Skoda Karoq

The Skoda Karoq is a compact crossover SUV (C-segment) designed and engineered by the Czech manufacturer Škoda Auto. Introduced in 2017 as a successor to the Yeti, it is built on the Volkswagen Group MQB A1 platform. The vehicle's name is derived from the Aleutian language, merging terms for 'car' and 'arrow' to reflect the brand's iconic logo.

Manufacturing of the Karoq is a global effort. Its primary production hubs are located in the Czech Republic at the Kvasiny and Mladá Boleslav plants. To meet high demand, assembly has also taken place in Osnabrück (Germany), Bratislava (Slovakia), and through joint ventures or local partnerships in China (Ningbo), Russia (Nizhny Novgorod), and Ukraine (Solomonovo). In China, the Karoq is produced by SAIC-Volkswagen with a slightly longer wheelbase tailored for the local market.

Originally founded in 1895 as the bicycle manufacturer Laurin & Klement, the brand merged with the industrial giant Škoda Works in 1925. Following the fall of the Iron Curtain, the company was gradually privatized and acquired by the German Volkswagen Group, becoming a wholly-owned subsidiary in 2000. Today, Skoda is one of the most profitable brands within the Volkswagen portfolio, recognized for its 'Simply Clever' design philosophy.