One million electric vehicles built at Volkswagen’s Zwickau plant

Volkswagen marks milestone with its one millionth EV from Zwickau—an ID.3 GTX Performance—highlighting its role in the brand’s electric future.

Volkswagen’s Zwickau plant has hit a major milestone: its one millionth electric vehicle has rolled off the production line. The landmark car, an ID.3 GTX Performance finished in striking Kings Red Metallic, is more than just a numerical achievement — it symbolizes sweeping change within the company and the broader automotive industry.

Just five and a half years ago, on November 4, 2019, the plant launched full-scale production of its first all-electric model: the ID.3. That moment marked the beginning of a new chapter, not just in manufacturing, but in the company’s strategic transformation. With over a century of history — from Horch and DKW to the East German Trabant — Zwickau became the first major Volkswagen site to transition entirely from combustion engines to electric mobility. The last internal combustion vehicle left the line in June 2020.

Today, Zwickau builds six electric models across three of the Group’s brands: Volkswagen, Audi, and Cupra. These include the ID.3, ID.4, ID.5, Audi Q4 e-tron, Audi Q4 Sportback e-tron, and the Cupra Born — all based on the modular electric drive matrix (MEB). Nearly one out of every two electric cars registered by the Volkswagen Group worldwide originates from Zwickau, underscoring the plant’s central role in the company’s EV strategy.

Plant manager Danny Auerswald described the milestone as a powerful reflection of the team’s reliability and performance over the years, despite numerous challenges. He emphasized that the site must continue evolving to remain competitive and attract future investment — and noted that several promising opportunities in circular economy initiatives were currently being explored.

Uwe Kunstmann, Chairman of the General Works Council, highlighted that Zwickau was the first site in the Group to fully embrace electric mobility and praised the team’s consistent commitment to transformation and customer focus. He added that change is on the horizon once again: in the second half of 2026, production of some models will be relocated to other sites.

In 2024 alone, the plant produced 204,000 vehicles. Since Volkswagen took over the facility in 1990, over seven million cars have been assembled there. A €1.2 billion investment fueled the transition to electric mobility, bringing in advanced automation, streamlined production, and an end-to-end electric focus.

But the story doesn’t stop there. As the plant prepares for changes in the coming years, the Zwickau team is looking ahead to a second strategic pillar rooted in sustainability — with potential initiatives like battery recycling and component reuse now under consideration.

The one millionth vehicle isn’t just a celebration — it’s a turning point and a step toward a future where Zwickau continues to lead the charge.

Source: volkswagen-newsroom.com