Volkswagen’s Transparent Factory in Dresden has begun production of the fully electric ID.3. This makes it the second production site for the ID.3 and the fourth site in the world producing Volkswagen models based on the Modular Electric Drive Toolkit (MEB) electric platform. At the same time, Volkswagen is opening a new chapter in the Saxon capital and the former Centre of Future Mobility will be transformed into the head home of the ID.
The main goal of this is to act as a beacon for Volkswagen in Germany. It will offer customers, visitors and guests a holistic experience of the ID. family. Customers and visitors will be able to find initial advice and test drives, through to production visits, co-constructing the ID.3 and modern event formats, up to the handover of electric vehicles.
An additional focus of the strategic realignment is the development of a research and innovation site. This will drive innovative projects on a pilot scale for later use in large capacity sites at Volkswagen.
Thomas Ulbrich, member of the board of management for electric mobility at Volkswagen, said: “Volkswagen is continuing to pursue its electric offensive. In addition to new electric models, this also includes the transformation of the global production network.
“At Dresden, we are already converting the fourth Volkswagen site to the new ID. family and the MEB. At the same time we are ramping up volume production in the Zwickau electric car plant and in our two Chinese MEB plants every week. In doing so we reaffirm our ambitions to take on a role as global leaders in electric mobility.”
Danny Auerswald, site manager of the Transparent Factory, said: “The Transparent Factory plays an important role within the Volkswagen brand. Here, visitors, customers and guests come into direct contact with the mobility of tomorrow. We are a production plant, tourist attraction, event location, test lab and delivery centre all in one. With the start of the production of the ID.3 we are giving the green light for our strategic realignment.”
Thomas Aehlig, Chairman of the Works Council of the Transparent Factory, says: “In 2017 we were the first site to completely transform in the direction of electric mobility. As the works council, it was and is, very important to continue to secure employment here in Dresden.
“We guarantee added value for the brand and the Group from the new areas of business. From a technical standpoint, we are now capable of producing additional MEB models in the Transparent Factory.”
