Skoda has started assembling vehicles at its first Russian plant in Kaluga, which will host production for the Mk1 and Mk II Octavias.

The new Fabia will also be built at Kaluga, but only models for the Russian market.

The Russian plant will account for 40% of Skoda's worldwide production output, with a total capacity of 150,000. Skoda has employed 3,000 people at the plant.

Reinhard Jung, Skoda chairman, said: “Opening our first production plant in Russia is a milestone in Skoda Auto's expansion to eastern markets; because the region is growing very dynamically and we look at it with high hopes as far as the future of Škoda Auto is concerned.”

Jung said the key factor for choosing Russia as the newest location for a production centre was due to the country’s capital contributing the biggest portion of the sales volume, which is less than 200km away from Kaluga. Skoda has sold 27,000 vehicles in Russia so far this year.