Škoda Auto breaks ground on new paint shop to boost flexibility, reduce emissions and support EV-ICE production at Mladá Boleslav by 2029

Škoda Auto has laid the foundation stone for a major new paint shop at its Mladá Boleslav plant in the Czech Republic. The project is central to the company’s plan to modernise its operations, expand production flexibility and reduce emissions. Slated to begin operations in 2029, the new facility will replace the plant’s ageing 1996-built unit and significantly advance Škoda’s capabilities in vehicle surface treatment and sustainable production.

Once operational, the facility will have capacity to paint up to 1,600 vehicle bodies per day, raising the total daily output at Mladá Boleslav to 2,600 bodies when combined with the site’s existing 2019-built paint shop. Vehicles based on both electric and internal combustion platforms will move through the same line, giving Škoda greater flexibility to adapt to fluctuating market demands.

”The facility’s extensive use of cutting-edge technologies, such as robotic systems for PVC-based sealant application and automated systems for plugging body openings, will significantly boost efficiency”

- Andreas Dick, Board Member for Production and Logistics, Škoda

A new coat of ambition at Škoda’s main plant

“The construction of a new paint shop at our main plant in Mladá Boleslav underscores our commitment to both the Czech Republic, the home of Škoda Auto, and the company’s ongoing development”, said Andreas Dick, Škoda Auto Board Member for Production and Logistics. ”The facility’s extensive use of cutting-edge technologies, such as robotic systems for PVC-based sealant application and automated systems for plugging body openings, will significantly boost efficiency.

”It will also set new environmental standards as one of the Volkswagen Group’s most advanced paint shops, substantially reducing VOC and CO₂ emissions by 28%.”

Škoda’s new paintshop streamlines coating, cuts energy and spans 118,000m²

The new building will occupy a plot previously used as a finished vehicle car park, adjacent to the recently completed Laurin & Klement bridge. Its footprint is substantial. Measuring 301 metres in length and 131 metres in width, with a height of 32.5 metres, the seven-storey-sized facility will have a floor area of 118,000 square metres, or roughly 16 football pitches. Internally, 15 kilometres of conveyor systems will move vehicles through a fully automated treatment line.

Where the Industry Gets Its Second Coat

As Škoda upgrades for a low-emissions future, OEMs across North America are rethinking their production playbooks.

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Painting remains one of the most critical and technologically sensitive processes in vehicle production, providing both protection and cosmetic finish. At Škoda, this process begins with a cataphoretic anti-corrosion coat, followed by targeted PVC application on areas prone to wear. Base coats and decorative paints are applied using a wet-on-wet technique, with a new innovation allowing the decorative base coat to be applied directly onto the cataphoretic layer, bypassing the primer bake stage.

This change lowers energy use and costs without affecting finish quality. A final clear coat and wax sealing are applied, resulting in a total protective thickness of just 0.1mm.

Škoda’s new paintshop adds custom finishes, cuts emissions and readies Mladá Boleslav for an electric future

The new paint shop will add aesthetic enhancements to Škoda’s portfolio, including the ability to apply two-tone colour combinations and matte finishes. These features are becoming increasingly important to differentiate battery-electric models in a market where technical specifications are often standardised.

Environmental performance has also been prioritised in the new facility’s design. The use of a hybrid energy supply, combining electricity with biogas, will help reduce operational emissions. The plant will also incorporate a new curing oven for more precise thermal control during the paint application process.

Read more Paintshop stories

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In quantitative terms, the reduction in volatile organic compounds will exceed 14 grams per square metre of painted surface, while CO₂ emissions will fall by 28% compared to the facility it replaces. These gains will support Škoda Auto’s wider goal to achieve carbon-neutral production across its Czech sites by 2030.

By equipping its main site with greater production flexibility and emissions control, Škoda is positioning itself for the volatility of a dual drivetrain era. As internal combustion fades and electric platforms expand, it is the adaptability of legacy facilities like Mladá Boleslav that will determine an OEM’s competitiveness.