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Škoda Auto today announced the appointment of Michael Kerschensteiner as Chief Procurement Officer Škoda & Region East, effective 1 February 2026. Michael Kerschensteiner succeeds Karsten Schnake, who has taken on a new role as a Member of the Extended Executive Committee of the Volkswagen Group and as Member of the Board of Management of the Volkswagen Brand responsible for Procurement. In his role as Chief Procurement Officer, Michael Kerschensteiner will also assume responsibility for Procurement in the Region East within the Brand Group Core.

“With the appointment of Michael Kerschensteiner, we are gaining an internationally experienced executive with a proven record of building sustainable supplier partnerships and implementing innovative, forward-looking strategies. His leadership will be instrumental in further strengthening the vital work of procument at Škoda Auto, enhancing synergies within the Brand Group Core and driving overall efficiency. Karsten Schnake has successfully restructured Škoda Auto’s Procurement function in recent years, making a decisive contribution to the company’s resilience and performance. On behalf of the entire Board of Management, I would like to thank Karsten for his outstanding achievements and at the same time welcome our new colleague Michael to this important function.”

Klaus Zellmer, CEO of Škoda Auto

Michael Kerschensteiner has held various senior positions within the Volkswagen Group and Audi AG since 2004, primarily in the field of procurement. His career began at Audi in Ingolstadt, where he progressed through several management roles in electronics and infotainment purchasing. From 2019 to 2020, he served as Executive Director Supply at FAW-Volkswagen in China. Upon returning to Germany, he became Senior Vice President Purchasing New Products at Audi AG from January 2021 to September 2023, overseeing product strategy purchasing and the industrialisation of new all-electric and combustion-engine models. Since October 2023, he has held the position of Senior Vice President Group Procurement – New Product Launches at the Volkswagen Group, leading project steering within Group Procurement and shaping the procurement product strategy, including the sourcing strategy across all Group brands. He was also responsible for the industrialisation of new vehicle projects at Volkswagen Passenger Cars.

Karsten Schnake began his career with the Volkswagen Group in Wolfsburg in 1996 in the project management department. From 2004 to 2006, he headed Procurement at the Volkswagen Group in Verona, Italy. Between 2006 and 2018, he was based in Wolfsburg, gaining extensive experience in global series coordination, as well as capacity, cost and process management. He later moved to China as Executive Vice President of Volkswagen Group China, where he was responsible for strategic procurement and oversight of all Group brands’ procurement activities in the country. Since 1 July 2020, Karsten Schnake has served as Member of the Board of Management for Procurement at Škoda Auto.

Article source: www.skoda-storyboard.com

The MyŠKODA app is designed for mobile devices running Android or iOS operating systems. It’s an app that puts your car literally in the palm of your hand. Thanks to the app, you can access all the necessary information about your vehicle anytime and anywhere. You can also use the app to control the basic functions of your car, with the available services and functions depending on the ŠKODA Connect service package you choose: Infotainment Online or Proactive Service and Remote Access. The MyŠKODA app replaces the ŠKODA Connect app previously used for these purposes, which previously combined the functions of the ŠKODA Connect App and the ŠKODA OneApp.

Via the MyŠKODA App, the user can check the car’s potential journey range and the amount of fuel still available and can view driving data from recent journeys. The app will also answer the question of whether the user has accidentally forgotten to lock the car and, even in the biggest car parks, the Last Parking Position function will help the user find the car easily. If necessary, the horn can be honked or lights flashed remotely, making the search even easier.

The user can conveniently plan a route in the car’s navigation system from home and send it to the car. The Route Planner function checks the calendar on the mobile device and, in line with the current traffic situation, alerts the user when it’s time to set off in order to arrive on time for an upcoming appointment.

The app also includes detailed trip logs. Simply connect the mobile phone with the MyŠKODA app installed to the car via MirrorLink™ or CarPlay from the SmartLink+ communication interface package. Once the journey is complete, the user gets a map with the route travelled and additional information such as distance covered, average fuel consumption, average engine revs, average speed or driving time and economy.

