In the field of trams, Škoda Dopravní technika modernised a total of 26 Tatra T3 trams operated in Plzeň to type T3M.0 (factory designation Škoda 01T; 1993-1999) and 20 T3 trams operated in Liberec to type T3M.04 (factory designation Škoda 02T; 1995-1999) in the 1990s. In 1997, the company produced its first own tram, the Škoda 03T (also LTM 10.08, “Astra”, “Anitra”), which was gradually delivered to five Czech tram operators until 2006.
This was followed by other types, some of which were also exported. The latest models of trams are supplied under the trade name Škoda ForCity, which the company delivers to several European countries. In the Czech Republic, they have been delivered to Brno (Škoda 45T - from 2022), Plzeň (Škoda 40T - from 2021), Ostrava (Škoda 39T - from 2021) and Prague (Škoda 15T - 2009-2019 and Škoda 52T).
Germany became the second most important market for trams after 2020. The Škoda Group has delivered trams to the Saxonian city of Chemnitz (35T, ForCity Classic, 2018–2020), to the three cities of Mannheim, Ludwigshafen am Rhein and Heidelberg (36T, 37T, 38T, all ForCity Smart, since 2022), Bonn (41T, ForCity Smart, since 2023) and to the three cities of Frankfurt an der Oder, Cottbus and Brandenburg an der Havel (46T, 47T, 48T, ForCity Plus, since 2024). Preparations are also underway for production of trams for Kassel (50T, ForCity Smart).
Škoda trams also operate in the Finnish cities of Helsinki (Artic, ForCity Smart, 2013-2019; Artic X54, ForCity Smart, from 2021) and Tampere (Artic X34, ForCity Smart, 2020-2021), and Miskolc in Hungary (26T, from 2013 to 2015). In 2024, the Škoda Group delivered two-way trams to the Slovakian city of Bratislava (30T, ForCity Plus).
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Metro trains
Škoda Transportation modernised the 81-71 metro trains to type 81-71M for the Prague Metro between 1996 and 2011. In 2003 it produced a prototype of the new 6Mt metro train. The company also participated in production and modernisation of 81-553 trains for Kazan and Kyiv (the Slavutych train) and participated in the production of NěVa trains for St. Petersburg. At the beginning of 2020, the company signed a contract for delivery of metro trains to Warsaw. The first metro train from the workshops of the Škoda Group will begin carrying passengers in the Polish capital in October 2022. Another contract which has been signed is for delivery of eight metro trains to the Bulgarian city of Sofia. This was signed in July 2023.
Railway vehicles
Škoda Transportation produced type 109E electric locomotives (series 380 ČD, 381 ZSSK and 102 DB Regio) and modernised 71E electric locomotives to type 71Em (series 163 → series 363.5 ČD Cargo). In the field of rail transport, the company was not planning any new locomotive type in 2020, instead focusing on the development and production of RegioPanter and InterPanter electric units.
In the field of rail transport, production by the Škoda Group shifted from locomotives to other types of rail units. Production of these can be divided into two broad categories:
Push-Pull Units, i.e. non-traction units with a control car, which need a locomotive to move, have been operating in Slovakia since 2011 (factory designation 3Ev) and in Germany and the Czech Republic since 2021 (factory designation 13Ev)
Within the portfolio of the Škoda Group, electric units (EMUs) bear the designation RegioPanter (for regional operation) or InterPanter (for longer-distance transport). The first RegioPanter EMU was designated type 7Ev. This was put into trial operation in September 2012 and in February 2013, units from this series were approved by the Railway Authority. In the Czech Republic, RegioPanter units operate in the Plzeň, South Moravian, Moravian-Silesian, Olomouc, Hradec Králové, Pardubice, Ústí nad Labem and Central Bohemian regions.
Abroad, EMUs are delivered to Slovakia and Latvia. The first units are expected to be deployed in Estonia in 2024 and deliveries of trains to Uzbekistan are also planned.
Another rail transport sector in which the Škoda Group is involved is sleeper carriages. In this area, the sleeper project for the Finnish State Railways VR Group was the furthest along in 2024. Their deployment is planned by 2025 at the latest. Italian railway carrier Trenitalia has ordered sleeper carriages from the Škoda Group. The category of sleeper cars also includes a contract for modernisation of cars for the Austrian carrier ÖBB.
