Skoda Auto vs Volkswagen: Founders, CEOs and History
Skoda Auto was founded in 1895 by Vaclav Laurin, Vaclav Klement and is led by Holger Peters (interim). Volkswagen was founded in 1937 by Ferdinand Porsche and is led by Oliver Blume.
Company facts
Skoda Auto
- Founded
- 1895
- Headquarters
- Mlada Boleslav, Czech Republic
- Current CEO
- Holger Peters (interim)
- Employees
- 40,000
Volkswagen
- Founded
- 1937
- Headquarters
- Wolfsburg, Germany
- Current CEO
- Oliver Blume
- Employees
- 663,000
Founders
Skoda Auto
Vaclav Laurin
Vaclav Laurin co-founded Laurin & Klement in Mlada Boleslav in 1895. He led engineering as the firm moved from Slavia bicycles to motorcycles in 1899 and to its first car, the Voiturette A, in 1905. The company merged with Skoda Works in 1925.
Vaclav Klement
Vaclav Klement co-founded Laurin & Klement in 1895 after, according to company history, a German bicycle maker brushed off his request in Czech for repairs.
Volkswagen
Ferdinand Porsche
Ferdinand Porsche (1875-1951) was an Austrian-born automotive engineer who had worked for Lohner, Austro-Daimler and Daimler-Benz before opening his own design office in Stuttgart in 1931.
CEOs and their tenures
Skoda Auto
- Reinhard Jung2007–2010
Chief Executive Officer
Chief executive of Skoda Auto a.s. from 2007 to 2010.
Source - Winfried Vahland2010–2015
Chief Executive Officer
Chief executive of Skoda Auto a.s. from 2010 to 2015.
Source - Bernhard Maier2015–2020
Chief Executive Officer
Chief executive of Skoda Auto a.s. from 2015 to 2020.
Source - Thomas Schäfer2020–2022
Chief Executive Officer
Chief executive of Skoda Auto a.s. from 2020 to 2022.
Source - Klaus Zellmer2022–2026
Chief Executive Officer & Chairman of the Board of Management
Skoda moved from tenth to second in European registrations and set record revenue (~$34 billion (€30.1 billion)) and operating profit (~$2.82 billion (€2.5 billion)) in 2025.
Source - Holger Peters2026–present
Interim Chief Executive Officer
CFO since June 2023; named interim head of Skoda Auto in September 2026 pending a permanent CEO appointment.
Source
Volkswagen
- Hermann Münch1946–1947
Chief Executive Officer
Chief executive of Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft from 1946 to 1947.
Source - Heinrich Nordhoff1948–1968
Chief Executive Officer
Chief executive of Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft from 1948 to 1968.
Source - Kurt Lotz1968–1971
Chief Executive Officer
Chief executive of Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft from 1968 to 1971.
Source - Rudolf Leiding1971–1975
Chief Executive Officer
Chief executive of Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft from 1971 to 1975.
Source - Toni Schmücker1975–1982
Chief Executive Officer
Chief executive of Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft from 1975 to 1982.
Source - Carl Hahn1982–1993
Chief Executive Officer
Chief executive of Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft from 1982 to 1993.
Source - Ferdinand Piëch1993–2002
Chief Executive Officer
Chief executive of Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft from 1993 to 2002.
Source - Bernd Pischetsrieder2002–2006
Chief Executive Officer
Chief executive of Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft from 2002 to 2006.
Source - Martin Winterkorn2007–2015
Chief Executive Officer
Chief executive of Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft from 2007 to 2015.
Source - Matthias Müller2015–2018
Chief Executive Officer
Chief executive of Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft from 2015 to 2018.
Source - Herbert Diess2018–2022
Chief Executive Officer
Chief executive of Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft from 2018 to 2022.
Source - Oliver Blume2022–present
Chairman of the Board of Management
He also ran Porsche AG alongside the group role until Michael Leiters took over as Porsche CEO on January 1, 2026, leaving Blume focused on Volkswagen Group.
Source
Timeline: Skoda Auto and Volkswagen side by side
1895Skoda Auto
Laurin & Klement Founded in Mlada Boleslav: Vaclav Laurin and Vaclav Klement established their partnership to manufacture Slavia bicycles after a dispute with a German bicycle maker.
1899Skoda Auto
First Motorized Bicycle Produced: Introduced the Slavia Type A and B motorcycles, achieving widespread acclaim in international road racing competitions.
1905Skoda Auto
Launch of Voiturette Type A Motorcar: Unveiled its first automobile, the Voiturette A, featuring a 1.0-liter V-twin engine and establishing the company as an automotive pioneer.
1925Skoda Auto
Merger with Skoda Works: Following a major fire at the Mlada Boleslav factory, merged with Akciova spolecnost, drive Skodovy zavody v Plzni and adopted the winged arrow logo.
