The German Volkswagen Group is the largest automaker in the world as of 2015.
[1] As of 2019[ref], it has 136 production plants, and employs around 670,000 people around the world who produce a daily output of over 26,600 motor vehicles and related major components, for sale in over 150 countries.[1]
Notes: In the second column of the table:- the 'factory VIN ID code',[9] this is indicated in the 11th digit of the vehicles' 17 digit Vehicle Identification Number, and this factory code is only assigned to plants which produce actual completed vehicles. Component factories which do not produce complete vehicles do not have this factory ID code.
SVW (SAIC Volkswagen Automobile Co., Ltd.) consists of a total area of 3.33 km2, and includes a floor space of 0.9 km2. One of the largest car-makers in China, it produces 500,000 units annually. There are 4 vehicle assembly plants, the newest of which is the New Energy Vehicle Plant, which builds EV's on VW's MEB platform. Audi A7L is built in Plant No. 3.
Former SEAT, S.A. main factory and production line, now solely a press shop plant, also hosting SEAT's Training centre. Vehicle production moved to the newer Martorell plant. Oldest currently operating Volkswagen Group factory outside of Germany.
Manual Transmission assembly including MQ250, Stampings
1991 1994 (Transmissions)
10,884
Originally, 80% owned by VW and 20% owned by BAZ and known as Volkswagen Bratislava, s.r.o. Became 100% owned by VW in 1995. Reorganized as Volkswagen Slovakia, a.s. in 1999. The only factory to produce the GolfSyncrofour-wheel drive version. Headquarters, and part of Volkswagen Slovakia, a.s.
Originally opened by D’Ieteren to build Studebakers. First built VW's in 1954 alongside Studebaker cars and trucks. 60 Packard Clippers were also built as Packard had merged with Studebaker in 1954. Studebaker production ended in 1965. VW bought 75% of the plant in January 1971. D’Ieteren Forest was renamed VW Brussels Forest (or Vorst). The plant was 100% owned by VW by 1975. The nearby Citroen plant in Forest was taken over by VW following its closure by PSA Peugeot Citroen in 1980 and added to the existing VW complex in 1982. Formerly scheduled to close, the plant was given a reprieve in 2007 when AUDI AG took over the plant from VW to build the first generation Audi A1. Now known as Audi Brussels S.A./N.V.
Engines; serial production to start end of 2014; planned capacity of 360 engines per day
2009
3,743
Headquarters and plant of Volkswagen India, Škoda Auto India plant. Costing €580m, this is the largest German investment in India. A maximum annual capacity of 110,000 fully manufactured cars is anticipated.
Engines including EA888, Gearboxes, Chassis components, Battery systems
1991
21,679
(Auto: 21,053 Platform: 626)
FAW-VW was established in 1991, with full operations commencing 1996. Now separated into two companies: FAW-Volkswagen Automotive Company Ltd. and VolkswagenFAW Platform Company Ltd., which makes axles & chassis components & is 60% owned by VW and 40% owned by FAW Car. There are 2 vehicle assembly plants. A new plant is being built for Audi FAW NEV Company Ltd., which will build Audi EV's on the PPE platform & is majority (60%) owned by Audi and by VW China. Production is due to begin in 2024.
VW Group's 62nd plant, the Volkswagen Group of America plant is located on a 1,350 acres (550 ha) site and was inaugurated in May 2011, anticipating an annual capacity of 150,000 cars.
Began construction in May 2009. The 3rd car plant of FAW-Volkswagen Automotive Company Ltd. FAW-Volkswagen Chengdu Branch. Also includes VolkswagenFAW Platform Company Ltd., which makes axles & chassis components.
Manual transaxles including MQ200, MQ250, & MQ281 Components
1996
1,341
Formerly known as Transax, a Ford subsidiary. Part of Autolatina venture between Ford and VW from 1987-1996. VW kept this plant when Autolatina dissolved. Part of Volkswagen Argentina S.A.
Part of the Volkswagen Sachsen GmbH subsidiary. Majority of production is carried out by hand. Also includes individual customer specification changes.
