Škoda Group Secures Record €1.8 Billion in 2025 Orders

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Škoda Group has reported the strongest commercial year in its modern history, securing nearly 1.8 billion euros in new orders for 2025 as European demand for rail, tram and trolleybus fleets accelerates.

Record Order Book Signals Renewed Growth

Publicly available information from Škoda Group shows that the company’s order intake for 2025 reached approximately 1.8 billion euros, the highest annual volume of new contracts the rolling stock and transport technology manufacturer has ever recorded. The result follows a period of restructuring and operational stabilisation and is being presented internally as a clear return to a growth trajectory.

The group, headquartered in Plzeň and focused on rail vehicles, trams, trolleybuses and related components, describes 2025 as the first year in which earlier efficiency measures and stricter project management were fully reflected in its financial performance. Reports indicate that EBITDA more than doubled compared with 2024, rising to around 143 million euros, suggesting that the surge in new business is translating into stronger underlying profitability.

Company materials highlight that the 2025 figures represent not only a rebound from earlier pressures in the supply chain and energy markets, but also the second strongest business performance since 2019 when measured by revenue and earnings. The record order book is therefore being viewed as a key milestone in consolidating Škoda Group’s position in the European rail and urban mobility supply market.

Key Contracts in Rail, Trams and Trolleybuses

The nearly 1.8 billion euros in new orders is spread across multiple product lines, with rail vehicles and light rail systems at the core. Industry coverage notes that Škoda Group has continued to build on earlier contracts such as battery multiple units for Czech national operator České dráhy and electric trainsets for Bulgaria, along with options for tram fleets in Brno and Tampere. The 2025 order book is understood to extend this pattern, with a mix of domestic and export deals.

Trolleybuses and urban transit solutions remain an important driver. In recent years the company has supplied vehicles to major Czech cities and to a number of Central European networks, and reports indicate that follow-on orders and service agreements have continued into 2025. These contracts are typically structured to include long-term maintenance and upgrades, helping to underpin revenue visibility beyond initial deliveries.

Components have become another area of focus. According to Škoda Group’s own summaries, 2025 saw the company secure its first external order for a proprietary battery system for rail vehicles, alongside the development of a new battery pack concept for battery electric multiple units. Additional component contracts, valued in the billions of Czech crowns, are intended to position the group not only as a vehicle supplier but also as a technology partner for other manufacturers and operators.

Central Europe at the Core, Exports Expanding

The record order intake is closely tied to Škoda Group’s strong presence in its home Czech and Slovak markets. Public information shows that this core region still accounts for roughly one-third of the company’s revenues, and it continues to serve as a reference base for new vehicle platforms and technologies. Major tenders for regional trains, trams and trolleybuses in these markets remain central to the company’s pipeline.

At the same time, strategy statements released by the group emphasise systematic expansion across Central and Eastern Europe. Markets such as Germany and Poland are being prioritised for both rail and tram projects, while newer contracts and framework agreements in countries including Romania, Serbia and France are broadening the export footprint. The 2025 order volume reflects this geographical diversification, with a growing proportion of projects located outside the Czech-Slovak base.

Analysts following the European rail sector note that this mix of domestic and export business can help smooth cyclical swings in national infrastructure spending. As European Union funding streams encourage investment in low-emission urban and regional transport, suppliers with established references in multiple member states are seen as better positioned to capture new tenders. Škoda Group’s 2025 performance is therefore being interpreted as a sign that it is consolidating its role among mid-sized continental manufacturers.

Financial Turnaround and Operational Efficiency

The sharp rise in new orders coincides with a notable improvement in Škoda Group’s financial indicators. According to company disclosures summarising 2025 performance, EBITDA more than doubled from the previous year to roughly 143 million euros, building on a 2024 result that had already rebounded to around 62 million euros after earlier challenges. The improvement has been linked to stricter cost control, better project selection and the completion of loss-making legacy contracts.

Industry reports describe 2025 as a year in which previously implemented restructuring steps, including streamlined production processes and more disciplined contract management, began to deliver visible results. Higher capacity utilisation at production sites, combined with a focus on standardised platforms and modular components, is seen as having contributed to improved margins even as the company ramped up deliveries.

Rail sector observers also point out that the order surge has strategic implications for future earnings. A larger backlog of vehicles and components to be delivered over several years provides a buffer against short-term fluctuations in tender activity. Provided that execution risks are managed and input costs remain under control, the 2025 order book could support a more stable earnings profile and investment in new technologies.

Implications for Europe’s Sustainable Mobility Push

Škoda Group’s record orders in 2025 are unfolding against a wider backdrop of European efforts to shift passengers from road to rail and to modernise urban transport networks. National and regional authorities across the continent are prioritising low-emission mobility projects, with an emphasis on electrified rail lines, light rail systems and trolleybus corridors. The spike in demand for Škoda’s trains, trams and electric buses reflects this policy environment.

Travel and transport analysts note that renewed investment in rolling stock is particularly visible in Central and Eastern Europe, where ageing fleets are being replaced with modern, more energy-efficient vehicles. For cities and regions seeking to attract visitors and support tourism, reliable and comfortable public transport is increasingly viewed as part of the overall destination experience. Upgraded rail hubs, low-floor trams and quiet electric trolleybuses can enhance both daily commuting and leisure travel.

Škoda Group’s growing role in supplying this equipment suggests that passengers across several European countries are likely to encounter its vehicles more frequently in the coming years. From regional trains serving cross-border routes to trams running through historic city centres, the company’s expanded order book points to a broader presence on the continent’s rail and streetcar networks. For travelers, the 2025 figures hint at a future in which more journeys within Europe are made on new-generation vehicles produced in Plzeň and neighbouring manufacturing hubs.