Skoda May Outsource Some Services

Volkswagen AG's Skoda brand tells Automotive News Europe it may turn to outside vendors to supply at least some of the company's noncore services.

One example would be shipping and transport operations, which the Czech company currently handles with its own staff, according to a spokesman. He says the company also could outsource such activities as plant security.

Skoda's review is part of High Performance Operation, an internal program launched in 2014 to make the company's activities more efficient and agile. The effort is not a cost-cutting initiative, according to the company. It notes the program could increase some costs and is likely to expand rather than reduce the size of the company's workforce.