Cupra Tavascan: Made in China

The dependence of European manufacturers on China continues to grow: According to the news agency Bloomberg, Cupra plans to produce the electric Tavascan in China and export it from there. However, within the VW Group, this is supposed to remain an isolated case.

Zwickau and Mlada Boleslav are likely running at MEB capacity limits

VW explained to Bloomberg that the capacities in Europe are limited, and that is why the Tavascan will be produced in Anhui. Currently, the MEB sites in Zwickau (VW and Audi) and Mlada Boleslav (Skoda) are fully utilized. To relieve the existing capacity in Zwickau, overflow is also being produced in Dresden, in addition to the Emden plant for the ID.4 and the Wolfsburg plant for the ID.3. The ID. Buzz already comes from Hanover. There apparently were no capacities for the Tavascan – or it would have been too costly to create them.

The Anhui plant is the group's third production site for all-electric vehicles in China. The plant is scheduled to go into operation in the second half of 2023. At Volkswagen Anhui (formerly JAC-Volkswagen), the Wolfsburgers have now taken a 75 percent stake and thus have full control – unlike in Anting, which was built by SAIC-Volkswagen specifically for the production of MEB vehicles.

What does it mean?

Even at VW, it seems that electromobility is ramping up faster than planned – which is why the Cupra Tavascan's production was moved to China. Logistically convenient for the brand's new markets in the Asia-Pacific region, but rather counterproductive for the "Spanish fire" and the much-promoted "Barcelona spirit" of the brand – especially as there is still no idea for the future of Seat. The rise of Cupra does not come without its own questions.