The 2013 Å koda
Rapid that will make its auto show debut at the Paris Motor Show at the end of next month has began production at its Mladá Boleslav, Czech Republic assembly plant. The car will reach European dealers this October as well.
The plant already assembles the Fabia and Octavia, with its daily capacity capped at 800. There are plans in the future to increase it by 50 percent to 1,200. The plant's main line is being modernized and expanded to handle the Rapid's production and the next-generation Octavia.
The plant will be undergoing 173 separate changes to accommodate the Rapid, with the work taking place in 17 production halls and involving 141 planners and 2,000 employees from other companies hired to perform the work. The production line will grow by nearly a third after all these changes are made.
In 2013, Å koda will sell the Rapid in China, with local production. A Russian plant in Kaluga will begin making the car at the start of 2014.
The car will be offered with five gas and two diesel engines.
