Volkswagen has just announced that they intend to convert three German factories for the production of future electric cars as they push towards electrification.
Following the Volkswagen emissions scandal of 2015 in which U.S. regulators caught Volkswagen deliberately cheating clean air tests, the German automaker drastically shifted strategies and began mass-producing zero-emission vehicles in an attempt to save face. In recent years, Volkswagen has made it their mission to produce as many top of the line electric vehicles as possible, and have even gone out of their way to publicly challenge fellow electric vehicle manufactures.
To further their electrification plans, Volkswagen has began converting German plants into fully electric factories for the production of future electric cars.
The Zwickau plant in eastern Germany will be the first plant to be converted. According to Volkswagen, the Zwickau plant is expected to produce 1,500 vehicles daily by 2020. Approximately 7,700 employees are currently being trained at the plant to assemble the Volkswagen ID, the first vehicle to be utilize the company’s new MEB electric car platform.
The plant in Emden, which currently produces the Volkswagen Passat, is projected to begin building future electric cars by the year 2022. Volkswagen added that their Hanover plant will continue to produce combustion-engine vehicles alongside future electric models.
Volkswagen HR Board Member Gunnar Kilian commented on the recent electrification announcement, stating:
“We are moving at full speed into the production of electric vehicles. Emden and Hanover are to be further model plants in Germany. Together with Zwickau, they will form the largest network for the production of electric vehicles in Europe.”
By converting existing plants, Volkswagen has provided job security for employees at the Emden and Hanover factories until 2028, and intend to spend roughly 1.2 billion euros (approximately $1.4 billion) on training for new and veteran factory workers of the Zwickau plant.
Source: Reuters