Was the final German factory to produce the original Beetle before all production was shifted to the Puebla plant in Mexico. Is now the principal plant for the VW Passat. Has its own harbor which imports and re-distributes vehicles produced in overseas plants
Began construction in 2011. The 4th car plant of FAW-Volkswagen Automotive Company Ltd. FAW-Volkswagen Foshan Branch. Also includes VolkswagenFAW Platform Company Ltd., which makes axles & chassis components.
Bodyshell construction and painting of Audi TTMk1 & Mk2 (C & R) and A3 Cabrio
1959
41,719
The larger of Audi's two principal assembly plants (the other being Neckarsulm). Volkswagen acquired the near-new plant at Ingolstadt when Auto Union was purchased from Daimler-Benz in stages from 1964-1966. Now headquarters of AUDI AG and the Audi Group (which primarily consists of Audi and Lamborghini)
The plant suffered damage from a magnesium fire in May 2006. It also mounts the 7-speed DSG to 4-cylinder engines. Also includes the Volkswagen AG Original Teile Centre (OTC), (Volkswagen Group Original Parts Centre) supplying 330,000 genuine parts.
Headquarters, Technical Centre, R&D Centre, Design Center, Prototypes Centre of Development and main factory of SEAT, S.A. with annual capacity of 500,000 cars, SEAT Sport division Centre, as well as Volkswagen Group Genuine Parts Centre.
Construction of SEAT's Technical Centre began in 1973, and was completed in 1975. Construction of SEAT's factory began in 1989, inaugurated by the King of Spain in 1993; in 1998 the plant received the Best factory of the VW Group in the first quarter award
Main factory, R&D and headquarters of Škoda Auto a.s., and home to Škoda Auto Museum. Site started original manufacturing of cars in 1905 as part of Laurin & Klement. Taken over by Škoda Works in 1925 and re-branded as Škoda Auto. Transferred into VW Group ownership in April 1991.
Headquarters, research and development facility and plant of Bugatti Automobiles S.A.S. All production is carried out by hand using traditional 'craftsman' techniques. Bugatti Automobiles S.A.S. is, as of Nov. 2021, 100% owned by Bugatti Rimac, which is in turn owned 45% by Porsche AG and 55% by Rimac Group.
Formerly Ford's Pacheco Truck Assembly and Painting Plant. Part of Autolatina venture with Ford from 1987-1996. VW kept this side of the Pacheco plant when Autolatina dissolved and converted it to car production. Part of Volkswagen Argentina S.A.
Authi plant bought by SEAT in 1974. First SEAT built on January 22, 1976. Briefly assembled Lancias from 1978-1979. Previously called Landaben when owned by SEAT, S.A. In December 1993, was renamed Fabrica Navarra de Automoviles S.A. and separated from SEAT. Ownership was transferred to Volkswagen Passenger Cars. In December 1994, renamed Volkswagen Navarra, S.A. In 1986 the facility was awarded with the World quality award (Q-86).[27]
Initially a joint venture between VW Group and Tarpan, fully owned by VW Group since 1996. Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles (VWN) site. Volkswagen Poznań Sp. z o.o. There is also a Special Vehicle Body plant in nearby Swarzedz.
Gearboxes including MQ281 and previously MQ200, Foundry, Casting, Transmission components
1980
1,022
SEAT Gearbox del Prat, S.A. transmission production site, fully owned by SEAT, S.A., producing gearboxes for SEAT, VW, Audi and Škoda; in 2009 the facility received the Volkswagen Excellence Award for the high-quality production process and product[28]
Volkswagen Caminhões e Ônibus,[30] formerly MAN Latin America,[31] part of MAN SE from 2009 to 2021.[32] Since August 2021, a direct subsidiary of Traton SE. Name changed to VW Truck & Bus in May 2022.
Components including Axles (non-driven) for MAN & Scania Crankshafts
1964
2,652
MAN Truck & Bus plant. Originally, a Büssing plant. Taken over by MAN in 1972. Truck production phased out in 2016. Complete bus production phased out in 2008. Bus chassis production phased out in 2018. Supplies CKD kits. Logistics & spare parts.
New engineering center about 8 miles away from the plant includes advanced engineering, purchasing, truck validation, & truck customization operations.
Headquarters and plant of Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A., also location of the company's main research and development department, part of the Audi Group.
Ring gears Stub axles Wheel Hubs Wheel Flanges containers
Parts for Polo, Škoda Superb, Golf 5-6-7, Audi Q7, Touareg, Porsche Cayenne ... Platform MQB, PQXX ..