Locomotive factory
As a part of its shift towards non-military production, the Works earmarked a portion of its facilities for manufacturing of locomotives. The production started following an order for 30 locomotives for Czechoslovakia. The first Škoda locomotive left the factory on 11 June 1920. Meanwhile, Škoda gained a major contract for production of 80 and refurbishment of 500 locomotives for Romania. Due to the Romanian order Škoda regained banks' confidence which provided the company with financing to survive through the immediate post-war years. The locomotive factory became one of the company's main pillars.
The company produced its 100th locomotive on 13 September 1921. In 1927 Škoda produced its first express electric locomotive which was followed by the introduction of electric freight locomotives. While electric locomotives were used on electrified lines within Prague, the company further produced electric locomotives with batteries for use within factory areas. Also in 1927, Škoda started production of diesel locomotives and diesel express trains. In the 1930s, the locomotive factory was producing on average 3 locomotives a month with third of the production for export.
Meanwhile, in another factory building situated in Plzeň, Škoda started producing electrical propulsion units for trams in the early 1920s. In 1936 the company started producing the model 3Tr, 6Tr, 7Tr, 8Tr, 9Tr trolleybuses.
Production of locomotives as well as trolleybuses continued during the company's period of nationalization after the WW2. After fall of communism in 1989, Škoda Works were transformed into a joint stock company, the assets of which were later diversified into several separate entities, among them also Škoda Dopravní Technika s. r. o. which included the rolling stock factory in Plzeň and which was renamed to Škoda Transportation in 2004.
In the early 1990s, the company started working also on refurbishment of trams, which was followed by introduction of its first own tram design in 1997, the low-floor Škoda 03 T.
Trolleybuses
The first mass-produced trolleybus bearing the Škoda brand began running in 1941. Since then, nearly forty models have been developed under the Škoda badge, many of which are currently in use not only in the Czech Republic, but also in a number of countries throughout the whole of Europe. There has been a renaissance in trolleybus production in recent years - in 2014 the Škoda Group celebrated production of its 14,000th trolleybus and in 2023, production of its 15,000th trolleybus. At present, the Škoda Group is focusing mainly on solutions for electrical equipment, with the bodywork supplied by one of the partners it works with on its projects. A number of trolleybus models are equipped with batteries enabling them to cross sections without overhead lines.
In Czech cities, Škoda trolleybus units operate in Prague (38 Tr, Solaris,24 m; 36 Tr, Temsa ), Plzeň, Brno (31 Tr, SOR; 32 Tr, SOR), Ostrava (36 Tr, Temsa; 31 Tr, SOR) Opava (36 Tr, Temsa; 32 Tr, SOR), Jihlava (32 Tr, SOR) Pardubice (28 Tr, Solaris; 30 Tr, SOR; 32 Tr, SOR) Hradec Králové (30 Tr, SOR; 31 Tr, SOR) České Budějovice, Zlín (35 Tr, Iveco; 30 Tr, SOR Teplice (28 Tr, Solaris; 30 Tr, SOR, 32 Tr, SOR, 33 Tr, SOR) Ústí nad Labem (28 Tr, Solaris) and in Mariánské Lázně (30 Tr, SOR).
Abroad, the greatest number of trolleybuses operate in Slovakia, specifically in Banská Bystrica (30Tr SOR; 31Tr SOR), Bratislava (30Tr SOR; 31Tr SOR; 38Tr, Solaris), Prešov (30Tr SOR; 31Tr SOR) and Žilina (30Tr SOR; 31Tr SOR). Škoda trolleybuses also operate in the Lithuanian city of Vilnius (32Tr).
Other activities
Škoda Transportation founded the Techmania Science Center in 2005 together with the University of West Bohemia in Plzeň. The goals of the Science Center include reviving interest among young people about studying technological disciplines and generally raising public awareness of science and technology. In 2015, Techmania was visited by over 271,000 tourists in 2015, making it the third most visited tourist destination in Plzeň.
The company was the recipient of two investment incentives in the form of income tax breaks in the total possible amount of CZK 1 billion.
As part of its cooperation with universities, the Škoda Group organises the Emil Škoda Prize every year. University students of technical disciplines from all over the country can participate in this competition with their diploma theses.
The Škoda Group organises the Škoda FIT Half Marathon, an international running race. This takes place in Plzeň in the middle of September.
Subsidiaries and affiliate companies
Škoda Transportation a.s. subsidiaries and affiliated companies
The group of companies employed close to 5,600 people in 2015, with revenues reaching CZK 17 billion.
