Volkswagen Bratislava to produce VW Polo in new production hall
Volkswagen Bratislava will start manufacturing the VW Polo model as soon as it is technically possible. The precondition for the start of production is completion of a new production hall, which is scheduled to occur before the end of 1998.
According Volkswagen Bratislava, 300 units of the Polo will be produced daily, with the possibility of increasing this amount. The factory will also continue with production of the new VW Golf.
Volkswagen Bratislava produced 40,885 cars last year with a daily average of 122 units. The production plan for 1998 is 120,000 units, with a daily average of 329 cars. In January, the plant produced 3,866 units for a daily average of 124 units. Production in February rose to 5,849 cars, with the daily average hitting 209 units.
VW's expansion plans are forcing it to expand its workforce. The current number of employees exceeds 4,000, compared to 3,800 at the end of last year, and this figure will rise to 4,500 by the end of 1998.
Sachs Trnava to start rebuilding clutches for Škoda
The Slovak-based Sachs Trnava, maker of clutches and torque converters, is preparing to begin rebuilding Škoda clutches. Sachs Trnava was formed in Slovakia in 1993 and currently produces each year 600,000 passenger car clutches, 50,000 truck clutches, and 30,000 torque converters. The company is the only producer of torque converters in all of Europe.
Author: Jeff Jones
