The Skoda Fabia number five million recently rolled off the production line in Mladá Boleslav, Czech Republic. Since 1999, this affordable entry-level model, alongside the Octavia, has marked a fundamental milestone in the modern history of the brand.
The first generation of the Fabia was built on a completely new platform from the VW Group and stood out as one of the most spacious cars in its class, combining practicality with excellent value for money and a range of Simply Clever features.
This winning formula made the Fabia a success in Europe and other countries. The current fourth generation features modern, economical combustion engines and advanced safety systems. Given its enduring popularity and importance to the brand, production of the current Fabia will continue beyond 2030.
“Reaching the milestone of five million units of the Skoda Fabia is truly an exceptional achievement – both for our production team and for the company as a whole. Launched in 1999 as the second all-new model developed under the VW Group, the Fabia quickly became a symbol of the brand and a cornerstone of our lineup,” said Andreas Dick, member of the Board of Management of Skoda Auto.
First generation of the Skoda Fabia (1999 – 2008)
The Skoda Fabia stood out on September 14, 1999, among the main debuts at the 58th Frankfurt Motor Show. Launched as a five-door hatchback measuring 3.96 meters in length, the Fabia was the successor to the Skoda Felicia. Less than a year after its launch, a wagon version was introduced, and in 2001, a sedan version went into production. The design of the first generation Fabia was developed by a team of around twenty designers, led by the then head of design for the Czech brand, Dirk van Braeckel. Built on the PQ24 platform for small cars, the first generation Fabia offered a wide range of engine options. In March 2003, the sporty RS version was launched, equipped with a 1.9 TDI turbo diesel engine producing 130 hp, providing a combination of performance, dynamics, and fuel efficiency.
Second generation of the Skoda Fabia (2007 – 2014)
The second generation of the Fabia was unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show in March 2007. Although based on the same platform as the first generation, the new model featured a slight increase in height (+47 mm) and length (+22 mm).
In September 2007, a more practical wagon version was launched. Two years later, Skoda decided to expand the range with the introduction of the Scout variant and the sporty RS version, equipped with a 1.4 TSI turbo gasoline engine producing 180 hp. This generation also marked the debut of the popular Monte Carlo edition.
Third generation of the Skoda Fabia (2014 – 2022)
The Paris Motor Show in October 2014 was the stage for the public presentation of the third generation of the Fabia. Utilizing the modern PQ26 platform, the model adopted sharper and more dynamic lines, being 90 mm wider and 30 mm lower than its predecessor. Significant improvements in safety and comfort were introduced, including Front Assist, adaptive cruise control, and a driver fatigue monitoring system. The mid-cycle refresh for this third generation appeared in 2018, with the brand equipping the Fabia with new technologies, such as full LED headlights and blind spot monitoring.
Fourth generation of the Skoda Fabia (2021 – present)
The current generation of the Fabia was launched in the spring of 2021 as a five-door hatchback, built on the MQB A0 platform. The design was created by a team led by Skoda’s Head of Design, Oliver Stefani. The fourth generation exceeds 4.1 meters in length, and the trunk space has increased to 380 liters, 50 liters more than the previous generation. The vehicle is equipped with top-of-the-line features, such as Travel Assist 2.0, Automatic Parking, Lane Assist, Traffic Sign Recognition, Side Assist for lane changes, and Front Assist with predictive protection for pedestrians and cyclists.
