ŠKODA AUTO has now completed the conversion of an existing production line at its main factory in Mladá Boleslav for MEB vehicles, which has been in progress since last summer. This work included structural changes to the building as well as modifications to the conveyor technology and final assembly line.
Investments made amount to 32 million euros. It is now the only line in the entire Volkswagen Group on which vehicles based on the MEB modular electric car platform and the MQB modular transverse matrix can be built alongside one another.
Preparations for the production line to build the first ŠKODA based on the MEB electric car platform began last summer. Since then, some structural elements of the building as well as technologies for transporting parts, for example, have been modified to cater for the weight of all-electric vehicles and their assembled components. Furthermore, the final floor assembly is automated following the conversion, and now includes the high-voltage traction battery too. ŠKODA AUTO has installed auxiliary robots for handling the heavy battery packs.
The Czech car manufacturer also set up a larger workstation to adjust the head-up displays. ŠKODA AUTO placed a special focus on safety during the conversion of the production line, especially in terms of battery handling. The company has made comprehensive fire-proofing provisions and installed thermal imaging cameras, for example. These monitor the temperature in the factory hall around the clock and trigger an alarm if they detect any abnormalities.
Despite comprehensive conversion work, the line can in future still be used for manufacturing models that feature another type of powertrain. Thus, the ENYAQ iV, OCTAVIA and KAROQ will be built with maximum flexibility on the same production line in future. This makes the ENYAQ iV the only MEB-based Volkswagen Group vehicle in Europe to be manufactured outside of Germany.
ŠKODA AUTO is consistently pressing ahead with the electrification of its model range
ŠKODA AUTO is unveiling the new ENYAQ in Prague today and taking another major step forward in the implementation of its electromobility strategy. The new SUV is the brand’s first all-electric model that was designed as such from the outset.
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