From its origins in the Slavia bicycle company, founded by Laurin and Klement in 1895, to its present position as a vital division of the Volkswagen Group, runs an unbroken line of innovation, engineering excellence and determination in adversity that maintained it in the past and now secures its future. There are those prepared to trot out old jokes and perpetuate old prejudices; those whom reality has passed by. This work has no problem with humour, and brings a good deal to this work, designed to set the record straight. This work describes the company's singular position in the Czech republic; the unique character of its state of the art factories; and its importance in the future of the mighty Volkswagen. In the true account of the people, events and products that form its history, the Skoda company itself has the last laugh.