident, annually increasing sales to the next record level. In the domestic market, the situation at first was somewhat different. Representatives of the Volkswagen corporation do not see anything wrong with this, they relate to difficulties with understanding and calculate the situation for several years ahead.
It is worth noting that VW has invested more than 1.75 billion euros in the development of Skoda plants in Russia. At the same time, investments continue taking into account the expandable and updated model range. Local production aimed at several specific representatives of the Czech automobile industry is a positive moment for both consumers and manufacturers. With this approach, costs are optimized, customs duties are reduced, since not ready-made vehicles are imported into the country, but individual components. Many parts are made directly on site.
Benefits
It is important that the state encourages the development of Skoda factories in Russia, as well as other local production. The buyer thus wins, getting the vehicle at a better price. You can simply compare the cost of similar new cars in Europe and compare it with ruble counterparts to the domestic assembly technique.
In addition, local production levels the deficit. The Skoda brand is popular all over the world, and production capacities in the Czech Republic are not unlimited. If new factories were not created, consumers would have to wait a long time for the desired machine or look for another option.
Features
When equipping Skoda plants in Russia, the state economy directly wins. Millions of rubles of taxes are transferred to the treasury, jobs are organized, and courses are held to train personnel in new and effective working methods.
Employees of domestic branches are no less qualified than their colleagues from the Czech Republic and Germany. There is no special secret. Until the employee passes the relevant exams and proves his professional suitability, he simply will not be allowed to the conveyor. At factories of this level, a certain system of control and quality of work is practiced: from the trainee to the director of the enterprise.
Requirements for components
Not so long ago, Skoda factories in our country began to function fully, including welding and body painting. Until some time in Russia there was no frame metal meeting the quality requirements of VW concern.
Taking into account all the claims and wishes of the customer, domestic suppliers selected the material with the necessary parameters. It is worth noting that the Volkswagen company constantly monitors the quality of the supplied and used products. The concern's task is to find as many Russian suppliers as possible, which makes production cheaper. The dominant criterion remains the quality indicator - without any compromise. Parts made of Russian metal are equivalent to European counterparts.
Prospects
Skoda car manufacturers in Russia are primarily subsidiaries of an international company, whose products are represented in various countries. The European approach is focused on the widespread introduction of the latest technologies, training employees in the use of modern equipment, advanced training of engineers and technologists.
The current Czech brand cars made in the Russian Federation comply with the European quality requirements and can be exported to EU countries. Some restrictions on this type of activity are primarily logistical. The products will have to cross customs twice: first in the form of component parts from the Czech Republic, then in the form of a finished machine when sent to Europe. Despite the fact that such a scheme affects the economics of operations, work in this segment is also ongoing. Among the main differences of cars created at domestic capacities are an increased battery capacity, a reinforced suspension unit (taking into account the peculiarities of the climate and roads).
Skoda branch in Kaluga
The construction of this plant began in 2006. Previously, experts examined about 70 sites in 11 regions of the country. The selection criteria included hundreds of parameters, starting from the availability of free labor, ending with the arrangement of access roads. As a result, the choice fell on a site in Kaluga (170 km south-west of Moscow).
An additional argument in favor of Kaluga is a favorable investment situation. The representative office settled in the industrial park "Grabtsevo", which was created under the auspices of the leadership of the region. In addition to the main VW workshop, there also opened branches for the production of components of world quality:
- "Magna" (Magna) - the manufacture of bumpers.
- "Gestamp" (Gestamp) - the release of body parts.
- "Reydel" - plastic elements for the interior.
- Samsung (Samsung) is an electrician.
Automotive production is driving the formation of related businesses that need suppliers. The result is a long economic chain.
Full cycle
Serial production at the plant in question began in 2009. It is noteworthy that so far only the modification "Rapid" is made in Kaluga. "Skoda Octavia" and "Yeti" are made under license in Nizhny Novgorod. The process itself is an industrial assembly (production of a full cycle of cars). This involves welding and painting the body of the machines. This is a very responsible and complex technological procedure.
For example, the length of the Skoda Rapid, produced in Kaluga, is 4,500 millimeters. In this case, the maximum possible deviation from the reference indicator is not more than 1 mm on the finished body. For threaded connections, this parameter is half as much. As a result, the value is hundredths of a percent of the total size. Body measurements are carried out in hundreds of points using special equipment.
Skoda production facilities in Nizhny Novgorod
The domestic economy, like the automotive market, is developing very unstably. This does not contribute to the long-term planning of the activities of car manufacturers and related materials. The crisis in 2008 negatively affected the sales volumes of new vehicles. In this regard, Volkswagen Corporation did not rush to expand production in Kaluga, since the expected load of existing capacities is not yet clear.
As time has shown, the automotive market in Russia began to recover rapidly, and sales grew. As an alternative, the management of the concern decided to increase the production of Skoda in parallel. For this, a contractual scheme was involved involving a partner capable of providing a complete production cycle. As such, the GAZ plant in Nizhny Novgorod acted.
Interesting information
Where to place the Skoda plant in Russia, if not at the legendary enterprise that collected the once-popular Pobedy and Volga? The workshop was completely reconstructed to produce the Octavia and Yeti bodies. All old equipment was taken out, the best and most modern machines were installed. Among them is an expensive Japanese robot that pays for itself for years of scrupulous, reliable and accurate operation.
The total investment contribution to the program amounted to about 300 million euros. The full production cycle at GAZ was organized as soon as possible (17 months). This is not surprising, since the capacities were created at the existing enterprise. The release of the Skoda Yeti started in 2012, in 2013 - the third generation of the Octavia began to roll off the assembly line.
Quality control
All bodies undergo a number of mandatory procedures before they enter the assembly shop:
- Double primer.
- Painting.
- Sealant, mastic and hot wax treatment.
The processes and systems at Volkswagen's mills are united around the world. This allows you to build a global multi-stage quality control scheme.
Painted and tested finished bodies are sent to the assembly line, where they get the final look, according to the dealership order. The cover sheet is read by a scanner. It indicates all the required parameters, starting from the model of the multimedia system, ending with additional niches in front of the driver and passenger seats.
After the conveyor, the car is passed through a light tunnel under special lamps to detect microscopic defects, then testing in the sprinkler compartment. After checking for moisture resistance, a number of tests are carried out:
- Roller stands simulating various conditions of a trip and braking.
- Check through a computer all electronic systems of the machine.
- Outdoor testing.
Total
The production system is designed in such a way as to prevent at least one mistake. All main connections are checked for the corresponding force with a strictly defined indicator. Until the control computer makes sure that all the bolts and screws are tightened with the required force, the car will not fall into the “suitable” category. All information is stored in an electronic archive for at least 15 years.
Finally, the addresses of the Skoda plants in Russia: Kaluga Region, Kaluga, ul. Automotive, 1 (Grabtsevo Park). Nizhny Novgorod Region, Nizhny Novgorod, Lenin Avenue, 88.