Laurin & Klement
 | This article includes a list of references, related reading or external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations. (May 2020) |
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| Type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Automotive |
| Founded | 18 December 1895 |
| Founder | |
| Fate | Reincorporated |
| Successor | Škoda Auto |
| Headquarters | Mladá Boleslav, Kingdom of Bohemia, Austria-Hungary |
Laurin & Klement was a Czech automobile, motorcycle and bicycle manufacturing company founded in 1895 in Mladá Boleslav, Kingdom of Bohemia by automotive pioneers Václav Laurin and Václav Klement. Car production commenced in 1905, and the company soon became the largest car manufacturer in Austria-Hungary. It was acquired by industrial conglomerate Škoda Works in 1925 and re-branded as Škoda Auto, which is today the largest car manufacturer in the Czech Republic, and thus a part of the Volkswagen Group.
History[]
The company was founded in 1895, and was engaged in the production of new bicycles and repairs, their first bicycles were named: Slavia. The company was then named after its two founders: Václav Laurin (born 27 September 1865, died 4 December 1930), and Václav Klement (born 16 October 1868, died 13 August 1938).[1]:77
Car production commenced in 1905, and the company soon became the largest car manufacturer in Austria-Hungary. In 1925 the company was acquired by the Škoda Works, and operated henceforth under the brand Škoda Auto (Škoda).[1]:76–77
Today, the Laurin & Klement name is used by Škoda Auto to distinguish especially luxurious editions of some of their car models (Yeti, Octavia, Superb and Kodiaq).
Founders Václav Klement (left) and Václav Laurin
Laurin & Klement logo
Škoda and Laurin & Klement plaques
Models[]
- (1905)
- (1906)
- (1906)
- (1906)
- (1907)
- (1907)
- (1907) (racing car)
- (1908) (racing car)
- (1908)
- (1909)
- (1909) (racing car)
- (1910)
- (1914)
- (Laurin & Klement MK6 / 445 / 450) (1920)
- (Laurin & Klement A / 100) (1922)
- (1923)
- (1923)
- (1925)
- (1925)
- (1925)
- (Laurin & Klement 360) (1926)
Laurin & Klement Typ 1 motorcycle (1903)
Laurin & Klement tricycle
Laurint & Klement Typ A (1906)
Laurin & Klement Typ A
Laurin & Klement S
Laurin & Klement S
Laurin & Klement S
Laurin & Klement bus
Laurin & Klement RK-M
Laurin & Klement Škoda 110
See also[]
References[]
- ^ Jump up to: a b Walker, Mick (2000). Mick Walker's European Racing Motorcycles. Redline Books. ISBN 978-0-9531311-3-6.
External links[]
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Laurin & Klement vehicles. |
- Biography of company founders (in Czech)
- Brief history with many model images (in Czech)
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|---|---|
| General | |
| National libraries | |
- Cycle manufacturers of the Czech Republic
- Motor vehicle manufacturers of Austria-Hungary
- Motor vehicle manufacturers of Czechoslovakia
- Motorcycle manufacturers of Czechoslovakia
- Škoda
- Vintage vehicles
- Vehicle manufacturing companies established in 1895
- Conglomerate companies established in 1925
- 1895 establishments in Austria-Hungary
- 1925 establishments in Czechoslovakia
- Defunct manufacturing companies of Czechoslovakia