VW Zwickau celebrates 35 years of Polo: Employees look back on successes and challenges!

VW Zwickau celebrates 35 years of Polo: Employees look back on successes and challenges!

In the VW plant Zwickau, an important era is celebrated-the first polo rolled off the assembly line 35 years ago. This milestone not only marks the beginning of a new production line, but also a deep cut in the region's automotive history. The first Zwickau Polo, a chic steep rear with a 1.3-liter engine and 55 hp in bright alpine white, has now reached the status of a museum piece. Employees remember nostalgically of the beginnings in the Mosel district, where the legendary Trabant models were also manufactured. As reported in these 35 years, as reported in these 35 years. While employees used to be smiled at for night shifts and some threw the towel due to hard working conditions and short breaks, there are also positive feedback. An employee emphasizes how important these layers were for the team: "Our heart was tuned."

What makes the history of the work special? Since VW Sachsen GmbH was founded in December 1990, the work has been a joint venture between VW and the Vehicle Construction Industry Association (IFA). The first Volkswagen to get off the assembly line was the polo, and now there are other models such as Golf, Passat and even fully electric vehicles such as ID.3 and ID.4 on the production list. Despite the current challenges in the VW crisis, the employees are optimistic. Jörn Kaiser and Udo Friedrich, both long-time employees, grew up in the VEB Sachsenring and do not want to miss the change to e-mobility. "There is something for the future," says Kaiser, who witnessed the various models that were manufactured in Zwickau.

from Trabi to e-mobility

The transformation of the German automotive industry towards fully electric vehicles is a central topic. According to mdr.de, employees such as Jörn and Udo have experienced the introduction of the VW engine to Trabant 1.1 and are now happy about the generation change. "The young people are fully on the new models," says Udo. The change to e-mobility not only brings a breath of fresh air to production, but also new challenges. While younger generations are enthusiastic, older employees often still have an emotional bond with the classic combustion engineers.

cars in Germany have always played a central role. They are not only means of transportation, but also status symbols and expression of individual freedom. As explained [bpb.de] (https://www.bpb.de/shop/zeitschratzen/apuz/298742/kleine-geschichte-des-steutomobils-in-Deutschland/), the rise of the automotive industry was inextricably linked to the economic development of the country. The industry has changed radically in the past 125 years, whereby the challenges due to traffic and climate goals have increased in importance.

look into the future

The uncertainties about the future of the VW plant have affected the mood among the employees. Some still see a favorite in the current situation, supported by existing orders. The social views of cars are also in change. In urban areas, possession of a car is increasingly considered superfluous, while people in rural regions continue to rely on automobiles. The auto industry therefore faces a fundamental realignment that takes into account not only economic but also social aspects.

In summary, we can say that the work in Zwickau is more than just a production facility. It is a lively part of Germany's automotive history and stands for the challenges and opportunities that come to us in a changing world.