Volkswagen buys 2,200 more robots as it steps up electrification

Volkswagen is stepping up the pace of change to electric cars and the conversion of manufacturing plants to adapt.

The Volkswagen brand has now ordered more than 1,400 robots from Fanuc for its production facilities at Chattanooga (USA) and Emden. Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles has ordered a further 800 robots for its Hanover plant from ABB of Switzerland.

The robots are to be mainly used for body production and battery assembly.

The three plants are currently being prepared for the production of electric cars using highly advanced facilities.

From 2022, the ID.4 is to be produced at Chattanooga (USA) and Emden, while the model known under the show car name of ID. BUZZ is to roll off the production line at Hanover.

Christian Vollmer, member of the board of management of the Volkswagen brand responsible for production and logistics, commented: “At Emden and Chattanooga, we are developing two of the most advanced production facilities in the automotive industry for the transformation to e-mobility. We are investing in the latest technologies such as digitalisation and automation for this purpose even in the present situation.”

The ID. BUZZ is to be produced at the Hanover plant of Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles from 2022.

“Our conversion work is proceeding entirely to schedule,” said Josef Baumert, member of the board of management of Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles responsible for production and logistics. “With the launch of the ID. BUZZ, we will complete the modernisation of our Hanover plant currently in progress, which will also benefit all the other models produced at this location.”

In total, the group plans to invest €33 billion by 2024 with a view to becoming the world market leader in electric vehicles. Several billion euros are to be invested in these three plants.

Volkswagen www.volkswagen.co.uk