Skoda Launches Advanced Tech Centre Called Skoda X

Skoda has launched a new advanced technology centre focused on the development and deployment of digital and smart services. Skoda X will look to deliver products across all its models, including the Enyaq iV. The first services being tested by the technology centre includes peer-to-peer car hire which enables private owners the ability to offer their own vehicle as a rental car for other individuals, enabling car-sharing for people who don’t want to own a vehicle full time.

The system is also being expanded to be used by Skoda dealers to allow potential customers to arrange extended test drives of models like the Enyaq iV before deciding to buy.

The innovation hub, based in Prague, is also trialling a new energy storage facility made of repurposed battery models taken from previous Enyaq iV models to create standalone charging stations for electric vehicles. Providing the capability to offer a charging infrastructure where building a large number of charging stations wouldn’t work.

It will also be the central facility for a number of other technologies already being trialled across Europe, including the new Pay to Fuel services, available through the vehicle’s infotainment system, as well as the DigiCert service which provides enhanced confidence for anyone buying or selling a used Skoda model.

During refuelling, the Pay to Fuel service uses the car’s GPS system to detect the location and prompts the customer to enter the pump number, eliminating the need to queue to pay, simplifying the payment process. Pay to Fuel uses the credit card stored in the infotainment system for seamless payment transactions.

While the creation and development of the products will take place within Skoda X, the ambition is to also look to European start-ups to progress technologies faster and more efficiently.