VW Zwickau celebrates 35 years of polo production: A look into the future!

VW Zwickau celebrates 35 years of polo production: A look into the future!

In the Volkswagen plant Zwickau there is reason to celebrate: 35 years ago, the first VW Polo ran off the assembly line. The anniversary on July 8, 2025 is not only a review of a remarkable success story, but also an occasion to shed light on the development of the work and its challenges. The first polo, a steep rear model with a 1.3-liter engine and 55 hp in bright alpine white, is now considered a sought-after museum piece. The employees who witnessed the beginnings are nostalgically remembered by the time in the Moselle district, as well as Trabant models.

Jörn Kaiser and Udo Friedrich, both of them in the factory for many years, were previously employed by VEB Sachsenring and were there when Trabant 1.1 were produced with VW engine and the Polo in Zwickau. "It was an exciting feeling to be there at the beginning of the new," said Udo. Since the foundation of VW Sachsen GmbH in December 1990, not only production has changed, but also the requirements for the workforce. In addition to the popular models such as Golf and Passat, fully electric vehicles such as ID.3 and ID.4 have been produced since 2020.

from the trabant to the electro-polo

But the trip was not always easy. In the first few years, the employees had to fight with scarce breaks and hard conditions. Some left the company, while others hung on the nightly layers, as a colleague reports: "Our heart was tuned". Jörn and Udo have installed all models at VW Saxony and witnessed the switch to e-mobility up close. Even if the mood is not optimal for some colleagues in terms of the future, there are no signs of panic. "The orders are there," says Jörn optimistic.

The switch to electromobility is not only a technical, but also a cultural change. Younger employees show great interest in the new models, while some older generations of the good old burners still mourn. "We have mixed feelings, but we look hopefully into the future," adds Udo.

The future of mobility

Volkswagen relies on a wide range of electric cars, starting with the ID. Since its introduction in 2020, over 500,000 vehicles in this series have been sold worldwide. The aim is to reach at least 70% of sales in Europe with pure electric cars by 2030. "This is part of the comprehensive sustainability strategy, which also includes the expansion of the charging infrastructure," explains a company spokesman. The measures include the use of renewable energies in the production and development of innovative technologies such as solids batteries for shorter loading times.

Despite the challenges that the VW crisis brings with it, the workforce and corporate management remain optimistic. In conclusion, it can be said that the VW plant Zwickau is well positioned with its long tradition and the brave steps into e-mobility. This not only celebrates the history of the Polo, but also the future of mobility that is visible to everyone in Zwickau.

For more information on this topic, please visit [News38] (https://www.news38.de/wolfsburg/vw/article300532101/VW-MISTRAUFER-WERK-ZWICKAU-POLOS-HAUS- JUBILAEEUM-BAND.HTML), MDR and emobil-magazin.