What does it take to be one of the auto industry’s celebrated and thriving carmakers? You can ask Skoda of the Czech Republic. By the end of 2008, Skoda saw a sales growth of a little over 7 percent evidenced by a record number of nearly 675,000 vehicles sold. At a time when people have been tentative about purchasing cars because of alarmingly unstable fuel costs and, now, the international recession, the latest news from the world of Skoda couldn’t be more welcome.

It has been announced that the Skoda Superb has been named 2009’s Czech Republic Car of the Year, as decided by a jury and the voting public. Is this encouraging news any more than that? This economy has everyone worried and the auto industry has been taking a particularly big hit. This year, perhaps people are deciding to opt for repairs and the thought of holding onto their cars for a little longer seems more practical. Perhaps people are looking for the smallest, most fuel efficient, least expensive cars.

These are viable projections for the days ahead. But, despite all of these trends brought on by the struggling economy, Skoda is in a position to think positively. After all, the car industry showed signs of weakness much earlier than this and, in 2008, when things were devastatingly slow for many other brands forcing plant closings and lay-offs, Skoda was reporting a growth of more than 30 percent in Eastern Europe and showed a massive increase of sales for cars exported to China and to India.

Skoda is not resting on its laurels or riding the numbers to any delusions of a smooth ride ahead. They are doing some cost-cutting and are engaged in some temporary halts in production. But, perhaps the world will always need cars. And, with Skoda’s drive and ambition, not to mention desirable design, they might just be the carmaker you’ll want to take for a spin in the future.