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SAIC Volkswagen's New EV Only Plant In China Starts Pre-Production

The manufacturing capacity will be 300,000 all-electric cars annually.

SAIC Volkswagen electric-only plant in Anting, China

Mark Kane

By: Mark Kane

Nov 8, 2019 at 6:52am ET

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Volkswagen's joint venture with SAIC has launched today an all-new and electric-only manufacturing plant in Anting, China, which is envisioned to produce MEB-based models for various Volkswagen Group's brands.

The new plant in Anting begins pre-production of electric cars just one year after ground-breaking, although series-production is expected to begin in October 2020. The production capacity of up to six different car projects running simultaneously is set for 300,000.

"The new plant of the SAIC VOLKSWAGEN joint venture has been completed. It is purely built for the production of all electric vehicles on Volkswagen’s Modular Electric Drive Matrix (MEB). Celebrating the start of pre- production, a first China-specific all--electric Volkswagen ID. model rolled off the production line. The plant sets the next milestone in Volkswagen’s global electrification strategy. The start of series production of all-electric cars based on the MEB platform in Anting is scheduled for October 2020."

Volkswagen didn't reveal what model is being pre-produced, but it might be the Chinese-version of Volkswagen ID.4 (under another name and with possibly slightly different specs than the version for Europe/North America). ID.4 will be produced at the Chattanooga, Tennessee plant (check out our ID.4 summary here).

SAIC Volkswagen electric-only plant in Anting, China

"The first phase of pre-production in Anting starts now with a China-specific ID. model of the Volkswagen Brand. In the future, the plant will be manufacturing MEB platform-based BEV models for various Volkswagen Group brands. In total, it is planned to increase the local production in China up to 15 MEB models from different brands by 2025.

Fully intelligent and digitized, the Anting plant sets a new benchmark for green and smart factories for Volkswagen Group China and the whole Chinese auto industry. The area utilization is highly increased, meaning less land and built-up space is needed compared to a standard plant. In terms of flexibility, the new MEB factory sets a benchmark in China by allowing for six different car projects running simultaneously."

SAIC Volkswagen electric-only plant in Anting, China

Dr. Herbert Diess, Chairman of the Board of Management of Volkswagen AG said:

“The Volkswagen Group projects a total volume of 22 million all-electric cars worldwide by 2028, with more than 50 percent of that from China. The country plays a crucial part in our electrification strategy, which will pave the way to Volkswagen’s goal of becoming net carbon-neutral by 2050. Together with the start of MEB production, we will launch the Volkswagen ID. family in China as well, a brand-new generation of fully electric and connected vehicles."

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Dr. Stephan Wöllenstein, CEO of Volkswagen Group China, added:

“It took only 12 months to see the completion of this innovative factory. Congratulations to our colleagues in Anting, who will further prepare to produce the first China-model of the Volkswagen ID. family here in Shanghai. We will speed up our NEV offensive even more, as we expect further e-mobility market growth.”

Gallery: SAIC Volkswagen electric-only plant in Anting, China

SAIC Volkswagen electric-only plant in Anting, China

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Volkswagen starts pre-production in first plant purely focused on e-mobility in China

Nov 8, 2019

Pre-production in plant from SAIC VOLKSWAGEN in Anting, Shanghai, begins only one year after ground-breaking
Volkswagen is accelerating speed of transformation in China to address fast growing e- mobility market
Start of model pre-production right after global ID.3¹ production commenced in Germany shows importance of Chinese market
Start of production in Anting is scheduled for October 2020
First vehicle is an electric-only Volkswagen model for the Chinese market

Anting/Wolfsburg, November 8, 2019. The new plant of the SAIC VOLKSWAGEN joint venture has been completed. It is purely built for the production of all electric vehicles on Volkswagen’s Modular Electric Drive Matrix (MEB). Celebrating the start of pre- production, a first China-specific all--electric Volkswagen ID. model rolled off the production line. The plant sets the next milestone in Volkswagen’s global electrification strategy. The start of series production of all-electric cars based on the MEB platform in Anting is scheduled for October 2020.

“The Volkswagen Group projects a total volume of 22 million all-electric cars worldwide by 2028, with more than 50 percent of that from China. The country plays a crucial part in our electrification strategy, which will pave the way to Volkswagen’s goal of becoming net carbon-neutral by 2050”, said Dr. Herbert Diess, Chairman of the Board of Management of Volkswagen AG. “Together with the start of MEB production, we will launch the Volkswagen ID. family in China as well, a brand-new generation of fully electric and connected vehicles.

Dr. Stephan Wöllenstein, CEO of Volkswagen Group China, added: “It took only 12 months to see the completion of this innovative factory. Congratulations to our colleagues in Anting, who will further prepare to produce the first China-model of the Volkswagen ID. family here in Shanghai. We will speed up our NEV offensive even more, as we expect further e-mobility market growth.”

Pre-production begins just a few days after the first global ID. manufacturing started in Zwickau, Germany. Full series production in the new Anting factory is planned to commence in October 2020, with an annual capacity of 300,000 vehicles. The MEB production plays a key role in Volkswagen Group China’s e-mobility strategy, as it strives to transform into a provider of sustainable mobility. The Anting plant is scheduled to start ID. model production at the same time with a plant by FAW-Volkswagen in Foshan, resulting in a combined capacity of 600,000 units per year.

The first phase of pre-production in Anting starts now with a China-specific ID. model of the Volkswagen Brand. In the future, the plant will be manufacturing MEB platform-based BEV models for various Volkswagen Group brands. In total, it is planned to increase the local production in China up to 15 MEB models from different brands by 2025.

Fully intelligent and digitized, the Anting plant sets a new benchmark for green and smart factories for Volkswagen Group China and the whole Chinese auto industry. The area utilization is highly increased, meaning less land and built-up space is needed compared to a standard plant. In terms of flexibility, the new MEB factory sets a benchmark in China by allowing for six different car projects running simultaneously.

As a unique platform specifically designed for the mass production of electric vehicles, MEB allows for vehicles with a longer wheelbase and a more spacious interior. Moreover, models produced on the MEB platform will see advanced digital and intelligent daily life integration, in terms of the latest infotainment systems and connectivity functionalities.

¹) The vehicle is not yet for sale in Europe.

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SAIC Volkswagen's New EV Only Plant In China Starts Pre-Production

The manufacturing capacity will be 300,000 all-electric cars annually.

See also

Gallery: SAIC Volkswagen electric-only plant in Anting, China

Volkswagen starts pre-production in first plant purely focused on e-mobility in China

Nov 8, 2019