Volkswagen Slovakia has already interrupted production. (source: Courtesy of VW Slovakia)
The biggest and oldest car maker in Slovakia, Volkswagen Slovakia, vows to increase efficiency which should help it to win production of new models within the group.
“One of the key factors when it comes to deciding in which plants of the group new models will be produced, is efficiency,” said Oliver Grünberg, chair of Volkswagen Slovakia’s board, at a press conference on April 17, adding that the year 2019 will be decisive. “After the phase of huge investments and the launch of production of several models, our task is to focus on serial production with the aim of increasing efficiency.”
Within the Plan 2025, the Bratislava plant wants to increase efficiency by 30 percent by 2025 and intends to mostly meet this goal in 2019 and 2020. One of the measures is a reduction of the labour force. This year it wants to reduce the number of its workers from 2018's 14,800 by 3,000.
Grünberg did not specify the position of the Bratislava plant within the group in terms of efficiency pointing out differences in production portfolios of individual plants.
New models
Last year, the Bratislava plant began to produce the third generation of the Volkswagen Touareg and the brand new Audi Q8 model. Along with these models it manufactures the Audi Q7, the Porsche Cayenne, the Porsche Cayenne Coupé, the Seat Mii, the Škodo Citigo, the Volkswagen up! and its electric version the Volkswagen e-up!.
In terms of new models that might be produced in Bratislava, Grünberg indicated that the Bratislava plant wants to continue with the production of electric cars.
