President Welcomes Robot Expedition to EXPO in Osaka, One Month After Launching It at Prague Castle
During the Czech National Day at the EXPO 2025 World Exhibition in Osaka, President Petr Pavel personally visited the now-legendary vehicles of the ROBOT Expedition. It was he who ceremonially launched the expedition more than a month ago at Hradčanské Square in Prague. The ceremony in Japan was attended by the entire Czech delegation, dozens of journalists, and prominent guests, including Japanese Princess Takamado.
“Almost unbelievable has become a reality! When we started in Prague, I sincerely wished for all of us to meet again in full at the Expo in Osaka. But there were so many obstacles along the way… A fantastic achievement! Congratulations and thank you for representing our country and our neighbors,” President Petr Pavel wrote in the expedition’s journal after meeting the team.
On June 21, seven Czech and Slovak crews of vintage vehicles set out from Prague on a journey across continents aiming to reach the world exhibition EXPO 2025. “We covered 14,200 kilometers, visited 11 countries, traveled for 30 days — and finally, here we are. The Robot Expedition has reached its goal!” said Josef Zajíček, who led the expedition in a Tatra 603.
“We first discussed the Robot Expedition with Mr. Zajíček more than a year ago when we started making plans. I’m very glad everything was successfully realized, and all crews arrived safely in Osaka for Czech National Day on July 24, 2025. We negotiated a strategic location with the EXPO 2025 organizers near the entrance gate. Over two days, tens of thousands of visitors saw the exhibited cars. The Robot Expedition perfectly complements the significance of world exhibitions — friendship among nations and their cooperation. It also enriched our national day program tremendously, and for that, they deserve a big thanks,” said Ondřej Soška, General Commissioner of the Czech participation at EXPO 2025.
The expedition was conceptually inspired by the Sakura expedition from 1970, when four Czech travelers hitchhiked and walked to the then-EXPO in Osaka. Its leader, Zdeněk Thoma, is now one of the patrons of the ROBOT Expedition project. “When Mr. Zajíček approached me and introduced the project of the journey of Czech vintage cars to Japan, I was thrilled. I believed such an expedition made sense — just like ours did in 1970. The Robot Expedition showed that adventure, friendship, and the desire to explore the world are still alive. And that even today, they can bring people together,” said Thoma.
Škoda, Toyota, and Ford on the Road
Seven vintage vehicles set out for Japan, and all successfully reached their destination. The Mladá Boleslav brand Škoda was dominant: a 1962 Octavia driven by Alois Krejčí Sr. and Jr., and another Octavia driven by Ivo Tůma and Radek Toman both arrived safely in Osaka. Czech classics were also represented by a Škoda 100 driven by Jan Drbohlav and Václav Dědek, and a Škoda 120 driven by Slovak crew Miroslav Kuchár and Mikuláš Koščo. Adding an international touch were a Japanese Toyota Celica ST (Lubomír Pešák, Ivan Uher) and a 1966 American Ford Mustang (Dalibor Šebek, Martin Novotný).
“An absolutely essential part of the Robot Expedition was the service team, consisting of Valdemar Vašenda and Martin Haša. The mechanics had a lot of work along the way. Without their skill and experience, at least two of the sixty-year-old cars wouldn’t have made it to the finish,” praised automotive journalist and expedition member Robin Běhal.
The Czechoslovak Expedition Watched by the World
The crews arrived in Osaka on July 21 — exactly one month after departure. However, due to a national holiday, the travelers had to continue on foot after disembarking from Korea, as their cars remained in the port overnight for customs clearance.
On Tuesday, July 22, they collected their vehicles and headed to the Czech Pavilion at EXPO 2025. They parked the cars in the designated lot and moved to the Czech House, where they were welcomed by Petr Brož, operator of the Czech restaurant at the Expo, who toasted their successful transcontinental journey with Pilsner beer.
A Bittersweet Ending
“I’ve reached the finish, but I have a tight feeling in my stomach. Excitement was quickly replaced by sadness that our expedition is coming to an end. It was an amazing experience I will never forget,” says Jan Drbohlav. Miroslav Kuchár shared similarly emotional feelings, describing the Robot Expedition as a life-changing journey — full of challenges, but also joy and gratitude.
The expedition overcame obstacles that would have discouraged many. The crews managed to cross the border between Georgia and Azerbaijan, closed to personal vehicles since 2020. The vintage cars survived extreme conditions in Kazakhstan and carried the team through the heavily guarded Chinese province of Xinjiang, normally off-limits to tourists. They then reached the Great Wall of China and the Czech Embassy in central Beijing.
A major success was also including South Korea among the 11 countries traveled, despite the peninsula’s very strict regulations that worked against the Robot Expedition. Thanks to the hard work of Jana Svobodová and other members of the support team, all legal hurdles were overcome — though at the cost of the service vehicle, which was not allowed to enter South Korean territory.
A Symbol of Czechoslovak Perseverance
The mission’s highlight is the opportunity to exhibit all seven expedition vehicles at the EXPO 2025 world exhibition, where they can be admired by visitors from around the globe. “I’m incredibly glad we succeeded. It was a long journey during which we had to overcome many obstacles. Now we stand here at the Expo — and I can hardly believe my eyes. I’m proud of the entire organizing team, all crews, and the mechanics. It was a team effort where everyone played an important role,” says Robin Běhal.
How the Expedition Leader Sees It
“Arriving with vintage cars from Prague all the way to the Czech Pavilion at the EXPO is a great moment for us — and a relief as well. We proved that even with 50-year-old cars, it’s possible to cover 14,200 kilometers across continents. And that when we do something properly — whether it’s an engine or a watch — it can withstand even the toughest test.
But this journey wasn’t just about cars. It was mostly about people. About the team that had each other’s backs, about the mechanics who worked miracles on the spot, and about partners without whom we might not have even started. They all deserve a big thank you. It was a ride — and we’re at its symbolic peak now,” concludes Josef Zajíček, head of the ROBOT Expedition.
In the following days, the expedition vehicles will be loaded onto ships for the long journey back to Europe. The crews will return to Czechia by plane — their arrival is scheduled for Sunday, July 27.