Skoda

Czechoslovakians Václau Laurin and Václau Klement were producers and innovators in bicycles and motorbikes before moving into autos after a merger in 1925 with a company run by engineer Emil Skoda. Skoda-branded cars appeared the following year, and the 1938 Popular was one of the company’s innovative small cars of the ’30s before Skoda became state-owned after World War II. The Octavia nameplate debuted in 1959, though was among a series of models to have unpredictable handling. Combined with a reputation for quality issues, Skoda became the butt of jokes during much of the ’70s and ’80s. The 1988 Favorit – styled by Bertone and Skoda’s first front engine, front-wheel-drive car – was one of central Europe’s most popular cars, though, and the brand’s reputation headed quickly north after being acquired by Volkswagen in 1991. Sales headed in a similar direction, particularly in Europe, with Skoda models benefitting from shared platforms and components yet typically priced cheaper than the comparable VW. The Czech Republic brand returned to Australia in 2007.