Article source: www.skoda-storyboard.com

The Wallbox is an electrical device that makes it easy to charge an electric car, especially in home conditions or in shared garages. The Wallbox connects to the three-phase electricity supply and thus allows the electric car or plug-in hybrid to be charged faster and more conveniently than from a conventional 230 V power socket. ŠKODA offers customers three types of wallbox: the ŠKODA iV Charger, the ŠKODA iV Charger Connect and the ŠKODA iV Charger Connect+.

The basic version only supports faster charging and has no connectivity functions, so it is primarily intended for use in the private garage of a house. The ŠKODA Charger Connect version has an internet connection function via wi-fi or LAN cable, allowing the user to monitor the charging status, Wallbox occupancy and other parameters via a mobile app. At the same time, this Wallbox has an RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) reader for user authorisation using a smart card. This means that the Wallbox can be used by multiple users – but charging on it is activated only by those who have the appropriate authorisation card (access can be set individually for users). This solution is suitable, for example, for shared underground garages, where it prevents unauthorised charging.

The most sophisticated ŠKODA iV Charger Connect+ also adds an LTE module for connection via mobile operator networks and a certified electricity meter to its technical arsenal, which enables the Wallbox operator to divide charging costs between individual users. This is also useful for anyone who charges a company car at home. because the data from the certified meter can be used by the employer to calculate the amount of reimbursement necessary for the vehicle’s electricity consumption.

Wallboxes can be ordered from ŠKODA dealers, who will also be happy to help with installation. An inspection of the installation site by a certified installation partner, known as a Home Check, will determine the complexity of the installation as a whole, which differs from customer to customer depending on the local conditions.

Article source: www.skoda-storyboard.com

Plug & Charge is a modern method of authorising an electric vehicle to charge in a public network of charging stations. When using this charging option, the user doesn’t need to activate the charging with an authorisation card or in an app. Simply pull up at the charger, plug the charging cable into the car and wait for communication to be established between the car and the charger. Once connected, the car simply identifies itself to the charger and charging starts automatically. The user will then see the charging data in the usual way in their Powerpass app and the charging bill will, as usual, be included in their monthly bill for charging services. The whole method of identifying and authorising the vehicle and user is not only simple but also very secure.

The service is supported by selected charging stations – there is a list of them in the Powerpass app. In order to use Plug & Charge, the driver must have the ME3.1 software installed in the car and the function must be activated in the My Škoda and Powerpass apps.

Article source: www.skoda-storyboard.com

Škoda is set to end the year with another Car of the Year award. The Czech brand’s mid-size all-electric SUV has added to its remarkable haul of industry titles by topping The Car Expert’s list of the best cars for 2026.

Unlike other industry accolades, The Car Expert Awards are calculated using its Expert Rating Index, which aggregates new car reviews from more than 30 of the UK’s top motoring titles, including its own. The Car Expert then attributes an overall score to each new car that accurately reflects the consensus of the country’s leading automotive titles.

The Car Expert team found that the Elroq was a consistent high scorer for practicality and value for money, with numerous reviews praising the car’s intelligent design and ease of use. Naming the Elroq Best Small Crossover and overall Car of the Year 2026.

In 2025, the Škoda Elroq has quickly established itself as one of the most acclaimed new electric cars in the UK, securing multiple major industry honours. The all-electric SUV was named Car of the Year and Mid-Size SUV of the Year at the Auto Express New Car Awards, and also took top honours at the What Car? Electric Car Awards 2025, being named Best Family Electric SUV. In addition, the sporting flagship of the range, the Elroq vRS was crowned Car of the Year by The Sunday Times Driving.

Launched in April, the Škoda Elroq is available with three battery size options: 63 kWh (59 kWh net), 82 kWh (77 kWh net) and 84 kWh (79 kWh net - vRS only). All feature rear-mounted motors and are rear-wheel drive, with the range-topping vRS model coming with all-wheel drive as standard. The Elroq offers a combined WLTP range of up to 360 miles with the largest 82 kWh (77 kWh net) battery option (Edition 85). Power outputs range from 170 PS to 340 PS.

Article source: www.skoda.co.uk

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