• ŠKODA is testing deliveries to boot of your car for online purchases
  • The pilot is starting in the Czech Republic, the home of ŠKODA
  • Parcel couriers are provided with secure access to the car boot
  • Data encryption and stringent access management guarantee security for data transmission and completing the delivery


UK consumers looking for the ultimate convenience could soon be giving their car’s location and number plate as their new delivery address. The car manufacturer’s innovation team, ŠKODA DigiLab, has developed a system whereby the courier will place a parcel delivery directly into the boot of their ŠKODA. The technology required for remote access to the car is currently being tested in the pilot scheme.

The ŠKODA DigiLab was set up by the car manufacturer in 2017 to focus on the next stage of mobility, connectivity and digitalisation solutions for the car industry. DigiLab has partnered with two of the biggest online retailers in the Czech Republic, Alaz.cz and Rohlik.cz, to trial a new delivery scheme with the view to bring the technology to UK consumers in the future.

ŠKODA’s recent strides in in-car connectivity has enabled the brand to bring to fruition the new delivery method, which works by giving the online retailer permission to deliver packages to their car via a mobile app. When an order is placed, the car’s location is displayed to the courier via GPS for delivery. Using the app, the courier is then granted one-time-only, secured access to open the boot within a pre-defined time frame. They then place the parcel in the boot, subsequently relock the vehicle using the app and the customer is notified about the successful delivery. Security is a paramount issue for the scheme; data is encrypted and the parcel courier is restricted to opening the vehicle within a short time frame that is defined by the customer.

Jarmila Plachá, Head of ŠKODA AUTO DigiLab, commented: “This pilot project provides a concrete look ahead at how everyday life can be made even simpler and more convenient in future by using state-of-the-art technology. I’m looking forward to further developing this project together with our partners.”

The service and technology are currently being tested and specifically optimised; the system is going to be trialled for the project partners by a small selection of customers.

ŠKODA AUTO DigiLab is the Czech car manufacturer’s central workshop for developing new mobility services and technology. DigiLab is working with progressive global start-ups, innovative enterprises, universities and innovation centres from all over the world. In 2017, ŠKODA AUTO DigiLab Israel Ltd was founded in Tel Aviv, and has since been looking for further partners in the technology hotspot.