Škoda expands battery system assembly in Mladá Boleslav
At its new 55,000-square-metre production hall in Mladá Boleslav, completed in less than twelve months, Škoda says it can assemble one battery system every 60 seconds. According to the company, this equates to a capacity of more than 1,100 units per day and up to 335,000 units annually.
The facility is not solely an increase in output but also marks the start of Cell-to-Pack production for the Volkswagen Group’s volume brands. Mladá Boleslav is currently the first and only site manufacturing these systems. The battery packs produced here are destined for electric models across the Group portfolio.
With the transition from the MEB platform to the enhanced MEB+ architecture, the Group is moving away from the traditional module-based battery layout to a Cell-to-Pack design. In this concept, battery cells are integrated directly into the pack, eliminating the module level.
Škoda states that it has invested €205 million in the new facility. The sum covers construction of the 55,000-square-metre hall, installation of 131 robots along the production line and the implementation of what the company describes as ‘innovative manufacturing techniques.’ The automation rate of the production process is reported to stand at 84 per cent.
According to the company, the new battery systems are designed to offer ‘durability, simplified manufacturing and cost efficiency.’ Key factors include the transition to the Volkswagen Group’s unified cell format, the full insourcing of the Cell-to-Pack assembly process and the use of lower-cost LFP cell chemistry. Overall, Škoda states that battery costs have been reduced by around 30 per cent compared with the previous MEB platform.
“This opening is part of the Volkswagen Group’s overall battery strategy, which balances in-house and third-party battery cell and system supply to achieve maximum flexibility and continuous access to innovations, technologies and supply chains,” Škoda stated. “The expansion further underlines Škoda’s important role as a reliable component manufacturer within the Brand Group Core and will, in future, enable the company to produce up to 200,000 electric vehicles annually at its main plant.”
The opening ceremony of the new battery assembly plant was attended by representatives of the Czech government, including Prime Minister Andrej Babiš and Minister of Industry and Trade Karel Havlíček, as well as numerous Group executives. Among them were VW Brand CEO Thomas Schäfer, who also serves as CEO of the Brand Group Core and Chairman of Škoda’s Supervisory Board.
“With this investment, Škoda becomes the largest producer of BEV battery systems within the Volkswagen Group and a central pillar of our electrification strategy,” Schäfer said. “The plant in Mladá Boleslav operates at true industrial scale and reinforces the European battery value chain. Škoda’s expertise, efficiency and unique spirit make it a key driver of our Brand Group Core Transformation.”
Klaus Zellmer, CEO of Škoda Auto, added: “This marks a major milestone for Škoda Auto and our commitment to decarbonising the entire value chain. Reducing emissions goes far beyond the vehicle itself – it includes sourcing, production and energy use. With the opening of our new battery system assembly line, we are localising battery production at scale, strengthening a more resilient and competitive European value chain, and making electric mobility more accessible.”
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