An Icelandic sheep farmer who drove his first-generation Škoda Octavia past an extraordinary milestone — over one million kilometres. How did he do it, and what can the rest of us learn?
After contacting a Škoda dealer in Iceland, Jómundur watched his Octavia’s odometer reach the limit: it displayed six nines in a row (999,999 km) — not designed for seven digits — but the achievement was undeniable.
Powered by a 2.0-litre petrol engine, the car entered family service in 2003 with his wife and became Jómundur’s work vehicle in 2007. It covered daily trips between home and the sheep farm in Borgarfjörður and longer journeys around Iceland — including a 1,000 km run to the Westfjords.
“I’ve been to many parts of Iceland. I definitely recommend stopping by the Dynjandi waterfall.”
“It was my first Škoda. I’d had several cars before, but none with such low running costs and reliability. Using it for farm work showed me what an amazing machine it is,” says Jómundur.
“Routine maintenance and driving style matter,” he explains. Technical issues were rare — the Octavia just kept going.
Iceland’s climate, gravel roads, and occasional sheep-transport didn’t spare the car — yet it still retains its original engine, transmission, and clutch.
Key to longevity? Respect the machine and fix small issues before they grow.
Official dealer Hekla has operated since 1998. The line-up includes Kamiq, Octavia, Superb, Kodiaq, and fully electric Elroq and Enyaq. The Kodiaq and Enyaq are most popular, with a strong preference for all-wheel drive.
“It was an incredible moment. People told me to trade it in, but I always knew it would make a million.”
Jómundur now drives a new Škoda Octavia, staying loyal to the model. The million-kilometre Octavia will continue its journey as a training vehicle for an automotive engineering programme at a Reykjavík high school.
