Volkswagen Zwickau plant has reached a significant milestone by producing its one millionth electric vehicle, an ID.3 GTX Performance in Kings Red Metallic. This achievement comes just five and a half years after the plant transitioned exclusively to electric vehicle (EV) production, underscoring its pivotal role in the company’s electrification strategy.
The Zwickau facility, located in Saxony, manufactures six electric models across Volkswagen, Audi, and Cupra brands. Notably, nearly half of the Volkswagen Group’s registered electric cars worldwide originate from this plant. The milestone vehicle is slated for delivery to a customer in Bavaria through the Transparent Factory in Dresden.
Danny Auerswald, Chairman of the Board of Management at Volkswagen Sachsen GmbH, lauded the workforce’s dedication: “One million electric cars produced is a strong achievement by the workforce. Despite numerous challenges in recent years, the team has always delivered on time, reliably, and in high quality.” Uwe Kunstmann, Chairman of the General Works Council, added, “Zwickau was the first plant to convert from 100 percent combustion engines to 100 percent electric mobility. We have proven in the Group that we can be relied on in Saxony.”
The plant’s transition to EV production began on November 4, 2019, with the ID.3 model, built on Volkswagen modular electric drive matrix (MEB) platform. The last combustion engine vehicle rolled off the line on June 26, 2020, marking a complete shift to electric manufacturing.
Despite this success, Volkswagen faces financial challenges. The company reported a 40% drop in earnings in the first quarter of 2025, attributing it to smaller margins on electric cars. This has led to concerns about the sustainability of EV production costs and the need for strategic adjustments to maintain profitability.
Looking ahead, Volkswagen plans to transfer some model production from Zwickau to other locations in 2026 as part of its efforts to optimize operations and enter the circular economy. The company emphasizes the importance of maintaining the plant’s competitiveness to secure future investments and continue its leadership in sustainable automotive production.
