A ?kodA year in review - Skoda Auto

InterviewŠKODA Board of Management member for TechnicalDevelopment Frank Welsch‘Simply Clever’ –a reality throughout the CompanyŠKODA automobiles represent a high level of functionality andeveryday drivability, remarkable spaciousness and outstanding value for money.But a ŠKODA is only a ŠKODA if it has a little something extra:‘Simply Clever’ solutions that make day-to-day driving just a bit more enjoyable.Mr Welsch, ‘Simply Clever’ isa slogan we hear a lot in connectionwith ŠKODA cars. What does‘Simply Clever’ really mean?We at ŠKODA make everydaydriving as enjoyable and easy aspossible for our customers – afterall, life is complicated enoughalready. So, we pack all of ourknow-how into our cars, andfind practical smart solutionsthat have a big impact in day-todaydriving situations.Such as?Take the brand new, third-generationŠKODA Octavia: It is theperfect example of our Company’s‘Simply Clever’ philosophy –and so is the new compact limousineŠKODA Rapid, which wealso presented recently.You mean the ice scraper in thefuel filler cap?That clever little idea was whatpeople talked and wrote a lotabout at the premiere of theŠKODA Rapid. How often haveyou hunted in vain for the icescraper the first time it snows?What else?The ŠKODA Octavia also featuresinnovative fastening elementswhich hold the cargo at everyposition in the boot; a practicalstorage for reflective vest underthe driver’s seat; a multimediaholder that was already a hit inthe new ŠKODA Citigo; a particularlylarge and practical tailgate;a storage for the rear parcelshelf behind the back seats;a reversible floor covering forthe luggage compartment – attractivecarpet on one side andwashable rubber on the other,great for muddy shoes after awalk in the woods…Just tell mewhen to stop!So ‘Simply Clever’ is more thanjust a bright idea dreamed upby a copywriter?Definitely! ‘Simply Clever’ hasbecome something of a way oflife for us – and certainly morethan just a snappy marketingslogan. We at ŠKODA, we don’tjust apply the ‘Simply Clever’ approachto our products – it ismore of a fundamental principlefor the whole company. ‘SimplyClever’ is practised throughoutthe Company and is our guidingprinciple for development. 40 2012 – A Škoda year in review