History of the First and Second Generations

According to data from Škoda Auto, the Škoda Kodiaq achieved celkem téměř 240 tisíc vozů Kodiaq druhé generace between January 2024 and January 2026, pushing cumulative production past the one-million milestone. First revealed in Berlin on September 1, 2016, and launched in spring 2017 after a four-year development cycle that began in May 2012, the mid-size SUV platform has expanded across global markets and powertrain configurations.

Production Milestones and Global Manufacturing Footprint

Production of the first-generation Kodiaq started in October 2016 at the Kvasiny plant in the Czech Republic, where output reached celkem 657 710 vozů, including SKD sets for final assembly in India. According to company records, manufacturing also took place in Nizhny Novgorod, Russia, until 2022, contributing celkem 83 894 motorizovaných medvědů prior to the war in Ukraine. In China, production at Changsha totaled 166 817 vyrobených kusů, featuring a 12% share of the Kodiaq GT SUV-coupé variant introduced in 2018. By 2024, total output for the first generation across more than 60 markets reached celkem 908 421 kusů první generace.

Powertrain Evolution and Performance Heritage

The initial architecture relied on the Volkswagen Group’s MQB platform, offering five- or seven-seat layouts with front-wheel or all-wheel drive. Early engine options included 1.4 TSI, 2.0 TSI, and 2.0 TDI units, paired with manual or automatic transmissions. In 2018, the Kodiaq RS debuted with a dvoulitrovým dieselovým čtyřválcem 2.0 BiTDI o výkonu 176 kW. That same year, German racing driver Sabine Schmitz set a seven-seat SUV lap record on the Nürburgring Nordschleife with a time of 9:29.84, a specification noted by Škoda as remaining unbroken within its specific vehicle category.

Did you know? Before settling on the Kodiaq name—inspired by the Kodiak bear of Alaska—Škoda evaluated internal project titles including “Snowman” and “Polar” during the early design phase led by Jozef Kabaň.

Second-Generation Technological Upgrades and Hybrid Adoption

Unveiled at an abandoned Berlin U-Bahn station at Potsdamer Platz, the second-generation Kodiaq carries forward core principles of interior space and everyday utility while introducing modern electrified options. According to Škoda Auto data, roughly one in every five manufactured units of the current generation is a plug-in hybrid, exceeding initial internal projections with a system output of 150 kW and an electric-only range exceeding 100 kilometers. The performance-focused Kodiaq RS now utilizes a vylepšený čtyřválec 2.0 TSI EVO four-cylinder engine delivering 195 kW and 400 Nm of torque, enabling a 0 to 100 km/h acceleration time of approximately 6.3 seconds.

History of the First and Second Generations

Frequently Asked Questions

When was the Škoda Kodiaq originally launched?

The first-generation Škoda Kodiaq was officially unveiled on September 1, 2016, in Berlin, with market releases following in the spring of 2017.

History of the First and Second Generations

Where is the Škoda Kodiaq manufactured?

Primary production takes place at the Kvasiny plant in the Czech Republic. Previous and regional manufacturing locations have included Nizhny Novgorod in Russia and Changsha in China.

What are the top markets for the Kodiaq?

According to Škoda Auto, the top five markets for the model are Germany, the United Kingdom, the Czech Republic, Poland, and the Netherlands.

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