As announced, today Volkswagen restarted production of the ID.3 in Zwickau, following the stoppage that began in mid-March. It's the first plant in Germany to be back online.
The company has decided to cautiously resume the assembly - "slowly and gradually", starting from 50 ID.3 per day or a third of what it was in early March.
To keep the process safe, a comprehensive package of measures was implemented to prevent coronavirus spread. The "reduced capacity and significantly slower cycle times" also should help employees to do the job without compromising safety.
"Numerous additional measures to protect the health of the workforce are being implemented, and the restart is also oriented to the gradual stabilization of international supply chains."
"In addition, numerous production processes are being optimized, and consistent minimum distances and increased hygiene standards apply in all areas. A works agreement on the action required for the resumption of production detailing the individual measures has been agreed. All the rules also apply to employees of external partners and service providers on the factory premises."
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On April 27, Volkswagen will resume production of Volkswagen e-Golf at the Gläserne Manufaktur Dresden facility (the main manufacturing site for e-Golf is Wolfsburg though).
A few other manufacturing sites (and models) in Germany are also in a process of resuming production.
The Volkswagen plant in Chattanooga, U.S. is scheduled to resume production on May 3 with:
- More than 90 new health and safety measures in place
- Multi-phase ramp-up begins with staggered shifts, lower volume
Thomas Ulbrich, Volkswagen Brand Board Member for E-Mobility and Speaker of the Management Board of Volkswagen Sachsen said:
“We all have a historic task to accomplish. That task is to protect the health of our employees - and at the same time get business back on track responsibly”.
According to Ulbrich, the present challenging situation calls for new priorities: “At Volkswagen, health takes precedence over speed. That is why the primary concern at the moment is not how many cars can be built per day. What is more important is that the e-mobility transformation process already underway begins gathering pace again today. The ID.3 is one of the key vehicle projects for Volkswagen.”
Gallery: Volkswagen ID.3 Production
Zwickau vehicle plant resuming production of the ID.3 slowly and gradually
- Production of electric cars resumes in Zwickau today
- Company and General Works Council agree package of measures for employees to provide comprehensive protection from coronavirus
- Board Member for E-Mobility Ulbrich: “Our task now is to protect the health of our employees – and at the same time get business back on track responsibly”
The Volkswagen plant in Zwickau is gradually restarting production of electric cars. Production of the all-electric ID.3 resumes today (Thursday), initially with reduced capacity and significantly slower cycle times. Numerous additional measures to protect the health of the workforce are being implemented, and the restart is also oriented to the gradual stabilization of international supply chains. “We all have a historic task to accomplish. That task is to protect the health of our employees - and at the same time get business back on track responsibly”, said Thomas Ulbrich, Volkswagen Brand Board Member for E-Mobility and Speaker of the Management Board of Volkswagen Sachsen.
According to Ulbrich, the present challenging situation calls for new priorities: “At Volkswagen, health takes precedence over speed. That is why the primary concern at the moment is not how many cars can be built per day. What is more important is that the e-mobility transformation process already underway begins gathering pace again today. The ID.3 is one of the key vehicle projects for Volkswagen.”
In the first ramp-up phase, 50 of the ID.3 will be produced per day in Zwickau at reduced speed, corresponding to approximately one third of the production volume prior to the corona pandemic. Zwickau is Volkswagen’s first vehicle plant in Germany to cautiously resume production following the stoppage that began in mid-March. Some units at components plants have already recommenced the supply of parts, accompanied by appropriate protective measures. Production has also already resumed at almost all Volkswagen plants in China.
The Chemnitz engine plant will also begin gradually ramping up production today, Thursday, April 23. This will be followed by the phased resumption of Golf Variant production at Zwickau on Monday, April 27. On the same day, the Gläserne Manufaktur Dresden will recommence production of the e-Golf at reduced capacity; customers have been able to collect their new cars in Dresden since April 20.
Jens Rothe, Chairman of the General Works Council at Volkswagen Sachsen, underscored that the protection and health of the workforce have priority as production starts up again. Volkswagen Sachsen and the General Works Council have set out clear rules in a works agreement. “We have reached agreement with the company on new measures to protect employees. One thing is clear: We will not be taking any risks, the health of employees has absolute priority – even if it means producing fewer cars”, Rothe said.
Production at Volkswagen Sachsen will resume step-by-step and on a plant-by-plant basis. The company and the Works Council have agreed a comprehensive package of measures to provide protection against the virus. These include specific rules on distances and hygiene, an obligation to wear mouth and nose protection in areas where minimum distances of 1.5 meters are not possible, shorter cleaning intervals, the separation of shifts in order to avoid contacts, and a call on employees to measure their temperature under their own responsibility before starting work each day.
In addition, numerous production processes are being optimized, and consistent minimum distances and increased hygiene standards apply in all areas. A works agreement on the action required for the resumption of production detailing the individual measures has been agreed. All the rules also apply to employees of external partners and service providers on the factory premises.