16 young apprentices of SKODA AUTO Vocational School build their dream car: the sporty convertible SKODA CitiJet. The study is the result of the ‘SKODA Apprentice Car’ project. The official premiere of the dynamic two-seater takes place at the 33rd GTI Fan Meet at Wörthersee at end of May (28 to 31 May).
2 young ladies and 14 young men have been working on this very personal vehicle project of theirs since November 2013. The apprentices have been given free rein in their creativity. SKODA Chief Designer, Jozef Kabaň and his team have provided support along the way, and the project is nearing completion. The stage is set for the SKODA CitiJet, which will celebrate its premiere at the end of May at the GTI Fan Meet.
This is the first time that this kind of trainee project has been undertaken at SKODA. The aim has been to encourage the apprentices’ creativity and expertise in bringing their own ideas and enthusiasm into designing a car. “It is fantastic to see how committed and passionate our trainees have been in working on this project,” says SKODA Board Member for HR, Bohdan Wojnar. “The SKODA CitiJet is an emotional vehicle study that is sure to catch the attention of the visitors at Wörthersee.”
The SKODA CitiJet is a dynamically and expressively-designed city convertible based on the SKODA Citigo. The exterior stands out with its striking metallic finish in blue and white, and sporty blue-finish 16-inch alloy wheels. There is also a hand-made rear spoiler and a powerful exhaust with two tailpipes. A 1.0 MPI petrol engine with 55 kW (75 hp) is to be found under the bonnet.
The sporty interior is based on the interior of the special edition SKODA Citigo SPORT. This includes the red-hemmed, leather 3-spoke steering wheel, as well as the leather-covered handbrake and gearstick. The seat covers and floor mats are fitted out with the ‘Sports’ fabric design, and the instrument panel is finished in red and white. In addition, a special sound system has been installed with an output of 300 watts. The blue LED interior lighting system even responds to music.
This trainee project highlights the Czech manufacture’s commitment to the high quality of vocational training at SKODA. At the SKODA AUTO Vocational School of Mechanical Engineering, young people go through a three or four-year training program in technical subjects, graduating with a full apprenticeship or the equivalent of secondary school final exams. There are currently 13 training programmes; the most popular three-year courses being those for auto mechanics, auto electricians and electricians. The most popular among the four-year courses is in industrial logistics. Postgraduate and distance-learning studies are also offered by the vocational school.
The company and the KOVO trade union have been taking on social responsibility for many years through the training of young people. Around 280 young people started their training at the SKODA Vocational School in 2013 alone. The educational programmes are free, and the work undertaken as part of the training is also supported financially. After successfully completing their training, all graduates receive a job offer at SKODA.
The Czech manufacturer has been running a vocational school at the company headquarters since 1927, where 21,500 students have since completed their training. Almost 1,000 students are currently preparing for their future careers.