Volkswagen has started production of the ID.4 at its plant Emdenin Germany, becoming the second European facility to do so after Zwickau. With the incorporation of this plant, the electric SUV is already assembled in four manufacturer plants, two in Germany and two in China, Anting and Foshanwaiting for the fifth factory to join them this fall, that of Chattanoogain the United States, thus becoming its first global electric model.
According to the manufacturer from Wolfsburg, Emden is the first high-tech location for electric mobility in Lower Saxony. In order to meet the demand for its electric cars, the Volkswagen Group has made a large financial investment to remodel their factories. In this particular one, around 1,000 million euros have been invested for the conversion of the production lines, which previously assembled combustion vehicles. In total, in the German state, Volkswagen will have invested 21,000 million euros in 2026.
The factory conversion works have lasted a total of two years, in which the project has maintained its roadmap despite some common problems in this type of tasks. Six new production halls and logistics buildings have been erected, as well as five new conveyor bridges. The total area occupied by the plant after its transformation is approximately 125,000 square meters.
In relation to jobs, Volkswagen has carried out training courses virtual related to production. In addition, since the spring of 2020, more than 400 employeesers from Emden have traveled to Zwickau, Volkswagen’s other electric car factory in Germany, to learn about the operation of its production lines and expand their technical preparation for the production of electric vehicles.
In all its conversions, Volkswagen has taken into account the entire life cycle of cars, from production to use and recycling, to maintain its ecological commitment. This will affects its suppliers, with whom it has agreements to use green electricity for the production of traction battery cells. It has implemented similar steps in its production to use 100% green electricity. If customers also use electricity from renewable sources, it is possible that the entire life cycle of the car can be completed with hardly any emissions. Volkswagen has achieved its goal of reducing approx. three tons of COtwo per vehicle from 2020 to 2021, an important step to achieve reduce 40% of its emissions by 2030 compared to those declared in 2017.
“The rapid expansion of the D.4’s production capabilities is a key component of our ACCELERATE strategy,” said Volkswagen CEO Ralf Brandstätter. “It helps us accelerate the transformation to zero-carbon mobility and scale up production to meet the high demand for electric vehicles.”
According to Brandstätter, Volkswagen already employs 130,000 people in the state of Lower Saxony. After the ID.4 it will be the future Aero B, which is still in the prototype phase, both in its saloon and station wagon versions, which will be produced in Emden. “In addition, this year will start the production of the iconic ID. Buzz in Hannover by Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles. It will be joined from 2023 by the Wolfsburg-made ID.3, while another electric vehicle, the Trinity, will roll off the assembly line on site from 2026,” explains Brandstätter.