1972
94
Previously a joint venture with NSU called Pretis [de], which assembled the NSU Prinz from 1965-1969. Originally known as TAS (Tvornica Automobila Sarajevo). Was originally 49% owned by VW and 51% owned by UNIS, VW's Yugoslavian importer. Began to produce production parts and replacement parts in 1972. Began to assemble vehicles in 1973. T & 9 codes used when Sarajevo was in former country of Yugoslavia. Production halted in 1992 due to the Bosnian war and collapse of Yugoslavia. TAS went bankrupt in 1995. Factory bombed during the Bosnian War, subsequently rebuilt in 1998, additional S code assigned for Volkswagen Sarajevo d.o.o. in the new country of Bosnia and Herzegovina. All are SKDs. New company established in 1998 as Volkswagen Sarajevo d.o.o., which was now 58% owned by VW & 42% owned by UNIS. In 2001, Bosnia's privatization agency sold the 42% stake in VW Sarajevo to Prevent BH, the Bosnian unit of the Prevent Group. Vehicle production for VW ended in 2008. The EcoCarrier, a small electric truck, was produced on behalf of EcoCraft Automotive, a German company, from 2009-2011, when EcoCraft went bankrupt. EcoCraft was liquidated in 2012. Only components are now produced for VW. 58% owned by VW & 42% owned by Prevent Group.
Kenya Vehicle Manufacturers (KVM) plant. Originally Leyland Kenya Ltd. plant, partially owned by British Leyland. In addition to British vehicles, also built vehicles for VW and Suzuki. CMC Holdings Ltd. (ex-Cooper Motor Corporation) first invested in the plant in 1974. Name changed to KVM in 1989.
Began construction in 2016. The 6th car plant of FAW-Volkswagen Automotive Company Ltd. FAW-Volkswagen Tianjin Branch. Also includes VolkswagenFAW Platform Company Ltd., which makes axles & chassis components.
DQ381, DQ500, DQ501 Dual-Clutch Transmissions, DQ400e Dual-Clutch Transmission for PHEV's, DL382 Dual-Clutch Transmissions, APP290, APP310 electric motor/gearbox
2014
4,674
Volkswagen Automatic Transmission (Tianjin) Co., Ltd. 100% owned by VW Group China. Also does development & testing of transmissions, e-drives, & batteries.
Originally known as South Africa Motor Assemblers and Distributors (SAMAD). VW acquired a blocking minority in SAMAD in 1956. Press shop and engine production begins in 1965. In 1966, SAMAD was renamed Volkswagen of South Africa Ltd., which was 63% owned by VW. In 1974, VW bought all remaining shares of VW of South Africa, making it a wholly-owned subsidiary, Volkswagen of South Africa (Pty.) Ltd. Primarily supplies countries which use right-hand drive
Škoda Auto a.s. factory. Originally founded by Petera & Sons. Started building auto bodies in 1908. Integrated into Škoda Auto in 1946. Used to carry out individual customer modifications, along with RS models. Converted into a transmission plant in 2012.
Oldest factory; Bombed during WW2, rebuilt shortly thereafter under leadership from British Army Major Ivan Hirst. Headquarters of Volkswagen AG. Informally known as Golfsburg after it was officially renamed for a week in November 2003 to celebrate the 5th generation Golf. 13 km2. Also includes Sitech Sitztechnik GmbH. Used to include Auto 5000 Gmbh from 2002-2008.
Flat-6 Engines,
Flat-4 Engines,
Electric Motors for EV's
1951
22,290
Porsche main factory – was used to build the Audi RS2 Avant under a joint venture agreement between Porsche and Audi. Built the 500E/E500 with Mercedes-Benz as part of a cooperation with Daimler-Benz.
Part of the Volkswagen Sachsen GmbH subsidiary. Has its origins as a pre-war Audi/Auto Union plant which became the VEB Sachsenring (Trabant) assembly plant after Auto Union relocated to Ingolstadt after WW2. The old plant built the VW Polo from 1990-1991 in a joint venture between VW & VEB called Volkswagen IFA-PKW GmbH. VW also built a new plant in Zwickau-Mosel which launched production with the Golf on February 15, 1991. Now home to the Audi AG-owned August Horch Museum. Complex also includes the nearby Special Vehicle construction site in St. Egidien, which handles special vehicles (e.g. emergency vehicles) and customization.
