Škoda Auto fills new diesel models at Czech factories with renewable diesel

Škoda Auto announced April 22 that it now uses hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) fuel, also called renewable diesel, as the initial fill for newly manufactured diesel models produced at its Czech factories and for refueling its logistics fleet.

The next-generation biofuel is supplied by the Czech state-owned company Čepro.

This initiative is part of the joint-decarbonization measures being implemented across the company and is designed to significantly reduce the carbon footprint of Škoda Auto’s corporate activities.

In production and logistics, the Czech carmaker aims to achieve carbon-neutral operation at all its plants in the Czech Republic and India by the end of the decade.

“HVO fuel offers up to 90 percent lower net-carbon emissions compared to fossil diesel,” said Karsten Schnake, a Škoda Auto board member. “As the first Volkswagen Group brand to adopt this innovative solution, we are utilizing HVO not only in our passenger vehicles but also for refueling trucks that manage internal logistics at our Czech plants. From August to December 2024, these internal vehicles consumed approximately 46,000 liters of HVO fuel—corresponding to an annual saving of around 300 metric tons of CO2. This initiative marks a significant step towards reducing the carbon footprint of our operations and achieving CO2-neutral production at our manufacturing sites.”

HVO fuel is clear in appearance, practically odorless and has a significantly higher cetane number than fossil diesel (70 compared to 51).

This improves combustion efficiency and helps lower pollutant emissions, particularly particulate matter.

HVO fuel is also free from sulfur, aromatic hydrocarbons and high-boiling-point hydrocarbons.

As a result, it reduces emissions of harmful substances and leads to less frequent regeneration cycles of diesel particulate filters (DPFs).

In older diesel engines, HVO fuel may also contribute to quieter and smoother running.

The fuel can be freely blended with conventional diesel.

All Škoda diesel models from model year 2022 onwards are approved to use HVO fuel.

HVO-approved vehicles are marked with an XTL symbol on the fuel filler cap, while older models can have their compatibility confirmed by authorized Škoda dealers.

HVO fuel and HVO-diesel blends are now widely available across European markets.

Škoda Auto has been working to reduce its environmental footprint and remains committed to achieving carbon neutrality across all production sites in the Czech Republic and India by 2030, with its Vrchlabí plant having already reached carbon neutrality in 2020.

A key milestone is the conversion of the heating plant in Mladá Boleslav, carried out in partnership with Ško-Energo.

Once the plant switches fully to biomass, it will reduce net-CO2 emissions by up to 290,000 tons per year.