Founder Profile
Vaclav Klement
Last reviewed: October 2026 · By Swet Parvadiya
Who is Vaclav Klement?
Vaclav Klement is a founder of Skoda Auto a.s., which was founded in 1895 with Vaclav Laurin.
- Company founded
- Skoda Auto a.s.
- Founded
- 1895
- Co-founders
- Vaclav Laurin
Background
Bookseller in Mlada Boleslav who handled the commercial side of the business.
Founding Story
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. He ran sales and business development, including racing that promoted the firm's motorcycles and cars, and steered the 1925 merger with Skoda Works.
Vaclav Klement was born in 1868 in Velvary.
Klement was born on October 16, 1868 and died on August 13, 1938. He was a Czech entrepreneur and industrialist.