Notes: In the second column of the table:- the 'factory VIN ID code',[9] this is indicated in the 11th digit of the vehicles' 17 digit Vehicle Identification Number, and this factory code is only assigned to plants which produce actual completed vehicles. Component factories which do not produce complete vehicles do not have this factory ID code.
Plant belongs to Yontrakit Motors (Y.M.C. Assembly Co., Ltd.), which has also assembled vehicles for Peugeot, Citroën, and, before they had their own Thai plant, BMW. VW Beetle was assembled from 1972-1974. Production for VW restarted in 2000 with the Passat followed by the Audi A6.
Chrysler Fevre Argentina was sold to VW in 1980. Renamed Volkswagen Argentina S.A. Part of Autolatina venture with Ford beginning in 1987. This led to VW closing the ex-Chrysler plants (San Justo first in 1987, then Monte Chingolo) and moving into the Ford complex in Pacheco.
1954: Volkswagen assembly commenced by Martin and King Pty Ltd, Clayton.[43] 1957: Factory purchased by newly formed Volkswagen (Australasia) Pty Ltd, which is 51% owned by Volkswagen Germany.[44] 1959: An adjoining property is purchased to be the new VW administration headquarters, central parts warehouse and engine assembly shop. This complex becomes known as ‘Plant No. 2’. 1960: Engine assembly plant opens. 1964: VW buys out the Australian owners of 49% of Volkswagen (Australasia) Pty Ltd., which is now renamed Volkswagen Australasia Ltd. and is 100% owned by VW of West Germany. 1967: Engine manufacturing, transmission production, and foundry open. 1968: Ownership transferred to Motor Producers Limited, which is wholly owned by Volkswagen West Germany. Contract assembly is done for Datsun and Volvo cars and Mercedes-Benz trucks.[45] 1976: Factory sold to Nissan Motors.[46] 1977: Nissan ceases production of Volkswagens.[46] Currently Holden Special Vehicles factory.
Plant belonged to DMG Inc. [de], VW's local distributor. Plant moved from Mandaluyong to Quezon City in 1974. DMG later went out of business in the mid-1980s.
Assembled the first VW built outside Germany. Plant belonged to Motor Distributors Limited, VW's local distributor. Plant moved from Shelbourne Road in Ballsbridge to Naas Road in 1955.
Mercedes-Benz Commercial Vehicles site. Originally an Auto Union plant prior to the construction of the Ingolstadt plant, but was retained by Daimler-Benz following the sale of Auto Union to Volkswagen in 1964. Built the VW Crafter (LT3) and the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter under a joint venture agreement.
Formerly part of Autolatina venture between Ford and VW from 1987-1996. When Autolatina disbanded in 1995-1996, VW built a new plant in Resende which opened in November 1996 to take over its truck & bus production since the Ipiranga plant stayed with Ford.
Formerly Ford's Pacheco Car Assembly Plant. Part of Autolatina venture with Ford from 1987-1996. Ford kept this side of the Pacheco plant when Autolatina dissolved. VW kept what had been the truck side of Ford's Pacheco complex.
Formerly part of Autolatina venture between Ford and VW from 1987-1996. Not to be confused with VW's Anchieta plant, also in Sao Bernardo do Campo, or the Chrysler plant in Sao Bernardo do Campo that VW bought in 1979-1980, which served as the first VW Truck & Bus plant.
New 200 m2 facility; projected full annual output capacity of 150,000 vehicles to be reached during 2010, with employees rising to 3,000. All vehicles produced were initially semi knock downs (SKD), but full production (CKD) including welding & painting of car bodies started Oct. 2009. Audi SKD assembly began in 2009. Engine production began in 2015. Is served by Grabtsevo Airport, both part of Volkswagen Group Russia (OOO Volkswagen Group Rus). Production halted in March 2022 due to Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Wilhelm Karmann GmbH produced cars and components for Volkswagen Group. Bankruptcy in 2009. Osnabrück plant was taken over by VW. Rheine plant was closed. Rheine plant built Audi models while the VW's were built in Osnabrück.
