Vojt\u011bch:<\/b> And I decided to go for it. I was still in secondary school, but I had been working part-time at the company since I was fifteen. Over time, I went through every stage \u2013 from the workshop all the way to management. So I knew exactly what I was getting into.<\/span><\/p>\n What enabled you to build a comprehensive development and testing centre capable of competing with established European players?<\/b><\/p>\n Petr:<\/b> It was a step-by-step process. But everything is built on one simple thing \u2013 we genuinely enjoy what we do. And when you enjoy something, you do it wholeheartedly and with enthusiasm \u2013 and that shows. One of our advantages, compared to large corporations, is that we can make decisions quickly. Another key factor was finding people who think like we do and put their hearts into their work. Our success also came from the fact that we reinvested all our profits back into the company.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cEverything is built on the fact that we simply enjoy what we do. And when you enjoy something, you do it wholeheartedly and with enthusiasm \u2013 and that shows.\u201d<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n One of your biggest milestones was building your own <\/b>AUREL Test Proving Ground.<\/b><\/a> What led you to that decision? And has it met your expectations?<\/b><\/p>\n Petr:<\/b> We had trouble getting access to external test tracks as often as we needed. So we decided to build our own. There are basically only two private test proving grounds in the Czech Republic \u2013 the rest are more like racing circuits, while a true testing proving ground has very strict technical requirements. We received a grant, but the budget ended up exceeding the planned amount, so we had to finance the project ourselves, which was quite challenging. Still, we\u2019re very satisfied \u2013 it turned out really well. We can test practically anything, and the proving ground has also elevated AUREL\u2019s reputation, <\/span>from being a purely technical company to becoming a respected partner<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n The Proving Ground offers a unique combination of testing surfaces. How does it help you respond to trends such as electromobility and autonomous driving?<\/b><\/p>\n Vojt\u011bch:<\/b> To keep up with developments in the automotive industry, having our own test proving ground is absolutely essential. Its versatility allows us to adapt to current trends. The proving ground provides excellent conditions for the<\/span> dynamic growth of electromobility<\/span><\/a> and autonomous systems and enables us to create highly specific scenarios and tests tailored precisely to the customer\u2019s needs. We have obstacles and features you won\u2019t find elsewhere \u2013 for example, a water channel, a skid surface, an inclined ramp with a steep slope, a washboard, or Belgian paving.<\/span><\/p>\n Why should a German OEM or Tier 1 supplier choose AUREL for testing and development instead of an established centre in Germany?<\/b><\/p>\n Vojt\u011bch:<\/b> Our major advantage is location \u2013 we\u2019re just a short distance from the border and only twenty kilometres from one of Europe\u2019s key OEMs. Along with that, we offer flexibility and a highly individual approach. German partners also value our reliability and trustworthiness, which is opening doors for us in new markets.<\/span><\/p>\n Petr:<\/b> I\u2019d add the comprehensiveness of our services. We started out as technicians who built their own test proving ground, and that\u2019s a big advantage. We can support customers from specification and design all the way to evaluation because we truly understand the technology. We provide a complete turnkey service, from A to Z, and we can handle it even without a precise brief. If something needs to be adjusted, we simply do it \u2013 and that\u2019s not something every company can do, or is willing to do.<\/span><\/p>\n And what about the digital twin of the AUREL Proving Ground that you\u2019re developing?<\/b><\/p>\n Vojt\u011bch:<\/b> For example, autonomous driving requires thousands of tests \u2013 and that\u2019s only possible to achieve virtually. <\/span>The digital twin<\/span><\/a> first tests scenarios in virtual reality and then identifies the critical ones, which we verify physically. We\u2019re also planning to combine physical and virtual testing \u2013 the so-called <\/span>Vehicle-in-the-Loop<\/span><\/i> method. In this setup, the car drives on the proving ground while we virtually simulate various conditions such as rain, snow, wind, or darkness. These innovative methods save car manufacturers a great deal of time and money, while ensuring that we remain at the forefront of technology.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cAt the AUREL Proving Ground, we can test practically anything. We also feel that it has elevated the company\u2019s reputation \u2013 from a purely technical business to a respected partner.\u201d<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n AUREL is also expanding into industries beyond automotive. What motivates this move?<\/b><\/p>\n Vojt\u011bch:<\/b> The main motivation is diversification. The <\/span>know-how we\u2019ve gained from the automotive<\/span><\/a> sector can be applied very effectively in other fields as well. Moreover, we\u2019re well-trained, car manufacturers impose extremely strict requirements and demand a high level of discipline. Thanks to our many years of experience, we have a strong chance of succeeding elsewhere too. For example, our <\/span>ForeScan3D<\/span><\/a> technology for precise measurement and scanning, originally developed for forensic science, has applications across a variety of industrial sectors.<\/span><\/p>\n Very few companies have the privilege of being founded and developed by a father and son, and for twenty years at that. How do you manage to combine the founder\u2019s vision with the perspective and energy of a new generation?<\/b><\/p>\n Petr:<\/b> Both the company and our relationship have evolved over time. In the beginning, things were quite \u201cpunk\u201d. Vojta was still at university but was already actively involved in the business. At first, we had to align our approaches, but we made it work, and now we cooperate really well. If I didn\u2019t have a successor, AUREL would look completely different today. For example, I wouldn\u2019t have taken on building the new branch in Nymburk without Vojta. Also, AUREL has become almost a full family enterprise \u2013 my wife manages sales and marketing, my daughter has just joined after finishing university, and my younger son is studying a field at \u010cVUT that will be useful for the company. Everyone has found their own role here, and together, it works perfectly.