Founder Profile
Vaclav Laurin
Last reviewed: October 2026 · By Swet Parvadiya
Who is Vaclav Laurin?
Vaclav Laurin is a founder of Skoda Auto a.s., which was founded in 1895 with Vaclav Klement.
- Company founded
- Skoda Auto a.s.
- Founded
- 1895
- Co-founders
- Vaclav Klement
Background
Trained mechanic and locksmith who ran the technical side of Laurin & Klement.
Founding Story
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 Laurin was born in 1865 in Kamení.
Laurin was born on September 27, 1865 and died on December 3, 1930. He was a Czech engineer and industrialist.