Skoda

At the beginning of December 1895, the mechanic Václav Laurin and the book-seller Václav Klement started manufacturing bicycles of their own design, patriotically named Slavia. A few years later in 1899, the Laurin & Klement Co. began producing motorcycles with an impressive commercial and competitive success. After initial experiments at the turn of the century, the young company produced their first car in 1905. The firm was renamed ŠKODA in 1925 after a merger and continues producing automobiles under the distinctive ŠKODA badge from their headquarters in Mladá Boleslav as part of the Volkswagen Group.