Celebrating 75 years of Porsche manufacturing in Zuffenhausen

Porsche celebrates 75 years of car production in Zuffenhausen, home to the 911 and Taycan. Discover how tradition meets innovation in this iconic plant.

On April 6, 1950, the first German-built Porsche 356 rolled off the line in Zuffenhausen, marking the beginning of a new era. Over the decades, this district in northern Stuttgart has become more than just a manufacturing site – it now symbolizes Porsche’s engineering finesse, innovation, and design legacy.

In 75 years, the Zuffenhausen plant has evolved from a modest facility in rented buildings to a cutting-edge production hub. It is the birthplace of the iconic 911 and the all-electric Taycan – vehicles that blend craftsmanship with advanced digital technologies. The plant produces around 250 two-door sports cars daily, and in November 2022, Porsche celebrated the production of the 100,000th Taycan.

Zuffenhausen stands out for its unique approach: all 911 variants, from Carrera to GT models and race-ready Cup cars, are assembled on a single line. Flexibility and individualization – principles introduced in the 1950s – remain vital today. Production is powered by artificial intelligence, autonomous guided vehicles, and a centralized factory cloud.

Alongside series production, Zuffenhausen hosts divisions that build highly customized vehicles. Porsche Exclusive Manufaktur personalizes standard models, while the Sonderwunsch program enables the creation of truly one-off cars. One example includes a special Taycan Turbo S developed for the Asian market.

The factory's architectural heritage is closely tied to Rolf Gutbrod, the renowned architect behind the design of Werk 2 in 1952, which became a symbol of Porsche's industrial expansion. It was later joined by Werk 5, featuring an overhead conveyor bridge, and other facilities built to meet the needs of a modern, electrified future.

Yet Zuffenhausen is not just a monument to tradition – it plays a key role in Porsche’s electrification strategy. The company has restructured production lines to accommodate electric vehicles and aims to make over 80% of its sales fully electric by 2030.

Today, Zuffenhausen remains Porsche’s beating heart – a place where heritage meets progress. Though its buildings and technologies have transformed over time, the essence remains: precision, passion, and the relentless pursuit of the perfect sports car.

Source: porsche.com