Škoda Group has completed production on the first of its new Škoda ForCity Plus 52T trams, giving the vehicle its first ride on a test track at a production site in Pilsen.
The tram, which is one of 40 units destined for Prague by 2026, was approved in May 2024, with development and production on the vehicle handled by over 230 separate suppliers.

With production finalised, the first unit is set to arrive in Prague this April, where it will be subjected to test runs without passengers as part of the homologation process.
Following the unveiling of the first unit, Škoda Group has stated that a further two units are nearing completion, and will subsequently be tested on the same track in Pilsen in the coming weeks before being transported to Prague.
The Homologation process will include the calibration of the units’ anti-collision system, as well as general unit tests.
Zdeněk Hřib, 1st Deputy Mayor for Transport and Chairman of the Prague Public Transit Company Supervisory Board, said:The first new tram 52T is already here! This is a significant milestone because after almost 20 years, Prague is getting a completely new type of tram. The super-modern low-floor Škoda ForCity Plus 52T trams will offer air conditioning, quiet operation and an advanced anti-collision system. By the end of the year, the first 20 of these top-of-the-range vehicles will arrive, and within a few years, the total number could reach 200.
We have started an unprecedented tram boom in Prague. New lines are growing like mushrooms after rain in the capital, which is why it is necessary to expand the tram fleet substantially. In the next two years, we will launch several new lines, for example to Malešice, Strahov, Nové Dvory, Žižkov, or the Museum, where we will build on the already implemented line on Wenceslas Square. In short, trams are a symbol of modern and ecological transport, making Prague a cleaner and more pleasant city to live in.
December 2023 saw a framework contract signed between both the Prague Public Transit Company and Škoda Group which will see the latter deliver up to 200 Škoda ForCity Plus 52T trams for the operator in total.
Each tram is designed to be a 100% low-floor vehicle, measuring in at 31.99 metres in length and 2.5 metres in width. They are capable of carrying up to 243 passengers with 5 occupants per square metre, and come equipped with a total of 70 seats.
Petr Novotný, CEO of Škoda Group, said:Supplying trams for the capital of our country is not only a great honour for us, but also a great responsibility. This project brings stability and employment opportunities to thousands of people across the industry in the Czech Republic. We believe that the new tram will not only be a symbol of technological sophistication, but also of the ingenuity and commitment of all those involved in its development.