Volkswagen is gradually restarting production of its significant electric cars, with its ID.3 factory opened from today although at a slower rate.

The VW factory in Zwickau, Germany has begun production of the ID.3 all electric car initially at a reduced capacity and with slower cycle times.

Numerous measures have been taken to protect its workforce, says VW, with the restart also oriented to the “gradual stabilisation of international supply chains”.

VW Brand board member for e-mobility, Thomas Ulbrich, says “we have a historic task to accomplish. That task is to protect the health of our employees – and at the same time get business back on track responsibly”.

VW has been inundated with orders in Europe for the ID.3 as it is seen as an affordable EV with a strong design reputation. At its reveal at last year’s Frankfurt motor show, VW already had 30,000 pre-orders for the electric hatchback.

Volkswagen Passenger New Zealand’s general manager, Greg Leet, was at the Frankfurt motor show and the ID.3 coming to New Zealand was “on the top of my list” of discussions with his VW bosses.

According to Ulbrich, the present challenging situation calls for new priorities: “At Volkswagen, health takes precedence over speed. That is why the primary concern at the moment is not how many cars can be built per day. What is more important is that the e-mobility transformation process already underway begins gathering pace again today. The ID.3 is one of the key vehicle projects for Volkswagen.”

In the first ramp-up phase, 50 of the ID.3 will be produced per day in Zwickau at reduced speed, corresponding to approximately one third of the production volume prior to the Covid-19 pandemic. Zwickau is Volkswagen’s first vehicle plant in Germany to cautiously resume production following the stoppage that began in mid-March.

Some units at components plants have already recommenced the supply of parts, accompanied by appropriate protective measures. Production has also already resumed at almost all Volkswagen plants in China.

The Chemnitz engine plant in Germany has also opened from today, followed by the phased resumption of Golf variant production at Zwickau on April 27. On the same day, the Gläserne Manufaktur Dresden will recommence production of the e-Golf2 at reduced capacity; customers have been able to collect their new cars in Dresden since April 20.

Production at Volkswagen Sachsen will resume step-by-step and on a plant-by-plant basis.

Volkswagen and the German Works Council have agreed a comprehensive package of measures to provide protection against the Covid-19 virus. These include specific rules on distances and hygiene, an obligation to wear mouth and nose protection in areas where minimum distances of 1.5 meters are not possible, shorter cleaning intervals, the separation of shifts in order to avoid contacts, and a call on employees to measure their temperature under their own responsibility before starting work each day.