<\/span><\/p>\n Do your views on company management differ? And how do you reach agreement in challenging situations?<\/b><\/p>\n Petr:<\/b> After so many years, we don\u2019t really have difficult situations anymore. We\u2019ve found our rhythm, and each of us has a clear role. I leave the day-to-day operations to Vojta and don\u2019t interfere \u2013 even if I might sometimes do things differently. That allows me to focus on innovation, which is what I truly enjoy. I\u2019m more of a visionary and an idea guy. I come up with concepts but don\u2019t always see them through to the end. Vojta is the realist and keeps an eye on the finances and ensures the company runs smoothly. He reins me in when needed, but in a sensible way. That balance is what makes it work.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m a visionary and an idea guy who comes up with concepts but doesn\u2019t always finish them. Vojta is the realist who manages finances and the company\u2019s operations \u2014 and that\u2019s why it works.\u201d<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n AUREL is part of Colegium Holding, which also includes APP, EAP, LENAM, AUREL Logistic, Colegium Reality, and Colegium Servis. What inspired the creation of the holding?<\/b> How does being part of the holding help you when working with global clients?<\/b><\/p>\n Vojt\u011bch:<\/b> The holding is a major advantage, especially abroad. It strengthens the credibility of all the companies. They support each other\u2019s reputation. For instance, when we\u2019re negotiating a contract for APP and present what AUREL and the Proving Ground are capable of, it significantly benefits both companies.<\/span><\/p>\n Petr:<\/b> I\u2019d add that the AUREL Proving Ground has a very unique aspect \u2013 we built it entirely with our own funds, with only minimal state support. When we visited test proving grounds in the U.S. and Spain, we earned tremendous respect for that. Abroad, such projects are usually financed almost entirely from public funds.<\/span><\/p>\n On your website, you say: \u201cWe love cars, but above all, we love people.\u201d How does that philosophy show in practice?<\/b><\/p>\n Petr:<\/b> You can\u2019t achieve anything without people \u2013 a company is only as strong as the people behind it. If you want to grow a business, the most important thing is who you surround yourself with. Without reliable people, you have no foundation for growth. And we\u2019ve been very lucky with our team. Our <\/span>COO, Michal Mrkvi\u010dka,<\/span><\/a> was actually AUREL\u2019s very first employee and he\u2019s still with us today. From the very beginning, he shared the same values, drive, and direction as we did. Without our partner Petr Linhart at APP, we would also be in a very different place. And there are more people like them. In the early days, we knew everyone in production and development personally \u2013 which, with more than 550 employees across the group today, unfortunately isn\u2019t possible anymore. But we still organise events where we talk to anyone who wants to talk to us; we care about their opinions. <\/span>For me, people are the single most important factor in a company.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n Imagine we\u2019re meeting again twenty years from now to celebrate AUREL\u2019s 40th anniversary. :-) What would you like AUREL to look like by then?<\/b><\/p>\n Petr:<\/b> The most important thing is that our family relationships remain strong. I\u2019d like our children to be able to run the company together. And get along while doing it.<\/span><\/p>\n Vojt\u011bch:<\/b> I\u2019d like AUREL to be abroad where it is now in the Czech Republic \u2013 at least across Europe.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThe most important thing is to keep family relationships strong.\u201d<\/i><\/b> When Petr \u0160im\u00e1k decided to buy a degreasing line in 2004, he had no idea he was laying the foundation for what would become AUREL. This [\u2026]<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":11,"featured_media":2725,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[21],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2753","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.aurelcz.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2753","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.aurelcz.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.aurelcz.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.aurelcz.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/11"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.aurelcz.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2753"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.aurelcz.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2753\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2869,"href":"https:\/\/www.aurelcz.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2753\/revisions\/2869"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.aurelcz.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2725"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.aurelcz.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2753"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.aurelcz.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2753"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.aurelcz.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2753"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.aurelcz.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/359-libordusekcz-aurel-18-4-2025-1024x683.jpg\")
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\n<\/span>Vojt\u011bch:<\/b> Once we had multiple business activities, it made sense to bring them all under one umbrella. The holding allows us to manage the companies more efficiently, share services, and support each other across different areas. At the same time, each company retains a high level of autonomy and responsibility for its own operations. The holding structure gives us greater strength when dealing with banks, clients, and authorities, and it also enables us to support new projects or launch additional companies with a solid backing. But we never want to become a corporation.<\/span><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.aurelcz.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/colegiumholding-1024x549.jpg\")
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\n<\/i><\/b>\u201cWhere AUREL stands in the Czech Republic today, may it stand abroad \u2014 at least across Europe \u2014 twenty years from now.\u201d<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"