Automotive industry

VW ended production of the Phaeton

With its sedan Phaeton, Volkswagen wanted to reach in the luxury segment of the car market, for the stars. However, the Name was born under a bad star. Today is the last Phaeton rolled off the Assembly line.

As a reaction to the years of declining sale numbers of the low in the exhaust gas crisis plug-in has set at the end of car manufacturer Volkswagen, the production of the luxury sedan Phaeton. On Friday, the last delivery truck in the “Gläserne Manufaktur” in Dresden, the company said. At the end, after more than 14 years, the manufacturing of the upper-class model. A total of were built in the period more than 84,000 Phaeton. The last car – a black Phaeton with 335 HP goes to China.

Opened in 2001, the factory is located, but not generally. 29. March, the glass complex for ten days to be rebuilt. On 8. April should open up a showcase of the brand for electric mobility, and digitisation. Visitors could then “experience in a fun, interactive and informative way, the future of mobility first hand,” it said.

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No Layoffs

If the Phaeton comes back as a pure electric version of return to Dresden, is open. Of the approximately 500 employees, first of all, to remain only 100 in Dresden. The remaining will be distributed to other VW plants in the country. Layoffs, there will be no.

“The workforce and this unique location have earned it, that in Dresden again soon vehicles in the highest quality before the eyes of the customers and visitors to be mounted,” said the Dresden works Council chief Thomas Aehlig. Until then, the employees would be required but a high level of flexibility in other locations.

The Gläserne Manufaktur in Dresden, was for a long time as a prestige project of Volkswagen. In 2001, the futuristic building was opened in the presence of then Federal Chancellor Gerhard Schröder (SPD). The VW group has invested around EUR 187 million in the construction, which is used since then also as a venue for concerts and other Events. For the customers of the luxury limousine, the factory also had a special feature of Europe: in Front of your eyes of the car from prefabricated Parts was assembled by Hand.

zdh/ul (dpa)