VW Anniversary in Dresden: 150,000th Vehicle Built

Electric vehicles instead of status symbols: Once built for the Phaeton (and at times even Bentleys), today the “Transparent Factory” in Dresden produces electric vehicles on its distinctive conveyor belts. The 150,000th model ever produced there was an ID.3 in Kings Red Metallic for a customer in Tampere (Finland). But there was also a celebration in nearby Zwickau: In the last week of March, the 555,555th fully electric vehicle rolled off the assembly line – the Saxons now build 7,300 electric units per week there.

“The Transparent Factory looks back on over 20 years of dynamic history. In 2002, the production of the Volkswagen Phaeton, which could be experienced up close by our customers, started here,” says Christian Vollmer, Volkswagen brand's Head of Production and Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Volkswagen Sachsen, and adds:

“I heartily congratulate the entire team on 150,000 vehicles and thank them for their daily commitment.”

The experiential manufacturing has fascinated visitors from the birth of the factory to today.

“The Transparent Factory is a flagship of the Volkswagen brand,” adds Robert Janssen, Technical and Logistics Director of Volkswagen Sachsen GmbH. He is pleased: “Not only customers, but also representatives from politics, society, and science, as well as numerous tourists on city tours in Dresden, experience Volkswagen up close here.”

The Transparent Factory has now become an integral part of various city tours in Dresden. There has been close collaboration with regional tourism institutions for years. 

From the Phaeton to the Bentley Flying Spur and the Golf to the ID.3

The Transparent Factory was opened on December 11, 2001. From 2002 to 2016, 84,235 units of the Volkswagen Phaeton were produced. At the beginning of the millennium, Volkswagen ventured into the upper-class segment. In the years 2005/2006 as well as 2013/2014, a second model, the Bentley Flying Spur (2,186 cars), was built for a time.

Electric vehicles have been built since 2017

After a renovation, production of the e-Golf began in 2017 and ended at Christmas 2020 after 50,401 vehicles. Since early 2021, Dresden has been the second Saxon location alongside Zwickau to produce the ID.3. Currently, production of the upgraded ID.3 is being prepared, which will start from mid-April. The Transparent Factory employs 340 people.

What does this mean?

From flagship to "overflow buffer": The Transparent Factory was never designed for high volumes but certainly ranks among the most beautiful car factories in the world. Due to its facilities and park-like location, it is a little jewel for Volkswagen Sachsen, which can currently be well used for additional ID. capacities. May it continue to assemble there for a long time.