Škoda Auto has renewed its long-standing partnership with the Czech Philharmonic for a further three years, extending the collaboration until 2029. The announcement coincides with the orchestra’s opening of its 131st season and continues a relationship that began in 1993.
The partnership reflects the shared Czech heritage of the two organisations, both of which trace their origins to the 1890s. Alongside financial support, Škoda Auto provides vehicles to support the orchestra’s operations and mobility requirements, including transport for its guests and visiting artists.
“Škoda Auto and the Czech Philharmonic both have rich histories dating back to the 1890s. We are honoured to support this internationally renowned icon of Czech culture and its commitment to quality, tradition and representing the Czech Republic at home and abroad. We are proud to have supported the orchestra for more than three decades and delighted that our partnership will continue in the years ahead,” said Holger Peters, interim CEO of Škoda Auto.
David Mareček, General Director of the Czech Philharmonic, said, “Long-term partnerships are particularly important in the cultural sector. We greatly value the support Škoda Auto has given us since 1993. It enables us to develop the Czech Philharmonic’s work over the long term and bring outstanding musical experiences to audiences at home and abroad.”
Škoda Auto provides six vehicles on long-term loan to support the orchestra’s day-to-day activities, with additional cars made available for special events and guest transportation. In 2025, the two organisations marked the carmaker’s 130th anniversary with a gala concert at Prague’s Rudolfinum.
The Czech Philharmonic has entered its 131st season under Chief Conductor and Music Director Semyon Bychkov. Its programme includes appearances by guest conductors Jakub Hrůša and Sir Simon Rattle, Artist-in-Residence Janine Jansen and Composer-in-Residence Thomas Adès. The season will also commemorate the 200th anniversary of Ludwig van Beethoven’s death and feature several world and Czech premieres. It comprises 72 concerts in the Czech Republic, 22 international performances and more than 300 educational events.
Škoda Auto began its history in late 1895, while the Czech Philharmonic performed its first concert at Prague’s Rudolfinum on January 4, 1896, under the direction of composer Antonín Dvořák. The carmaker’s support for Czech music also includes its partnership with the Smetana’s Litomyšl Festival. The Škoda brand’s sonic logo draws inspiration from Bedřich Smetana’s Vltava, part of the cycle Má vlast.
Škoda Auto is a Czech automobile manufacturer and part of the Volkswagen Group. Founded in 1895, the company develops, manufactures and sells passenger cars and operates in more than 100 markets worldwide. Its portfolio includes sedans, hatchbacks and SUVs, with models such as the Kushaq, Slavia, Kodiaq and Kylaq in India. Škoda Auto has been present in India for more than two decades and operates through Škoda Auto Volkswagen India, which manages the Group’s vehicle manufacturing and operations in the country. The company’s India operations are supported by the manufacturing facility at Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar in Maharashtra, along with a nationwide sales and service network.