1934Skoda Auto
Introduction of the Original Superb and Popular: Pioneered backbone chassis technology with the Skoda Popular, driving democratic motorization across Central Europe.
1937Volkswagen
Volkswagen founded
Volkswagen was founded under the German Labour Front as part of a state-directed people's car program.
1945Volkswagen
Wolfsburg restarted
British military administration helped restart peacetime production at Wolfsburg after World War II.
1965Volkswagen
Audi foundation added
Volkswagen acquired Auto Union from Daimler-Benz, creating the foundation for modern Audi.
1974Volkswagen
Golf production begins
The Golf gave Volkswagen a modern front-engine, front-wheel-drive compact platform after the Beetle era.
1991Skoda Auto
Volkswagen AG Acquisition Commences: Volkswagen acquired an initial 31% stake following the fall of communism, modernizing factories and initiating a complete brand rebirth.
1996Skoda Auto
First Modern Octavia Debuts: Built on the shared VW Golf platform, the modern Octavia launched to international acclaim for unbeatable interior volume and value.
2000Skoda Auto
Wholly Owned Subsidiary of Volkswagen Group: Volkswagen AG finalized the purchase of 100% of Skoda Auto shares, completing its corporate integration.
2012Volkswagen
Porsche consolidated
Porsche became a controlled sport-luxury profit anchor within Volkswagen Group.
2016Skoda Auto
SUV Offensive Launched with Kodiaq: Introduced the Kodiaq 7-seater SUV, kickstarting a global SUV expansion that grew to encompass the Karoq and Kamiq.
2020Skoda Auto
All-Electric Enyaq iV Launch: Debuted the first dedicated electric vehicle on Volkswagen's MEB platform, becoming one of Europe's top-selling electric SUVs.
2022Skoda Auto
Klaus Zellmer Appointed CEO & Modern Solid Rebrand: Klaus Zellmer became CEO on 1 July 2022; Skoda later introduced its Modern Solid design language.
2024Volkswagen
Rivian software joint venture
Volkswagen and Rivian launched a software joint venture targeting next-generation electrical architecture.
2025Skoda Auto
Record ~$34B (€30.1B) Revenue and 1 Million+ Deliveries: Posted record revenue of ~$34 billion (€30.1 billion), operating profit of ~$2.82 billion (€2.5 billion) (8.3% return on sales) and 1,043,900 d…
2025Volkswagen
Revenue reaches ~$364B (EUR321.9B)
Volkswagen reported ~$364 billion (EUR321.9 billion) in sales revenue, ~$10.1 billion (EUR8.9 billion) in operating result, and 8.984 million deliveries.
2026Skoda Auto
Epiq and Peaq Launch; Zellmer Departs: Doubled the BEV line-up with the Epiq and Peaq, reached second place in European registrations in H1 2026, and announced CEO Klaus Zellmer's exit; CFO Holger Pet…
Acquisitions
Volkswagen
- Porsche AG2012Undisclosed
- Bentley Motors1998Undisclosed
- Auto Union / Audi1965Undisclosed
Questions about Skoda Auto vs Volkswagen
Who is the CEO of Skoda Auto a.s. and Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft?
Skoda Auto a.s. is led by Holger Peters (interim) and Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft is led by Oliver Blume. Both serve as the top executive responsible for the company's strategy, operations, and financial performance.
When was Skoda Auto a.s. founded vs Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft?
Skoda Auto a.s. was founded in 1895 — 42 years before Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft, which was founded in 1937. Skoda Auto a.s.'s longer operating history gives it a deeper track record but also potentially more institutional inertia compared to the younger Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft.
How many employees does Skoda Auto a.s. have compared to Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft?
Skoda Auto a.s. employs approximately 40,000 people, while Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft employs approximately 663,000. Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft has the larger workforce at 663,000 employees, compared to Skoda Auto a.s.'s 40,000. A higher headcount does not necessarily imply greater efficiency — it often reflects differences in business model (e.g., manufacturing vs. software).
Where are Skoda Auto a.s. and Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft headquartered?
Skoda Auto a.s. is headquartered in Czech Republic and Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft is headquartered in Germany. Their different home markets mean they may face different regulatory frameworks, tax regimes, and currency exposure.
Who founded Skoda Auto a.s. and Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft?
Skoda Auto a.s. was founded by Vaclav Laurin, Vaclav Klement. Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft was founded by Ferdinand Porsche.
Which company has a longer operating history — Skoda Auto a.s. or Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft?
Skoda Auto a.s. has been operating for approximately 131 years, making it the more established of the two companies. Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft has been in operation for around 89 years. A longer operating history often signals greater institutional resilience and brand recognition, though it can also mean slower adaptation to new market conditions.
Figures come from each company's filings and the sources linked beside them. Amounts reported in another currency are shown in US dollars at an approximate rate and marked with ~. Back to the Skoda Auto vs Volkswagen overview