President Pavel will mark the launch of the ROBOT Expedition to EXPO 2025
On Saturday, June 21, 2025, the ROBOT Expedition — a unique journey of Czechoslovak historic vehicles — will ceremonially depart from Hradčany Square, heading all the way to the World EXPO 2025 in Osaka, Japan. The start will take place in the presence of the President of Czechia, Petr Pavel, who will personally launch the convoy of seven vintage vehicles. The ceremonial event will also be attended by ambassadors from several countries the expedition will pass through, including the Japanese Ambassador to Czechia, Mr. Kansuke Nagaoka.
From 8:30 AM, a designated area next to the T.G. Masaryk statue on Hradčany Square will be reserved for the ROBOT Expedition, with the official departure scheduled for 10:10 AM. The event is open to everyone who wants to be part of this exceptional moment.
What to expect at Hradčany Square
The ceremonial start will mark the culmination of nearly a year of preparations, which included numerous technical and administrative arrangements as well as physical tests and trials for the participants and their vehicles. On site, visitors will be able to see historic expedition vehicles from Tatra, Škoda, Toyota, and Ford. Another highlight will be the displayed Tatra 87, used by the famous travelers Zikmund and Hanzelka, on loan from the National Technical Museum’s collection. Visitors will have the chance to meet the expedition participants in person, explore their vehicles, and wish them good luck on their long journey.
A Link to the Past: Inspired by the Sakura Expedition 1970
The ROBOT Expedition directly follows in the footsteps of the Sakura Expedition 1970, during which four young Czechs traveled on foot and by hitchhiking to the first EXPO in Osaka. The patron of the current expedition is Zdeněk Thoma, leader of the original journey:
“Adventure of discovery – seeing, hearing, exploring – that’s what I support just like the ROBOT Expedition. I wish the expedition much success and no problems,” said Thoma, who will symbolically hitch a ride on one of the vehicles and join the ROBOT Expedition for part of its first stage.
The expedition carries the subtitle “Mission of Friendship and Peace among Nations” and aims not only to promote Czech culture and technology but also to symbolically connect history with the future.
Crews and Their Vehicles
At the head of the expedition is Josef Zajíček, founder of the ROBOT watch brand and owner of the Autodrom Most.
“I love Czech vehicles and Czech products. We want to show that Czechia has always had and still has something to offer the world. The ROBOT Expedition is not only a journey but also a message about our participation at the World EXPO in Osaka,” explains Zajíček.
Behind the wheels will be automotive enthusiasts from both Czechia and Slovakia:
- Tatra 603 (1959) – Josef Zajíček a Robin Běhal
- Toyota Celica ST (1977) – Lubomír Pešák a Ivan Uher
- Škoda Octavia (1961) – Ivo Tůma a Radek Toman
- Škoda Octavia (1962) – Alois Krejčí jr. a Alois Krejčí
- Škoda 100 (1973) – Jan Drbohlav a Václav Dědek
- Škoda 120 (1980) – Miroslav Kuchár a Mikuláš Koščo
- Ford Mustang (1966) – Dalibor Šebek a Martin Novotný
A Journey of 16,000 km
The expedition will pass through 12 countries in Europe and Asia, including Turkey, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, China, and South Korea.
“The journey will be challenging not only because of the route but especially due to the tight schedule we have set. In some countries, we will likely have to drive at night because of the heat. Temperatures over 40 degrees Celsius are expected, which the cars couldn’t withstand, so we’ll need to travel when the temperature is still reasonable,” adds Josef Zajíček.
The expedition will be accompanied by a service vehicle operated by experienced mechanics Valdemar Vašenda and Martin Haša. The vintage cars are expected to arrive at their destination—the exhibition grounds on Yumeshima Island in Osaka Bay and the Czech National Pavilion at EXPO 2025 in Osaka—around July 21.
Ondřej Soška, General Commissioner of Czechia’s participation at EXPO 2025, considers the expedition an important part of Czechia’s presentation:
“The expedition symbolizes not only technical skill and endurance but also values such as friendship, solidarity, and cooperation among nations. These are values that are very important in today’s world and should continue to be the foundation of our society. Additionally, Czechia is a significant player in the automotive industry. Its importance is evident not only in the number of cars produced but also in exports and employment. The automotive industry represents a major part of the Czech economy, accounting for around 9% of GDP and nearly a quarter of industrial activity,” explains Soška.
Follow the Expedition Online
Fans will be able to follow the journey of the Czech vintage cars to Osaka not only on social media but also on the website www.czecholdtimerexpress.cz/expedice-osaka, where thanks to vehicle tracking technology from Commander, the expedition will share its real-time location.
Be part of it! Come to Hradčany Square on June 21 and experience the start of the expedition that connects continents, generations, and ideals.