ŠKODA Transportation has acquired Czech tram, trolleybus and bus manufacturer Ekova Electric from Dopravní Podník Ostrava (DPO), the public transport operator of the Czech city of Ostrava, for a reported Koruna 320m ($US 14.9m).
Ekova Electric has been rebranded as Škoda Ekova. Ekova Electric was founded as a subsidiary of the Dopravni Podnik Ostrava in 2011 and has about 200 employees. Mr Miroslav Mareš continues as CEO and chairman of the Board of Directors. Mr Martin Bednarz, CEO of Škoda Vagonka, has been appointed as deputy chairman of the Board, while Mr Marek Herbst from Škoda Transportation Group has become vice-president for service.
Škoda Ekova focuses on servicing, modernising and repairing urban rail and other public transport vehicles. The company will maintain its close relationship with DPO by continuing to manufacture trams for Ostrava as well as for external customers.
Škoda Transportation says it will expand the firm’s technological competencies and production capacity and plans for the company to work closely with its nearby subsidiaries Škoda Vagonka and Škoda Digital, enlarging the technology center and production capacity.
Ekova Electric manufacturers Vario LF trams and has worked on regauging and tram modernisation projects for Liberec and Prague. The company has also modernised 18 type M32 trams for Gothenburg.
