SKODA joins race for top spot in eco-friendly ranking

The initiative, called the ‘GreenFuture’ strategy, is aimed at ensuring SKODA vehicles become more fuel efficient and resources are used more sustainably.

Part of the Volkswagen group, SKODA aims to rework production methods and introduce new processes to reduce waste and emission levels by 25% per vehicle.

One of the first cars to be produced under the GreenFuture strategy is the forthcoming Octavia GreenLine. With combined fuel consumption of 86.0mpg and CO2 emissions of just 87g/km, it will be the most fuel efficient car produced in the Octavia line.

SKODA chairman Winfried Vahland says his company could be instrumental in ensuring that the Volkswagen Group becomes the leading environmentally-friendly automobile manufacturer in the world by 2018.

“With GreenFuture we will significantly step up and bundle our efforts for increased sustainability once more. We want to offer particularly environmentally-friendly automobiles and to manufacture and sell them in an even more sustainable fashion.

“GreenFuture is a clear, measurable commitment by the company and its employees towards environmental protection; we are investing in our green future,” he said.

SKODA currently offers 48 models with emission figures of less than 120g/km, with 10 models featuring emissions of less than 100g/km.

The manufacturer is also looking to alternative fuels as a way of delivering low-emissions solutions to customers. The recently-launched SKODA Citigo CNG is powered by natural gas and emits just 79g/km of CO2.

SKODA is also continuing its research into electric cars with a test fleet of ten Octavia Green E-Line vehicles under assessment on Czech roads.

Conor McGlone