The Czech auto brand that could has built its 14 millionth vehicle some 107 years after Vaclav Laurin and Vaclav Klement, the founders of Skoda, began producing their first cars in 1905.

The milestone vehicle is a special edition ‘Laurin & Klement’ Superb that is designated for delivery to a German customer.

“This celebratory car is an impressive expression of our growth strategy,” said Skoda chairman Winfried Vahland. “We are expanding at a high speed. Almost two thirds of the 14 million cars built by the company were produced and sold in the past 20 years, four million of which were produced in the past 5 years alone.”

Skoda, which was acquired by Volkswagen in 1990, has even bigger plans for the future as it continues to expand internationally, particularly focusing on the emerging markets of China, Russia and India.

Last year, the Czech automaker reported record sales of 879,200 units, but the VW Group expects worldwide sales to reach at least 1.5 million cars per year by 2018.

To put that in perspective, the Fiat Group, which includes the Fiat, Alfa Romeo, Lancia, Ferrari, and Fiat Commercial brands, delivered 2,032,900 passenger cars and light commercial vehicles in 2011.

Milestones of the car manufacture at ŠKODA AUTO:

  • January 30, 2012: 14 million automobiles since 1905
  • December 2011: 1.5 million vehicles of the Octavia II type
  • October 12, 2011: 10-millionth automobile produced at the plant in Mladá Boleslav
  • September 2, 2011: 4-millionth MQ200 gearbox built at the plant in Mladá Boleslav
  • April 8, 2009: 12 million automobiles since 1905
  • July 13, 2006: 10 million automobiles since 1905 (5 million of which were manufactured since the entry of VW in 1991)
  • 1991: 5 million automobiles since 1905