Skoda starts series production of the Enyaq

In Mladá Boleslav, MEB meets MQB: The Czechs are diverging from the Zwickau production network, which in the first phase will build all electric vehicles for VW, Cupra, and Audi. In 2022, additional “MEB plants” are to be added in Europe, such as Emden as the second plant for the ID.4, as well as the VW Commercial Vehicles plant in Hannover. Meanwhile, the Czechs have made significant investments to be able to build their first electric vehicle on the same line as the Octavia (and its PHEV variants) and the Karoq. According to Skoda, the conversion of the main plant cost a total of 32 million euros.

During the conversion work, even the building's structural integrity of the production hall had to be changed. Additionally, the Czechs adapted the parts logistics and transport vehicles in the plant. In the areas where work is done on the batteries, thermal imaging cameras were also installed to detect a heating battery – in case of a corresponding deviation, the safety system is supposed to trigger an alarm.

Skoda is as optimistic about production numbers as VW in Zwickau: While up to 350 units of the Enyaq can be built daily, up to 750 units of the ID.3 and ID.4 can be produced on two lines. In addition, 2021 will see the Audi Q4 e-tron and the Cupra El-Born, the latter having the same body-in-white as the ID.3.

The prices of the Enyaq start at 33,800 euros (around 29,000 euros net), but the more powerful all-wheel-drive models and the base model are not expected to be available for order until later. Therefore, the cheapest Enyaq currently is initially priced at 38,850 euros (around 33,000 euros net) for the Enyaq 60 iV.

What does that mean?

By bringing the Enyaq production to the main plant, Skoda has also secured it in the long term, once the combustion engine production needs to be scaled down there.