Photo: Volkswagen
Volkswagen has launched its newly transformed production facility in Emden, Germany, as detailed in a press release on Friday.
The plant marks what Volkswagen calls the biggest transformation project in the plant’s history, sparking a gradual conversion from internal combustion engine (ICE) production to 100 percent electric mobility.
Volkswagen plans to build its all-electric ID.4 at the facility, and the vehicle is set to begin rolling off the production line as soon as Friday.
VW CEO Rides in First ID. Buzz Autonomous Test Drive [VIDEO] https://t.co/0vT8ZoVcnR
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The factory, set to employ 8,000 workers, will see investment from Volkswagen of 21 billion euros ($22.18 billion USD) through 2026.
Volkswagen CEO Ralf Brandstätter says Germany’s Lower Saxony is set to become the automaker’s hub for electric mobility.
Brandstätter said, “With our clear commitment to the site, we aim to show that cost-effectiveness and competitiveness are not only possible in the region, but that we can even enhance them lastingly.” Brandstätter added, “Volkswagen is making Lower Saxony, where we have 130,000 employees, Germany’s center for electric mobility.”
Volkswagen expects to build as many as 1.2 million EVs per year at its facilities in Europe, China and the U.S.
The second EV production site in Germany is at Zwickau. Other EV plants are in Anting and Foshan in China, with Chattanooga (USA) and Hanover set to start production in 2022.
But for now, Emden’s maximum production capacity at the end of this year will be 800 ID.4 units per day, depending on supply chain headwinds, says Volkswagen.
Volkswagen also opened up pre-orders for its ID Buzz electric van for customers in Europe on Friday, starting at a price of 64,581 euros ($68,213 USD).
