Source: Gasgoo Author: Xing Yun
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According to foreign media reports, Volkswagen has abandoned plans to produce the ID.3 pure electric hatchback at its main factory in Wolfsburg, Germany.
It is reported that Volkswagen will continue to produce the ID.3 at its pure electric vehicle plant in Zwickau, eastern Germany. Volkswagen confirmed the news to German media.
Volkswagen production chief Christian Volmer told the media: “Every euro we save is important. For this reason, we have decided to continue producing all ID.3s in Zwickau, thus making efficient use of the already fully equipped production site.
The Volkswagen brand aims to save 10 billion euros by 2026 to help it achieve its goal of increasing profit margins to 6.5% from 3.6% in 2022.
The Volkswagen brand has previously stated that in addition to Zwickau, it will also start producing the ID.3 at its Wolfsburg plant, thereby increasing the plant’s capacity utilization. Volkswagen originally planned to start small-scale production of the ID.3 in Wolfsburg from the end of 2023.
A Volkswagen spokesman said the latest decision would have no impact on Volkswagen’s plant in Dresden, which also produces the ID.3 on a small scale.
Image source: Volkswagen
Previously, Volkswagen had already cut some production shifts in Zwickau due to slowing growth in electric vehicle sales. In 2023, Volkswagen delivered a total of 140,800 ID.3 vehicles.
Wolfsburg’s current focus remains on producing internal combustion engines and plug-in hybrid vehicles such as the Golf and Tiguan. Vollmer also said that work to convert some production lines in Wolfsburg to electric vehicles will continue.
Volkswagen plans to start producing a pure electric SUV at the plant in 2026, likely an electric version of the Tiguan, followed by a new electric Golf.
Volkswagen said in September last year that its flagship Trinity pure electric car, based on a new SSP software-led platform, would also be produced in Zwickau instead of a new 2 billion euro factory in Wolfsburg. Cars based on the SSP platform will be launched before the end of 2030.
