35 years VW Polo: Memories and challenges in the Zwickau plant

35 years VW Polo: Memories and challenges in the Zwickau plant

Zwickau, Deutschland - What's going on in Zwickau? A very special anniversary is celebrated! 35 years ago, the first VW Polo rolled off the assembly line in the VW plant in Zwickau, and the historical roots of this success go back to the post-war period. From the first polo designed in alpine white with a 1.3-liter engine and 55 hp, which is now considered a true museum piece, to the electrification of today's models-the changes were enormous.

"Our heart hung on it", an employee describes his career in the Zwickau car dealership and thus emphasizes the passion for the workforce. Many remember the beginnings in the Moselle district when VW received a collaboration with the Vehicle Construction Industry Association (IFA). At that time, not only the first polos, but also the legendary Trabant models were installed. Jörn Kaiser and Udo Friedrich, both of whom worked in production, report on their career. They already worked at VEB Sachsenring and had the opportunity to take part in the new beginning in Zwickau in 1990 when the Polo and Trabant 1.1 were manufactured with VW engine. Jörn notes that the mood among colleagues is mixed with regard to the future, but orders are already available.

a look back and forward

The work in Zwickau has an eventful story. Volkswagen's series production began in 1945, and the company has developed into an important symbol of the German economic miracle over the decades. The Polo, like other models such as the Golf and Passat, experienced a big upswing and has continued to develop continuously. From the beginning with wooden boxes full of parts from the West to modern manufacturing techniques, Volkswagen has repeatedly demonstrated a good hand for innovative strength.

After all, only fully electric vehicles have been manufactured in Zwickau since 2020, including popular models such as ID.3 and ID.4. Udo emphasizes that younger generations take the new electric cars well, while older colleagues often still hold on to classic combustion.

challenges and optimism

What's next for the VW workforce in Zwickau? Despite uncertain times as part of the current VW crisis, the employees are optimistic about the future. "We have experienced ups and downs, but hope lives on," says a colleague. Talks about salary issues and working conditions are omnipresent, and some memories of the hard layers shape the later thinking of the employees. "We were often laughed at by the pure numbers," reports one of the older employees. But the heart - love for cars - remains unchanged.

VW Sachsen GmbH was founded in December 1990, and the years of cooperation shows how much the Volkswagen brand is linked to local roots. With the ambitious focus on electromobility and digitization, VW not only remains a long -established company, but also develops in a future -oriented manner. It remains to be seen what the next 35 years will bring.

For more information about the impressive history of Volkswagen you can visit Volkswagen Newsroom or more about the current situation in the Zwickau plant Mdr read. For many employees, the Zwickau plant remains a place of hope and progress, even if the challenges, especially in the area of ​​e-mobility, should not be underestimated. A good reason to continue working with a lot of passion!