Jessica BirdŠkoda Auto has reinforced its commitment to diversity and inclusion by serving as main partner of this year’s Prague Pride Festival, supporting LGBTQ+ rights through a programme of visible engagement and internal initiatives.
More than 100 employees and partners took part in the 15th edition of the festival, which ran from 28th July to 4th August.
This marked the carmaker’s fourth consecutive year supporting the event and its first as lead sponsor.
The all-electric Elroq Respectline – a rainbow-themed show car designed to celebrate mutual respect and inclusion – was on display on a floating pontoon on Prague’s River Vltava throughout the week and later joined the festival’s closing parade.
The vehicle was created as part of European Diversity Month in May and has become a symbol of Škoda’s diversity agenda.
Škoda’s presence at the festival included a dedicated event stand showcasing its inclusion initiatives and vehicle range.
Employees were joined by representatives from 42 Prague, Digiteq Automotive and Škoda Auto University, as well as members of the company’s internal LGBTQ+ network, Škoda Proud.
This year’s Pride theme – ‘Where is my home?’ – invited reflection on belonging, safety and acceptance.
Škoda Board Member for Procurement, Karsten Schnake, attended to show support for the brand’s inclusion work and its employee-led activities.
In June, Škoda Auto was recognised with the Pride Business Forum’s Award in Bronze category for LGBTQ+ Friendly Employer.
Judges praised the company’s well-balanced performance across inclusion metrics and the contributions of Škoda Proud.
In its most recent independent ESG evaluation, the firm achieved a DEI score of 94%.
Further details are outlined in Škoda’s Diversity Annual Report, published in May.