Karmann plant in Brazil (Karmann-Ghia do Brasil Ltda). This plant later assembled the Land Rover Defender from 1999-2006 from CKD kits supplied by Land Rover.
VW had a 40% stake in this joint venture, 35% was owned by the Nigerian government, and the other 25% was owned by other shareholders. VW sold its remaining shares in April 2006 to Barbedos Ventures Ltd., registered in Tortola in the British Virgin Islands.
Plant belongs to GAZ Group. Does contract assembly for VW Group. Planned annual output capacity of 132,000 vehicles. Vehicles produced using complete knock down (CKD) method. Production halted in March 2022 due to Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Azia Avto factory. Assembled Skodas under license. Kazakhstan terminated Azia Avto's industrial assembly agreement with the government in 2020 and Azia Avto has since gone bankrupt.
Motor Holdings factory. Assembled VWs under license. 1954-1958 in a former bus depot as Jowett Motors until renamed as VW Motors in 1955 after Jowett Cars, also assembled at the same plant, went out of business. 1958-1986 on Fort Richard Rd. as VW Motors, which also assembled Ramblers for AMC from 1958-1962 as well as Peugeot, Škoda, Fiat, and Datsun. Also built the Trekka. Sold to Mazda in the 1980s. Production ended in 1987.
SOVAC Production S.P.A. factory. Assembled vehicles for VW Group in a joint venture with VW's local distributor, SOVAC SPA. VW was the minority partner. Production was suspended in 2019 due to government upheaval in Algeria and new regulations that banned importation of parts for local assembly.
VW bought 67% of Chrysler Motors do Brazil in 1979 & it then bought the rest in 1980. Renamed Volkswagen Caminhões Ltda. in 1981. Became the first VW Truck & Bus plant. Replaced by Ford's Ipiranga plant as part of Autolatina venture between Ford and VW from 1987-1996. VW Truck & Bus production moved to Ford's Ipiranga plant in 1990 and this plant closed.
Exterior sheetmetal stampings for VW's Westmoreland assembly plant and other automakers.
1978
1987
0
The dates indicate the duration of VW's use of the plant. The plant was originally a Naval Ordnance plant built by the US government from 1917-1921. FMC Corporation bought the plant in 1961 and made armored personnel carriers there from 1962-1969. Developer Ray Park then bought around two-thirds of the complex. The Machine Shop became this stamping plant. Prior to VW, plant was operated by American Motors from 1974. After VW closed the plant, it became South Charleston Stamping & Manufacturing Company. In 1989, South Charleston Stamping was taken over by International Controls Corporation. In 1996, South Charleston Stamping was sold to Mayflower Vehicle Systems and then to Union Stamping and Assembly in 2004. Union Stamping and Assembly went bankrupt in 2006. Currently operated by Gestamp since 2012.
Opened by Chrysler's Missile Division in 1953. VWoA bought it in 1980 to be its second US assembly plant but they never ended up using it and sold it back to Chrysler in 1983.
PT German Motor Manufacturing joint venture factory equally owned by VW, Daimler-Benz, and PT Indophing Finance Group of Indonesia. Joint venture ended in 1979.
Originally built by Chrysler in the 1960s, but was not completed until VWoA bought it in 1976 and began production in 1978. Sony took over the site in 1990 to manufacture televisions. Sony closed the plant in 2009. Aquion Energy occupied the site from 2014-2017. In 1994, its VIN ID code was reassigned to the Portuguese Palmela factory.
Hebmüller And Sons was a German coachbuilder. A major fire on July 23, 1949 almost completely destroyed the factory. Although the factory was rebuilt and production did resume, the recovery exceeded the company's financial resources. Hebmüller filed for bankruptcy in 1952. Wülfrath plant was sold to Ford in 1956. Ford used it as a component plant, later specializing in steering components. When Ford spun off its parts operations as Visteon in 2000, the Wülfrath plant became part of Visteon. In 2007, Visteon sold it to private equity and it became known as Tedrive Steering GmbH, part of Tedrive Group. Tedrive Steering GmbH was sold to Knorr-Bremse in 2016. Renamed Knorr-Bremse SteeringSystems GmbH in 2017.
^Jones, Jeffrey (27 August 1997). "VW Bratislava expands production". Central Europe Automotive Report. The Slovak Spectator. Retrieved 26 August 2009.
