The Evolution of the Porsche Zuffenhausen Factory from 1937 to Today

Explore the historical development of the Porsche Zuffenhausen factory, from its 1937 sketch to modern production, as reported by Porsche. Learn how the site evolved.

The history of the Porsche plant in Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen began with a single sketch drawn in 1937. At the time, the company was expanding rapidly: the engineering office on Kronenstrasse 24 could no longer keep up with demand, and early customer-commissioned vehicles were still being developed in the garages of the Porsche family villa on Feuerbacher Weg. Building a dedicated factory became a natural step in the firm’s development.

Ferry Porsche acquired the land from the Wolff entrepreneur family, and architect Richard Pfob took on the design. A plan dated November 20, 1937 depicted not only a three-story brick building but also an extensive recreational area for employees – including a running track, swimming pool and leisure spaces. Although these facilities remained on paper, the factory itself was built. On June 26, 1938, 176 employees moved from downtown Stuttgart to Zuffenhausen, marking the beginning of what would become Plant 1 of Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche KG.

The war interrupted the company’s progress. Production was relocated to Gmund, Austria, where the first 52 examples of the Porsche 356 were built in repurposed facilities. After returning to Germany, the Zuffenhausen plant was initially occupied by Allied forces, so engine assembly moved temporarily to Reutter Plant II. During this time, Porsche continued its close collaboration with Karosseriewerk Reutter, a coachbuilder founded in 1906 and known for working with leading automotive manufacturers.

On April 6, 1950, the first Porsche 356 built in Germany was completed in Zuffenhausen. This moment signaled the start of a new era for the brand. By the end of production in 1965, around 78,000 units of the model had been manufactured at the site.

In the following decades, the factory grew steadily. Plant 2 opened in 1952, followed by Plant 3 in 1960, which housed sales, customer service and the central spare parts warehouse. In 1963, Porsche purchased Karosseriewerk Reutter, doubling its workforce and beginning production of the 901 model, later known as the 911. The 1980s brought Plant 5 with flexible body construction and the distinctive conveyor bridge crossing Schwieberdinger Strasse.

Another major transformation came in the 2010s. To prepare for the launch of the all-electric Taycan in 2019, Porsche added new production facilities, introduced energy-efficient processes and implemented a flexible assembly concept using automated guided vehicles. These innovations reshaped the site into a modern production environment.

Today, the Zuffenhausen complex covers more than 600,000 square meters. From the wooden workshops in Gmund to the advanced Taycan production lines, its evolution mirrors Porsche’s journey from a small engineering office to a global sports car manufacturer.